If you’re like most homeowners, the biggest factor in the roofing material decision-making process is cost. This is why you’re probably considering architectural asphalt shingles, the most common and affordable type of roofing material on the market today.
But even though it’s an affordable option, a new architectural asphalt shingle roof will still be a sizable investment. So, that begs the question, “How much will I actually have to invest in my new roof?”
For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners understand the budget they need for a new roof. Because of this, I’ll be breaking down how much an architectural asphalt shingle roof costs.
I start this article by diving right into the cost question. After that, you’ll learn what impacts the price, the warranties you get, and the lifespan of your architectural asphalt shingle roof after it’s installed.
How much does an architectural asphalt shingle roof cost?
Unfortunately, I can’t give you an exact price for a new architectural asphalt shingle roof due to all the factors that go into the cost of a new roof (more on that in a second). But I can give you a general idea of the budget you’ll need for an architectural asphalt shingle roof replacement.
For a two-story house with a little complexity and good accessibility, you can expect a new architectural asphalt shingle roof to cost around $6.00 per square foot. This includes a good quality architectural asphalt shingle, upgrading the underlayment, and using all of a manufacturer’s roofing components to get the enhanced warranty.
This number above may be right on the nose, more, or less, depending on the roofing contractor you hire. Either way, a new architectural asphalt shingle roof will be a sizable investment.
I understand the price is intimidating, and it can be tempting to cut costs where you can. But it’s absolutely crucial to invest in quality instead of trying to find the cheapest price possible.
What impacts the cost of an architectural asphalt shingle roof?
Now you have an idea of how much an architectural asphalt shingle roof costs. But remember, there are a lot of factors that ultimately determine the cost.
And because every home is different, the price for every roof replacement will be different. Below is a list of the factors that directly affect the price of a new architectural asphalt shingle roof.
- The type of roofing material you choose (architectural asphalt shingles)
- The rest of the roof system’s materials
- Labor and time
- Your roof’s accessibility
- The number of roof penetrations
- Your roof’s size and the complexity of it
- The amount of decking that needs to be replaced
- Dump fees
- Operating costs of your roofing contractor
This list is a quick rundown of what impacts the cost of a new architectural asphalt shingle roof or any other type of roof system. If you want to dig deeper into these cost factors, check out the 9 factors that impact the cost of your new roof.
What warranties do you get on a new architectural asphalt shingle roof?
After learning about how much it costs and what impacts the cost, you’re ready to learn what protection you have on a new architectural asphalt shingle. This protection comes in the form of two different types of warranties.
The first one is the workmanship warranty you get from the roofing contractor you hire. The length of the warranty depends on the local roofing contractor you hire and varies from company to company.
On the other hand, you’ll have a couple of material warranty options on your new architectural asphalt shingle roof. Architectural asphalt shingles come out of the package with a 30-year material warranty that’s prorated after 10 years.
However, if you use all of a single manufacturer’s roofing components to form a roof system, you’ll qualify for an enhanced warranty. This 50-year non-prorated warranty ensures the manufacturer covers the architectural shingles and the rest of the roof system’s components for the life of the materials.
Just know that improper roof installation and inadequate attic ventilation void an enhanced warranty. That’s why it’s absolutely crucial to hire a high-quality roofing contractor to install your new architectural asphalt shingle roof.
How long will your new architectural asphalt shingle roof last?
Remember, your new architectural asphalt shingle roof is an investment. Just like other investments, you need to know the return you get out of it.
That’s where the lifespan of your architectural asphalt shingle roof comes in. A roof's lifespan is the number of years you get out of it.
An architectural asphalt shingle roof has a lifespan of around 30 years. As long as it’s properly installed and your attic is properly ventilated, it will get as close as possible to this lifespan.
While it’s great to put a number of years on the lifespan, it’s not guaranteed it’ll last 30 years due to the factors that impact the life of a roof. That’s why it’s a good rule of thumb to expect an architectural asphalt shingle roof to last around 80-85% of its maximum lifespan.
This means you should get around 25-28 years of life out of an architectural shingle roof with proper roof installation and adequate attic ventilation.
Find a great roofing contractor for your new architectural asphalt shingle roof
Now you have all the information you need to know about getting an architectural asphalt shingle roof, from how much it costs to how long it’ll last. After reading this article, you should have a good idea if getting an architectural asphalt shingle roof is right for you.
If it isn’t or you just want to know your other roofing material options, check out The 5 Best Roofing Materials for Your Roof Replacement. But if it is right for you, you’re ready to find a great roofing contractor to start the roof replacement process.
Unfortunately, finding one you can trust is more difficult than you think. The roofing industry is saturated with a ton of companies.
So, it can be hard to spot a reputable one out of the options in your area. To help you avoid making the wrong hiring decision, I’ll give you the tips all homeowners need to find a great roofer.
Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided homeowners with high-quality roof replacements in Nashville and surrounding Middle Tennessee areas. You can count on a new architectural asphalt shingle from us to last for decades, and we provide a lifetime workmanship warranty to back it up.
Here are the 7 Tips to Find a Great Roofing Contractor, so you're able to find one you can trust in your area today.
