Over time, the covering on your roof will wear out and you’ll be forced to replace it. This is one of the bigger home improvement projects you’ll have to undergo as a homeowner, so it’s important to budget your new roof cost adequately.
There are a variety of things that come into play when you are trying to determine the average cost to replace a roof, but this article will give you a high-level overview of the costs you might expect.
New Roof Cost Considerations
As you might expect, there are loads of different options when it comes to a new roof. The most common choice in Atlanta is a standard architectural shingle that will be good for about 30 years and come at a fraction of the cost of other options like metal roofing. You can expect an architectural shingle roof replacement to cost between $3.00-$3.75 per square foot. We’ll discuss what determines exactly where you fall in this pricing range below.
If you’re really looking for a top notch option, slate and cedar shake shingles are among the top of the line options for roof coverings. However, the question of asphalt shingles versus slate or tile is only one component of the cost. What are all the factors you need to take into account when budgeting for a roof replacement?
Want To Learn More? Check Out Our Atlanta Roofing Cost Guide!
The 4 Main Considerations In New Roof Cost
- Size of your roof replacement
- Pitch of your roof
- The waste and complexity involved in your roof replacement
- The current market cost of roofing materials
Size Of Your Roof Replacement
One of the biggest determinants in the average cost of a new roof will be the size of it. As discussed above, it’s common in the roofing industry to price roofs on a “per foot” basis. While you might be tempted to simply think of size based on the square footage of your home, there are a couple of factors other than your foundation footage that impact roof size.
Roof Pitch
The pitch or slope of the roof also affects the price. As this can affect how the job gets done. If it’s a steep pitch that isn’t walkable, crews have to use specialized safety equipment, you can’t stack roofing materials safely so it takes more labor just to transport materials.
As safety is a factor insurance rates are higher for more dangerous roofs and those costs are passed on to the homeowner in the form of higher costs.
Roof Waste / Complexity
When a roof is being installed, every time there is an edge or change in facets, a small amount of shingles will be wasted because they have to be cut to the perfect size. A very simple roof might have as little as 7% waste, while an extremely complex roof structure can have waste up to 30%. The more waste there is, the higher the cost of your roof replacement.
Cost Of Roofing Materials
Next to size, the type of roof materials you choose for your replacement will be one of the biggest determinants in cost. This is also one of the biggest determinants in the best roof for Atlanta. Here are some of the average Atlanta roof replacement material costs (all include installation and accessories):
- 3-tab Asphalt Shingles: $2.50-$2.70 per square foot
- Architectural Asphalt Shingles: $2.70-$3.00 per square foot
- Designer Asphalt Shingles: $3.25-$5.00 per square foot
- Standing Seam Metal: $7-$9 per square foot
- Slate Or Cedar Shingles: $10+ per square foot
Other Roof Replacement Cost Considerations
The condition of your current roof may have an impact on the average roof replacement cost. It’s common in Atlanta for roofers to charge a relatively small fee for rotten wood replacement that isn’t visible until the old roof covering is removed.
The condition of the flashings on your home may have an impact on the cost of your new roof. Metal typically goes 50+ years, but if you own an older house, it’s possible that the metal flashings on the roof will need to be replaced. This is typically an additional charge among Atlanta roofing companies.
This should give you a full picture of the budgeting considerations if you’re getting close to needing a new roof. However, to get an exact estimate of how much your roof will cost, it’s best to hire an Atlanta roofing company today.
