If you just got the news that your roof needs to be replaced, you’re probably wondering, “How much will my new roof cost?” The truth is, the cost of a roof replacement is a huge concern for most homeowners.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to get an exact price until you get your roof inspected by a roofing contractor. However, it is possible to give you a rough estimate of the budget you’ll need for your new roof.
While the roofing industry doesn't like to talk about pricing, we here at Bill Ragan Roofing want to help you understand your upcoming roof investment. That’s why we’re going to give you an idea of how much it costs to replace a roof on average.
By the end of this article, you’ll learn the average cost most homeowners pay for a new roof. After that, we’re going to give you an idea of the replacement cost per square foot for the different roofing materials you can choose.
How much does it cost to replace a roof?
Many factors go into the cost of your new roof, and it’s impossible to give an exact price without a roof assessment. But we can at least give you the average cost of a new roof for a standard middle-class home that many homeowners have.
Most homeowners can expect the average cost to replace a roof to be around $12,000 to $15,000. This price range is based on a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with a walkable roof pitch, a little roof complexity, and dimensional asphalt shingles.
No two homes or roofs are going to be the same, so your roof could be less, more, or fit right in the price range above. But the only way to get an exact cost is to call a local roofing contractor to give you an estimate for your roof replacement.
How much does a roof replacement cost based on the roofing material you choose?
Now you have an idea of the average cost to replace a roof. But remember, there are a lot of different factors that impact the cost of your new roof.
One of the biggest factors depends on the type of roofing material you choose for your replacement. Not everyone wants the most commonly used asphalt shingle that’s part of the price range above.
That’s why we’re going to help you further by giving the cost of a new roof per square foot based on the different types of roofing materials. Disclaimer: all the prices below are rough estimates and give you an idea of the budget you’ll need for a new roof.
How much does an asphalt roof replacement cost?
The price range above includes dimensional asphalt shingles, which is the most common type of roof on homes today. However, there are 3 different types of asphalt shingles that all have different looks, lifespans, and, most importantly, prices.
For a one-story house with a basic up and over roof with no penetrations and no valleys, you can expect your new roof to cost around $4.00 per square foot. This includes basic builders-grade architectural shingles, underlayment, and other roof components.
For a two-story house with a little complexity and good accessibility, you can expect your new roof to cost around $5.86 per square foot. This includes a good quality architectural shingle, upgrading your underlayment, and using all of the manufacturer’s roofing components.
For a two-story house with a cut-up, complex roof, a steep pitch, and not easily accessible, you can expect your new roof to cost around $8.50 per square foot. This includes luxury shingles, using all of the manufacturer’s roofing components, and upgrading to copper for the flashing and in the valleys.
Check out How Much Does a New Asphalt Roof Cost: Pricing, Factors & Considerations for a deeper dive into the cost of a new asphalt roof.
How much does a metal roof replacement cost?
There are two types of metal roofs: a standing seam metal roof and a screw-down metal panel roof. While they’re both made of metal, they have very different price points.
A new screw-down (also known as an exposed fastener) panel metal roof costs around $4.50 per square foot to start.
On the other hand, you can expect a new 24 gauge steel standing seam metal roof to cost around $12.00 per square foot for a one-story house with a basic up and over roof with no penetrations and no valleys.
For a more complex roof on a one-story home, you can expect a new 24 gauge steel standing seam metal roof to cost around $15.00 per square foot.
If you’re interested in a metal roof for your upcoming residential roof replacement, I recommend a standing seam metal roof.
Check out Metal Roofs: Standing Seam vs. Screw Down Panels to see how the two types of metal roofs stack up on more important factors other than cost.
How much does a composite (synthetic) slate roof replacement cost?
Synthetic shingles are made of recycled materials and designed to look exactly like a slate or cedar shake roof. While they give you the look of slate, they come at a more affordable price point.
A new synthetic slate roof costs around $10.00 to $12.00 per square foot to start and has the potential to get up to $20.00 or more per square foot.
It's hard to say if the labor of tearing off your old roof and installing your new synthetic slate roof will be cheaper than real slate. However, it should still be cheaper than the real thing.
If you want to see how real slate compares to synthetic slate shingles, check out Slate Roof vs. Synthetic Slate Roof (The 4 Main Comparisons).
How much does a cedar shake roof replacement cost?
A cedar shake roof is a premium roof system made of natural wood (cedar) materials. It’s honestly one of the best-looking roofs on the market. But because it’s a premium roof, you’re going to pay a premium price.
A new cedar shake roof costs around $25.00 per square foot for a one-story house with a mildly complex roof. For a more complex roof, the cost of your new cedar shake roof will be around $30.00 per square foot.
Be aware, the cost of a new cedar shake roof will be affected by the grade of cedar shake shingle you choose for your roof replacement. To learn the differences between the grades, check out The Grades of Cedar Shake Shingles.
How much does a slate roof replacement cost?
A slate roof is a premium roof system made primarily out of natural slate tiles and other slate roofing materials. It’s one of the most beautiful and long-lasting roof systems on the market.
Just like a cedar shake roof, you can expect to pay a premium price for your new slate roof.
For labor and materials, you can expect a slate roof to start around $15.00 per square foot and has the potential to get up to around $30.00 or more per square foot.
Because of the cost of a new slate roof, it’s one of the most expensive types of roofing materials on the market for a roof replacement.
The guide you need for your roof purchase
Now you have an idea of the cost (per square foot) of your new roof, no matter the roofing material you choose. While these cost numbers aren’t exact, they help you understand the budget you’ll need and gives you an idea which roofing material is right for you.
However, you can't just make this huge decision based on cost alone. That's why you need The Complete Guide to Purchase a Roof.
The buyer's guide gives you all the crucial information homeowners need to buy a new roof, from understanding the different components to hiring a great roofing contractor. Go into the roof replacement process as the most informed homeowner in the roofing industry and get The Complete Guide to Purchase a Roof today.
Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners like you in the Nashville area get a beautiful new roof that fits their budget. You can count on our high-quality workmanship to give you a roof that lasts for decades, and we give you a lifetime warranty to back it up.
If you’re local to Nashville or a surrounding Middle Tennessee area, don’t hesitate to contact us for a roof replacement or any of your other roofing needs.
Here's your Complete Guide to Purchasing a Roof, so you have all the information needed for your roof investment.
