How to Estimate the Cost of a New Roof

Keep your home snug and cozy with a new roof.

The National Roofing Contractors Association suggests that you inspect your roof for wear and tear every spring and fall. Begin in the attic. Look for signs of sagging, water damage and outside light showing through the roof. Then go outside and check for damaged or missing shingles, shingles granules (they look like grains of sand), mold and rot. If your inspection reveals minor damage and your roof is less than 15 years old, contact a licensed roofing contractor and get a repair estimate. If the damage is severe or your roof is more than 20 years old, consider replacing it.

Instructions

1. 

   Determine how large the ground floor of your home is.

   Measure the approximate square footage of the ground floor of your home. Don't forget to include the measurements of the bathrooms, laundry room and closets.

2. 

   You can dramatically alter the appearance of your home by using a new roofing material.

   Choose your roofing material. Factors to consider the include cost, appearance, durability and ease of installation. ThisOldHouse.com offers a guide to choosing the best roofing material for your home.

3. 

   You may not need to replace the roof on your garage.

   Decide whether or not you will replace the roof over your garage as well as the roof over your home if your garage is detached. Factors to consider include the contrast in the appearance of the new roof against the current garage roof and the condition of the garage roof.

4. 

   Decide whether or not this will be a DIY project.

   Analyze the pros and cons of replacing the roof yourself versus hiring a licensed roofing contractor. The price of a new roof will be significantly lower without labor costs, but the peace of mind gained by hiring a professional is valuable.

5. 

   Use the ImproveNet.com tool to estimate how much replacing your roof will cost.

   Enter the information you have gathered into the ImproveNet.com Roofing Cost Estimator. This will yield a ballpark estimate for replacing your roof based on the average costs of roofing material and labor in your zip code.

6. 

   Call around for estimates.

   Call at least three roofing contractors for estimates if you are planning to hire a contractor.

References

• Costhelper.com: What People Are Paying: Home and Garden
• Sheknows.com: Home and Garden: Do you need a new roof? 10 ways to tell

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• ImproveNet.com: Project Tools: Roofing Estimator
• ThisOldHouse.com:: Choosing Roofing Materials