The longer something lasts, the more likely people are to assume it will go one more year. Maybe if fewer objects were talked about in terms of ‘lifecycles’ and instead simply decades or ‘fail years’ (like failures, but not) this would be easier.
When it comes to a residential roof replacement, this turns into seasons. One more winter, one more summer, one more rainstorm. The problem with waiting to replace a roof when it shows definite signs of failure is that it tends to all fail at once and weeks to repair means for a noisy and sad home environment.
Image by David Mark
Residential Roof Replacement
Given infinite resources, people would be more reasonable in how they replace and repair things. It’s easy enough to set a calendar for twenty to thirty years and simply put down a ‘new roof’ date.
Unfortunately, you live in the real world where money and roofs are finite quantities. You need to consider the cost of a roof or repair with everything else you have going on.
Of course, when you do reach that threshold, it’s encouraging to see results like the ones in this blog post.
Material Costs
The largest costs associated with a roof installation relate to the materials and the labor. Of these two, the price for materials shifts through the year as suppliers look to unload old stock and new technology forces value constraints.
Materials for a roof depend highly on the type of shingles or tile being applied. On the cheaper end, you will find asphalt tiles in the $150-200 range. On the high end, architectural tiles and shingles go as high as $450-700 a square.
Check out a calculator such as this to get yourself a ballpark estimate.
Labor Cost
Labor costs tend to be more set. Though you might find some seasonal deals (roofers like to work in the best weather and do have a busy season).
Labor costs average between $3.50 and $5.50 a square foot.
Quality labor comes with guarantees through warranty and insurance. Always work with bonded and licensed roofers to ensure that your roof lasts and you have recourses if it doesn’t.
MISC Costs
No one roofing job fits all replacement needs. You may be looking at something as simple as a few tightenings and individual replacements or a full tear down and build up.
The following are additional costs that are harder to estimate without the hands-on estimate of a skilled roofer.
Underlayment – A protective coating put down before shingles to act as a second backdrop for water and to provide safety from mold and mildew.
Fasteners – Depending on your materials you will need nails, screws, staples, and others all with their own costs and availability.
Flashing – A seal that goes around the roof acting as a secondary barrier and protection between the shingles any joints and angles you may have.
Be Frugal
Paying for a residential roof replacement isn’t something you want to do all at once. It is far better to save ahead of time and employ some planning. Insurance against failure and physical damage is always a good choice as well.
For more tips on budging and creative solutions in your life, keep coming back here.
