Cost Comparison on Asphalt, Shingle and Metal Roofing

Asphalt

• Most modern residential roofs are made of asphalt shingles because they are durable, need little maintenance, and can take many designs and colors. Depending on quality, they may last from 15 to 30 years. Cost Owl estimates that removing an old, medium-pitched roof costs about $1.75 to $2.50 per square foot. Adding the asphalt shingles costs from $2.75 to $4.50 per square foot, including installation. This puts the cost of a 2,000-square-foot roof at $5,500 to $9,000. While this may seem initially more expensive that traditional wood shingles, you have to factor in the elimination of the regular upkeep needed with natural materials. Prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Shingle

• Wood shingles, typically of red cedar or yellow pine, recall the solid traditions of the past. They also are breathable and energy-efficient, and they can be customized by design and color. However, they require constant upkeep for protection against weather damage and insect infestations, and require the addition of fire retardant. Wood roofs can last from 20 to 50 years. The typical price of wood shingles is $2 to $3.25 per square foot, with installation, at the time of publication. This makes a 2,000-square-foot roof cost from $4,000 to $6,500.

Metal

• Metal roofs are generally more efficient than either wood or asphalt shingle roofs, and offer better ventilation. Because metal roofs are naturally fireproof, especially from sources outside the home, insurance companies typically grant a discount for this material. Existing roofs do not need to be removed when installing metal. The new material simply goes over the old. Metal is the most expensive of the three roofing choices, costing from $4 to $5 a square foot, including installation. A medium-pitched, 2,000-square-foot roof is priced at $8,000 to $15,000.

Labor

• The location of a roofing project can affect project prices, since the wages of roofers vary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of May 2010, roofers earned an average wage of $18.21 per hour throughout the United States, with the lowest-earning 10 percent making less than $10.59 per hour and the highest-earning 10 percent making more than $29.14 per hour. Roofers received the highest pay in Hawaii, with a mean wage of $26.20 per hour, and Connecticut, with mean earnings of $26.08 per hour. Lower rates were available in New Mexico, at an average of $14.11 per hour, and Arizona, at $15.25 per hour.