You are most likely going to have to replace your home’s roof at some time. The average roof is designed to last 25 years but may last fewer years if the elements have been very unkind to it and/or the original work done was not of high quality. When this happens, you may become very stressed, distressed, and/or overly anxious about arranging for the roof replacement and having the actual work done. For a comprehensive review of the topic, please review Part 2 and Part 3 of this series.
Signs You Need to Replace Your Roof
If you can repair or restore your roof and solve your roofing problems, then you should do that. Roof repair and restoration are much cheaper and less time-consuming than roof replacement. It can also be less overwhelming since the homeowner will likely be able to remain in the home.
However, there are clear signs that your roof should be replaced. If you have observed these signs and ignored them, you will regret it. Doing repeated roof repairs instead of roof replacement means that you will be spending excessive amounts of money, time, and energy on a roof that is simply no longer viable. So, when possible, replace your roof if it is no longer sensible to keep it.
Signs your roof needs to be replaced include roof water damage, curling shingle edges, loss of roofing granules, brittle or cracked shingles, missing shingles, visible mat, water leaking into the house, chimney flashing, roof valleys, shingle granules in the gutter, and daylight penetrating the roof into an interior room/attic. Ultimately, you replace your roof when there are signs of serious damage and leakage because ignoring it will just cost you even more money. In this case, you may have to make repairs to your home’s structure and replace furniture.
How Much Does A New Roof Cost?
A roof replacement can cost between $1,200 and $30,000. The cost of the roof depends on several factors. These factors include:
- Size and type of roof material used
- Pitch and slope of the roof
- Roof size
- The shape of the roof
- Structural changes that must be done during the repair
- Old roof material removal (if necessary)
- Required permits and fees
- Local labor rates
- Roofing company used
When contracting for your roof replacement, check with multiple reputable roofing companies. Do not work with roofers who demand that you pay the full fee before they begin working. Also, if they demand that you make a large payment before they begin working on your roof, walk away. Moreover, if the contractor tries to pressure, intimidate, scare, or bully you into signing the contract for the work quickly, walk away.
Lastly, beware of hidden costs and fees that are not included in the roofing contractor’s quote. Hidden costs may include the contractor dealing with the following:
- Disposal of roofing material
- Gutter damage
- Soffits, battens, and/or fascia damage
- Pooling water
- Mold
- Moss
- Weather damage
- Substrate/deck damage
- Skylight flashing
- Leaking chimney
Cost of A New Roof by Material
Roof repairs range from $1,200 to $30,000 because there are many different kinds of roofs and the sizes of roofs vary greatly. You can make some preliminary decisions about the kind of roof replacement you want by considering the cost of the materials per square foot and the roofing material’s durability.
Clay Tile
This tile gives your roof an appearance similar to European roofs. It adds style and richness to your home’s appearance. The tiles mimic the roofs of Spanish Mission, American Southwest, and Mediterranean-inspired homes. You should expect to pay $12 to $18 per square foot for them. Clay tile is durable and an effective barrier to moisture, extreme weather, fire, and insects. It has a life expectancy of 100+ years. Clay tiles are great for energy-efficient buildings because of their natural thermal resistance and installation techniques. The disadvantages are the tiles’ considerable weight which will require structural reinforcement to ensure that the structure can bear the roof’s load. They are also easily broken when people step on them.
Natural Slate Tile
When you want high-quality, durable, beautiful roofs, use slate tile. They are aesthetically appealing and mimic European elegance with subdued colors. Slate tiles can be purchased for $20+ per square foot. It is impermeable to moisture, insects, fire, and extreme weather. Slate tiles are heavy, so the structure will have to be structurally reinforced to bear the roof’s load. It is one of the most durable roof materials and can last up to 150 years, longer than its underlayment. The material is also highly energy efficient. Drawbacks: homeowners should have the roof’s underlayment inspected every 8 to 10 years to ensure that the roof remains in good condition. Also, cleaning the gutters and performing other roof maintenance can lead to broken tiles, as slate is easily broken when walked on.
Synthetic Slate Tile
These faux slate tiles are visually appealing, durable, and far less expensive than natural slate. It has variable durability. Its durability is dependent upon its composition, brand, and manufacturer. Synthetic tiles can be made of steel, asphalt, rubber, plastic polymers, and/or clay. As a consequence of its variable composition, its life span, durability, energy efficiency, and warranty vary with each brand of synthetic slate. Drawbacks: Some synthetic tiles may be new to the market and are fairly untested. They also may not look like slate after installation.
If you want to use synthetic tile, carefully research the tile brand and manufacturer before purchasing it. Do this to avoid undesirable surprises after your roof is replaced.
Concrete Tile
Concrete tiles can mimic wood shakes, slate, clay, and other high-end roofing material. This incredibly versatile roofing material can be purchased for $6.00 to $10.00 per square foot. The material’s life span is approximately 100 years. It is not overly heavy, so there will be no need to reinforce the structure to accommodate the roof’s weight. This low-maintenance material doesn’t rot, isn’t damaged by water, and is impervious to fire and insect activity. Roof maintenance is done by occasionally hosing it down with water to remove dirt and debris. Drawbacks: The material’s energy efficiency varies according to the coating applied to the concrete tiles during the manufacturing process. Overall, concrete tiles are still more energy efficient than asphalt.
Furthermore, since this product is new to the market, earlier versions were prone to breakage, spalling, and changing color. Most of those problems have been eliminated in the concrete tiles currently on the market.
Metal Shingles
These are premium, high-cost, low maintenance, energy-saving materials that can pay for themselves in as little as five years. They are exceptionally durable and look like classic single roof shingles. The metal shingles are great protection against inclement weather like hail, thunderstorms, and winds up to 120 mph. Moreover, they are not combustible, so more likely to survive a house fire. They also don’t crack, rot, and are rust-resistant. For maintenance, rinse the tiles with water to remove debris and dirt.
Architectural Shingles
Architectural shingles are shingles that are vastly superior to classic asphalt shingles and cost a lot more. They are priced at $3.50 to $6.00 per square foot. Architectural shingles are aesthetically pleasing with their dramatic texture, high durability, and superiority to standard asphalt shingles in terms of the material’s life span (30 years compared to 8-12 years), thickness, and quality. Unfortunately, these shingles are susceptible to mildew and ice damage. They are non-recyclable. At the end of their lifetime, they must be disposed of in a landfill. So, if you are serious about environmental conservation, this may not be the best roofing material for your home.