How to Figure Out Your New Roof Costs

Roof replacement is one of the biggest investors most homeowners face, and most people do wind up facing it. That’s because a roof doesn’t usually last a full lifetime without some maintenance, and since it’s covered with shingles, it can be hard to know until it needs serious attention that there is maintenance to do. When that time comes, budgeting for your new roof means understanding the variety of factors that go into its cost, including the professional labor of the work crew.

The complexity and slope of your roof are the main factors that determine the cost of replacement. Materials are fairly static in cost for various roof sizes, and there are always options that allow you to control for price by selecting more economic materials if need be, but if your home is built with certain complexities in the roof’s design, even the most economic materials will be fairly costly to install.

The most inexpensive roof replacement jobs are the ones that involve flat roofs or those with a gentle slope. That’s because it is easy for the workers doing your replacement to stand on the roof itself with little need for extra scaffolding and safety gear. Steeper slopes on roofs make the work more hazardous, and the cost of the extra safety precautions does get reflected in the quote to the homeowner. Complex roofs with many valleys and sections that run in different directions cost the most to replace, because they tend to be harder to access while requiring more work.

Roofing is a skilled home improvement that should be undertaken by professionals. If you have a complicated roof, it can be tempting to try to save by doing it yourself, but it’s important to remember that the reason your roof costs more to work on is because it is proportionally more difficult. That also means you are better served by having a pro do it if your roof replacement will be complicated.