This article will provide some insight so you can accurately estimate the cost of your roofing project: asphalt shingle roof replacement. If you have an old roof that needs a replacement you are probably concerned with how much this investment will cost. You know you need to get a new roof eventually, but you aren’t sure how much you should expect to pay.
Answer: Asphalt Shingle Roofing System Cost
The average asphalt shingle roofing system can cost anywhere from $3.50 to $5 per square foot all-included, depending on roof pitch/slope and complexity. This includes required components like paper underlayment, ridge vent, ridge cap, drip edge, starter shingles, flashing, and ice-and-water or ice-and-snow shield for valleys and leak-prone perimeters. These components are a necessary inclusion to meet manufacturers’ warranty specifications.
The Difference Between Insurance Claim Roofing Costs and Retail Roofing Prices
Any roofing company that specializes in insurance-approved roof replacements will be familiar with insurance companies’ cost estimates for roof replacements. The prices paid by insurance is based on aggregate data collected from hundreds of thousands of similar projects nationwide and adjusted for regional cost differences in your area. Although the replacement of shingles themselves may only come out to around $3/sf for laminate 3-tab shingles, the other components included bring the total cost of an asphalt shingle roofing system to anywhere from $4 to $4.50.
Insurance prices for roofing stay the same from job to job and from season to season. However, that is not the case for “retail” roofing. If a homeowner calls a roofer to get quotes, the respondents know that there is competition, and – just like anything else – this leads to competitive pricing. This can be especially true in the winter when most roofers are slower than in Spring, Summer, and Fall.
Pro Tip: if you’re looking to get the most competitive price possible, call for roofing estimates in the dead of winter when roofers are hungry for work.
The Difference in Price Between Architectural Asphalt Shingles and 3-Tab
Put simply, the difference in cost compared to the difference in quality between architectural asphalt shingles and old 3-tab roofing is negligible. Architectural asphalt shingles are far superior in terms of durability and aesthetics, and most manufacturers offer limited lifetime warranties on their architectural shingles, so they are well worth the cost. So much so, that insurance restoration companies will often provide the upgrade from 3-tab to architectural for free to their customers who have insurance claims. Homeowners insurance will only pay to replace what was already there, so if your 3-tab roof is damaged you will only receive an insurance payout to cover a 3-tab roof. Hanover Roofing Systems Inc. in York County PA is one of those roofers who provides their customers with an architectural asphalt shingle roofing system when this is the case, and they do it for the price that the insurance company pays because they don’t like installing inferior products.
Pro Tip: Make sure your contractor provides details in their estimate, so you know what type of roofing product you’re getting, the components included in your roofing system, as well as the warranty provided.
Conclusion: Architectural Asphalt Shingle Roofing System Cost Analysis
At $3.50 to $5 per square foot for a 40+ year roof, property owners can rest easy that they are making a sound investment. Furthermore, when installed by a reputable, high-quality roofing contractor you can be assured that the products and workmanship are guaranteed to stand up to normal wear and tear. If you have damage to your roof caused by a covered peril and your homeowners’ insurance is going to pay for a roof replacement, start getting estimates from roofers and ask questions: find out if you can upgrade to an architectural asphalt shingle roof and how much it will cost (if anything extra). Inquire about the full inclusion of necessary components and what the warranty will be like.
Pro Tip: If the prices you are quoted are towards the higher end of that $3.50-$5/sf range, you should be getting the full-service installation with all necessary components and the industry-leading warranties from top manufacturers like GAF, CertainTeed, IKO, Owens Corning.