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What’s the Average Cost to Tear Off and Replace Your Roof?

December 3rd, 2021 | 8 min. read

What’s the Average Cost to Tear Off and Replace Your Roof?

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Tearing off and replacing your roof won’t be the most exciting thing you spend your money on. It’s not a new car or boat that you get to enjoy every day. 

The problem is, a new roof doesn’t come with a straight forward price like a car or boat. A bigger problem is that the roofing industry avoids cost questions. 

Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has answered the tough questions the rest of the roofing industry avoids. That’s why we’ll be giving you the cost to tear off and replace your roof.

To start this article, we’ll give you the average cost to tear off and replace your roof. After that, we’ll give you the cost per square foot to tear off and replace your roof based on the type of material you choose. 

And at the very end, we provide a guide that gives you everything you need to know about your upcoming roof replacement. 

What’s the average cost to tear off and replace your roof?

It’s impossible to give you an exact price because of the many factors that go into the cost of a roof replacement. However, I can give you the average cost to tear off and replace your roof for a standard middle-class home that most homeowners have. 

the average cost to tear off and replace a roof

Most homeowners can expect the average cost to tear off and replace a roof to be around $12,000 to $15,000. This price is based on a home with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a walkable roof pitch, a little roof complexity, and architectural asphalt shingles. 

The cost to tear off and replace your roof could be less, more, or fit right in the price range above. But you won’t know the exact cost until a local roofing contractor comes out to inspect your roof

How much does it cost to tear off and replace your roof based on the roofing material?

Now you know the price most homeowners will pay to tear off and replace their roof. Remember, the number above is based on architectural asphalt shingles. 

But what if you want a different roofing material besides an architectural asphalt shingle? To be a little more specific, I’ll be giving you the cost per square foot of the 5 common roofing materials. 

By using the numbers below and multiplying them by the square footage of your roof, you’ll get a good idea of how much it’ll cost to tear off and replace your roof. 

Disclaimer: These numbers aren’t perfect. The actual price you’ll pay depends on multiple cost factors that are based on your specific roof and the contractor you hire.

The cost to tear off and replace an asphalt shingle roof roof

There are 3 different types of asphalt shingles, 3-tab, architectural/dimensional, and luxury. Each asphalt shingle has a different look, lifespan, and, of course, price. 

the cost to tear off and replace your asphalt roof

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

the cost to tear off and replace your asphalt roof

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

the cost to tear off and replace your asphalt roof

For a two-story house with a cut-up, complex roof, a steep pitch, and not easily accessible, you can expect your new asphalt roof to cost around $8.50 per square foot. This includes luxury asphalt shingles, using all of the manufacturer’s roofing components, and upgrading to copper for the flashing and in the valleys.

The cost to tear off and replace a metal roof

Your two metal roof options are a standing seam metal roof and a screw-down metal panel roof. Just like the types of asphalt shingles, they both have very different price points. 

the cost to tear off and replace your metal roof

A new screw-down (also known as an exposed fastener) panel metal roof costs around $4.50 per square foot to start.

the cost to tear off and replace your metal roof

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.

the cost to tear off and replace your metal roof

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 seriously considering a metal roof for your residential home, I recommend a standing seam metal roof to ensure you get the most out of your investment.

The cost to tear off and replace a composite (synthetic) roof

Composite (aka synthetic) shingles are made of a synthetic polymer or recycled materials and designed to look exactly like a slate or cedar shake roof. Even though they are made of the same material, the cost differs depending on the type of composite shingle you choose.

the cost to tear off and replace your composite (synthetic) roof

A new synthetic cedar shake roof will cost around $14.00-$18.00 per square foot. You can actually expect to pay less than you would for a real cedar shake roof.

the cost to tear off and replace your composite (synthetic) roof

On the other hand, 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. Like its cedar shake counterpart, a synthetic slate roof will always be cheaper than actual slate.

Both types of composite shingles roofs are a sizable investment and will cost more than the most expensive asphalt shingle roof.

The cost to tear off and replace a cedar shake roof

A cedar shake roof is a premium roof system made of natural wood (cedar) materials. Because it’s considered a premium roof system, it comes at a steep price point.

the cost to tear off and replace your cedar shake roof

A new cedar shake roof will cost around $25.00 per square foot for a one-story house with a mildly complex roof. For a more complex roof, the cost of a new cedar shake roof will be around $30.00 per square foot.

If you’re interested in a cedar shake roof, a major cost and quality factor is the grade of cedar shake shingle you get for your roof replacement.

The cost to tear off and replace a slate roof

A slate roof is a premium roof system made primarily out of natural slate roofing materials. It’s one of the longest-lasting roof systems on the market and provides a huge boost to your home’s curb appeal.

the cost to tear off and replace your 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.

Be aware, your home has to be built or retrofitted to be able to carry the weight of a slate roof. If you’re strongly considering a slate roof, just know it’s one of the most expensive types of roofing materials on the market today.

The guide that has everything you need to know about your roof replacement

Now you know the cost to tear off and replace your roof based on the roofing material you choose. You can use the cost numbers above to help you determine which roofing material fits your budget. 

But there’s more to choosing the right roofing material for your replacement besides the cost. That’s why we created a Buyer’s Guide for homeowners who are about to get a roof replacement.

It contains the advantages and disadvantages of different roofing materials that will really help narrow down which one is right for you. But that’s not all. 

The guide also has the other roofing components you’ll pay for, how to hire a great roofing contractor, payment options, and more. Start the roof replacement process by being the most informed homeowner in the roofing industry and get the Buyer’s Guide now. 

Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided high-quality roofing services to homeowners in Nashville and surrounding Middle Tennessee areas. Giving you a roof that lasts for decades is our goal, and we back that up with a lifetime warranty. 

If you’re local to Nashville, Tennessee, don’t hesitate to contact us for your roof replacement needs. 

Here’s The Complete Guide to Purchasing a Roof to learn everything you need to know about getting a roof replacement.

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