What Affects the Cost of a New Roof?

Roof cost is driven by size, material, pitch, number of stories, tear-off complexity, decking condition, flashing needs, ventilation upgrades and permitting requirements. No two roofs price out exactly the same, even on similar sized homes. A proper inspection is the only way to know which of these factors apply to your roof.

Size and material come first

Roofing is priced by the square, which is 100 square feet of roof area. A larger roof simply needs more material and more labor hours, so square footage is the starting point of any quote. From there, material choice moves the price significantly. Asphalt shingle is the most affordable, metal costs more upfront but lasts far longer, and tile sits at the top of the price range. Our shingle roof cost in Tampa, metal roof cost in Tampa and tile roof cost in Tampa guides break each one down in detail.

Pitch and stories change labor time

A steep roof takes longer to safely work on than a low slope roof of the same size. Crews need additional safety equipment and staging, and material waste tends to be higher on steep or complex roofs because of cutting around hips and valleys. A two-story home also adds time for staging and material handling that a single story home does not require.

Tear-off and decking

Removing one layer of old shingles is straightforward. Removing two or three layers takes longer and costs more in disposal. Once the old roofing is off, the decking underneath gets inspected. Soft, delaminated or water damaged plywood has to be replaced before new roofing goes on. This is one of the most common reasons a final invoice differs from the original quote, and we cover it in detail in our damaged roof decking article.

Flashing, ventilation and permitting

Flashing around chimneys, skylights, walls and valleys has to be replaced or upgraded to code, and it is a labor intensive part of the job even though it is a small material cost. Ventilation upgrades, like adding ridge vents or improving intake airflow, are often recommended during replacement and add a modest cost. Permitting, required in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, is normally included in our scope, which our roof permits article explains further.