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Asphalt Shingle Roof | Roof Cost | Composition Roof

How Much Does a Composition Roof Cost? (Average and Per Square Foot)

December 24th, 2021 | 6 min. read

How Much Does a Composition Roof Cost? (Average and Per Square Foot)

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Before you invest your hard-earned money into something, you want to know how much it costs. This is true for fun purchases, like a boat or a new car. But it’s also true for necessary (and not so fun) purchases, like a roof. 

So, it makes sense you want to know how much your new composition roof will cost before diving into a replacement. The problem is, roofing companies don’t like to talk about pricing. 

For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has done things a little differently than the rest of the industry. That’s why we’ll be taking the cost question head-on by giving you the cost of a new composition roof. 

To start this article, we’ll do a quick overview of what a composition roof is. After that, we’ll get into the average cost most homeowners can expect to pay for a composition roof. 

Then we take it a step further by breaking down the cost of a composition roof per square foot based on the shingle you choose and more. To finish this article off, you’ll learn the main factors that impact the cost numbers we give you. 

What is a composition roof?

A composition roof is another roofing industry term for asphalt shingles. It’s also what insurance companies call asphalt shingles on insurance claims for roof damage. 

The reason it’s called “composition” is because it’s a composite of man-made materials. These materials consist of fiberglass, tar, and granules put on an organic mat to make a shingle. 

types of asphalt shingles(Left to right: 3-tab, architectural, and luxury)

There are 3 types of composition (asphalt) shingles: 3-tab, architectural (dimensional or laminate), and luxury (shake look or slate look). All 3 shingles have different looks to give any homeowner the look they want for their new roof, but they all come in at very different price points (more on that in a minute).

What’s the average cost of a composition roof?

Too many factors go into the cost of a new roof. Because of this, it’s impossible to give an exact price without getting on your composition roof for an assessment. 

However, I can at least give you the average cost of a new composition roof for a standard middle-class home. 

the average cost of a composition roof

Homeowners with a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with a walkable roof pitch, a little roof complexity, and architectural composition (asphalt) shingles can expect the average cost for a new composition roof to be around $12,000 to $15,000.  

The cost of your composition roof could be less, more, or fit right in the price range above. But because no two homes or roofs are the exact same, it’s impossible to know. 

The only way to get an exact cost for a new roof is to call a local roofing contractor to give you a quote for your roof replacement.  

How much does a composition roof cost per square foot?

While it’s great knowing the average cost of a composition roof, the cost can go up or down based on the shingle you choose and the size of your roof. But not everyone will fit in with the above price range.

For this reason, we’ll get into the price per square foot of a composition roof based on different factors (shingle type, materials, etc.) and roof types with pictures as examples. 

how much does a composition roof cost

For a one-story house with a basic up-and-over roof with no penetrations and no valleys, you can expect your new composition roof to cost around $4.00 per square foot. This price includes basic 3-tab shingles, underlayment, and other roof components.

how much does a composition roof cost

For a two-story house with a little complexity and good accessibility, you can expect your new composition roof to cost around $5.86 per square foot. This price includes a good quality architectural shingle, upgrading your underlayment, and using all of the manufacturer’s roofing components.

how much does a composition roof cost

For a two-story house with a cut-up, complex roof, a steep pitch, and not easily accessible, you can expect your new composition roof to cost around $7.50 per square foot. This price includes luxury shingles, using all of the manufacturer’s roofing components, and upgrading to copper for the flashing and in the valleys.

These prices give you an idea of how much your composition roof will cost based on the roof (size, complexity, etc.) and the type of shingle you choose. But remember, these prices aren’t 100% accurate and are here to help you understand the budget you’ll need. 

What impacts the cost of your new composition roof?

I already mentioned that there are a lot of factors that go into the cost of a new composition roof. And you just learned a little more about those cost factors in the last section, like shingle type, complexity, and accessibility.

But there are so many other cost factors. Below is a list of the factors a roofing contractor keeps in mind as they’re coming up with the estimate for your new composition roof.

This is just a quick rundown of what impacts the cost of a new composition roof and roof replacements in general. For a deeper breakdown of these cost factors and what they really mean to the cost of your new roof, read this article on the 9 factors that impact the cost of your new roof.

Get this Buyer’s Guide to learn everything you need to know about your upcoming roof replacement

Now you know the average cost, the cost per square foot, and what impacts the cost of a new composition roof. You might think you’re ready to reach out to a roofing contractor, but there’s still more you need to know about your upcoming roof replacement. 

That’s why we created a roof replacement buyer’s guide that has all the information you need. It helps you pick the right composition shingle by breaking down the advantages and disadvantages of each. 

It has the same information for the other popular residential roofing materials too. While this is crucial for your decision-making process, the guide also helps you hire a great roofing contractor, the other materials you’ll pay for, and so much more. 

Go into the roof replacement process with all the knowledge you need. Keep going to get your free buyer’s guide now.

Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided high-quality roof replacements to thousands of homeowners in Nashville, Tennessee, and surrounding Middle Tennessee areas. We work with you and your budget to find the perfect roof that will protect your home for decades to come. 

If you’re local to Nashville, Tennessee, don’t hesitate to contact us today for any of your roofing needs. 

Whether you’re local or not, here’s Your Complete Guide to Purchasing a Roof to make all the right decisions for your upcoming roof replacement.

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