Are you interested in composite shingles? Is your biggest concern how much a full composite shingle roof costs?
Composite (also known as synthetic) shingles are becoming increasingly popular in residential roofing. With the look of natural slate tiles or cedar shakes and rubber-like qualities that absorb impacts, it’s no wonder more and more homeowners are interested.
However, the biggest hang-up revolves around pricing. And to be honest, a composite shingle roof will not fit most budgets.
The problem is finding accurate cost information in the roofing industry because of the sticker shock prices are guaranteed to cause. I don’t operate that way.
For over 35 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has provided homeowners with the transparent advice and roofing information they need to feel confident before signing up for any roofing project. So, let’s break down everything you need to know about the price of a composite shingle roof.
By the end of this article, you’ll have the answers to:
- How much does a composite shingle roof cost?
- What else impacts the cost of a composite shingle roof replacement?
How much does a composite shingle roof cost?
A composite shingle roof can cost anywhere from $15.00 to $20.00 per square foot. If you add upgrades like a metal accent or copper flashing, you’ll be a lot closer to the higher end of the price range.
The materials themselves are very expensive, and metal is required in valleys because the shingles can’t bend to close the areas. However, labor and time play a huge role in why a composite shingle roof costs so much.
Composite shingles come individually instead of 3-foot fiberglass mats like standard asphalt shingles, which means they’re installed one at a time. This makes the installation a slow, labor-intensive, and time-consuming project that requires experienced installers.
At the end of the day, composite shingles are considered a premium material and will always cost more than the most expensive asphalt shingle roof. Unfortunately, this means it won’t be a good fit for most homeowners’ budgets.
What else impacts the cost of a composite shingle roof replacement?
Now you know how much a composite shingle roof costs. I’m sure you had some sticker shock once you saw the price.
However, every roof is different. You already know the material and labor costs are high, but many other factors specific to your roof and home determine the cost.
Let’s look at the other things that impact the cost of your composite shingle roof replacement.
The number of layers torn off and the dump fees
Tearing off your old roof always factors into the cost of a new roof, both in labor and dump fees. But if your roof has more than one layer, it requires more labor and increases the amount of debris coming off your roof.
This not only increases labor costs but also the dump fees when getting rid of the torn-off materials. There will be an initial labor and dump fee for the first layer, plus an added cost for each additional layer.
The rest of the composite shingle roof system’s components
The composite shingles themselves play a huge role in pricing, but the other components that make up the rest of a roof system are also a factor. On top of this, specific variations of materials are required because of the synthetic makeup of the shingles.
Every single piece plays an important role in keeping your roof sealed and home protected.
Including the composite shingles, the components you'll pay for when getting a replacement are:
- Decking (if any wood is compromised)
- Drip edge
- Underlayment (high heat ice and water shield)
- Ice & water shield
- Starter shingles
- Roof vents and ventilation system
- Roof flashing (including metal valley flashing)
- Ridge capping
- Pipe boots
Every component and material listed here should be included in your composite roof replacement. If just one is missing or left off to save money, I guarantee you’ll have problems.
The size of your roof
The most obvious cost factor is the square footage of your roof. Your roof’s square footage affects the amount of materials used, labor, and time needed to complete the job.
I say square footage because it’s what homeowners are familiar with. However, “price per roofing square” (100 square feet) is also commonly used in the roofing industry.
Your roof’s accessibility
A roofing contractor needs an access point for every part of the roof replacement process. The harder your roof is to access, the more it impacts the cost.
Some things that make a roof hard to access are:
- Landscaping or rows of bushes below the roof line
- A fence around the property
- No paved surface near the access point
- The neighboring houses are close
Even if the roofs are the exact same, a home with an easy access point will have lower labor costs than a home with the things listed above. And with how intensive a composite shingle roof installation is, it can play a big role in labor costs.
The number of penetrations your roof has
A roof penetration is anything that comes through your roof, like plumbing vents, gas vents, kitchen/bathroom vents, skylights, and chimneys. The more penetrations your roof has, the more it impacts the cost.
Smaller pipes or vents won’t impact much, but skylights and chimneys add more to a new roof’s cost because they take longer to flash and work around. On top of this, certain areas around penetrations may need metal, like the valleys.
Your roof’s pitch
Roof pitch is your roof's slope (angle), which can go from flat to almost completely vertical. The steeper the roof pitch, the more it costs to replace due to moving more slowly and safely.
This will play a huge role in pricing, especially with how labor-intensive composite shingles are on walkable pitches. It’s already slow, and having to move slower on a steeper pitch increases labor costs.
The complexity of your roof
Complexity is how your roof is cut up with different facets, hips, valleys, and stories off the ground. Your roof’s complexity has a huge impact on the cost based on how it’s cut up with different facets, hips, valleys, and stories off the ground.
(Very complex roof)
Just like with pitch, a roof with a high number of facets at multiple angles, hips, valleys, and two or more stories off the ground is more difficult and takes a lot longer to roof than a ranch-style home’s roof.
What other roofing materials should you consider?
After reading this article, you know how much a composite shingle roof costs and the things that directly impact pricing. As I said, no two roofs are the same.
However, you’ll find most composite shingle roofs will cost around $15.00 to $20.00 per square. Obviously, this is a very expensive price range, which is way over the budget most homeowners expect.
That’s why it’s important to consider other roofing materials. And even if you do have the budget, another roofing material may fit your other needs.
So, before making any decisions, you need to know the best residential roofing materials and what they have to offer.
Check out The Top 8 Roofing Materials (How to Choose the Right One) to learn the pricing, lifespan, warranties, and the pros and cons to ensure you make the right decision.
