Tag: tile roofing

The Average Cost of Replacing a Roof

As a homeowner, replacing the roof on your home can be one of the most expensive upgrades that you will make over the course of your owning a home.

What determines the price of a roof?

The type of roofing material is a large part of the cost of your roof, but the size, accessibility, pitch, roof height, removal of the old roof, as well as other factors are also used when calculating the cost.

On average, the price of a new roof can run anywhere from $4500 all the way up to $50,000 or more for high end roofs.

Most roofers charge by the roofing square, this is equal to 100 square feet (a 10 by 10 foot area).

Why does the roof pitch affect the price of a new roof?

The slope or pitch of your roof affects the price because this dictates how easy it is for the roofers to work on your roof.  Will they need a harness because of the steep pitch?  Or does your roof have a gentle slope which allows for them stack materials directly on the roof and work without a lot of safety equipment.

Why does accessibility matter?

This is a part of labor costs that many people don’t think about, if roofers can drive a truck loaded with materials directly beside the house, then loading and unloading just got a lot easier.  But if a lot of their time is spent carrying materials, supplies, and tools back and forth from the truck, you will see this reflected in the cost of the roof.

Roofing materials also determine the price

We have a couple of articles that you might want to read about the different types of roofs to consider:

Tile Roofing

Metal Roofing

Shingle Roofing

Green Roofs

Other costs to keep in mind

If you’re replacing a roof with damage from hail, water, or other things, remember that the damage might go further than you think.  After the old roof has come off, the roofers might find other damage that will need to be addressed before the new roof can go on.  Plan your budget accordingly.

Clay Tiles vs Concrete Tiles

Our previous article outlined the differences between metal and composite shingle roofing, in this article, we’ll go over clay and concrete tile roofing. Choosing your home’s roofing materials is a no light task, but don’t be discouraged, once you learn about the differences between the roofing materials available, the right choice should become clearer.

clay concrete roof

Clay Tiles

Clay tiles are a beautiful choice for homeowners when it comes to roofing material, they embody traditional European style and are also a beautiful choice for homes with a more modern design. They are a classic roofing material and are immediately identifiable. Clay tiles are made from natural clay and are fired in a kiln which helps their color to not fade over time; they are long lasting and don’t require a lot of maintenance. That said, clay tiles are a lot heavier than composition shingles or metal roofs and require a reinforced roof frame for extra support. Clay tiles are expensive to install, but since maintenance is low, the long-term cost is not high – especially given that clay tiles can last centuries. Since the clay tiles are fired, they won’t rot, they are also fire resistant, and won’t be affected by insects. The tiles can be easily broken by walking on them, so other house maintenance (gutters, fireplaces, etc.) might lead to roof damage.

Concrete Tiles

Concrete tiles are a fairly new addition to the roofing market; they can also be made to resemble slate, wood shakes, or even clay tiles. When compared to the cost of clay tiles, concrete tile is significantly less expensive, but the weight is still heavier than other roofing types, because of this a reinforced roof frame is often required. One advantage over clay or slate roofs is that concrete roofing does weigh less and therefore some of the structural problems resulting from the heavier clay or slate roofs can be avoided. Concrete tile is also fire, rot, and bug resistant, requires little to no maintenance, and is made to have a long life (about 50 years). For both clay and concrete tiles, be sure to check the warranty that comes with the tiles, there should be two warranties, the first from the manufacturer and the second is typically provided by the installation expert.