Though the price you pay for roofing material will be one of the significant deciding factors for which you choose, there’s a lot more that goes into choosing roofing material than just cost. Typically, roofing materials get made from asphalt (there are several types of shingles), metal, wood shakes or shingles, synthetic products, tile, slate, and a recent addition to roofing materials is solar shingles.
To determine how much the material for your roof will cost, you must first determine the size of your roof. Let’s say your roof is 40 feet by 20. To get the total amount of materials, multiply 40 by 20 and double it. That’s 1600 square feet or 16 square.
What Are the Components of a Roof System?
The components of a roof are usually:
- Trusses – this is the wood or metal rafters or supports that hold the roof up in place
- Sheathing – these are typically sheets of plywood that cover the rafters
- Roof covering – the roof covering is the material you choose to protect your home from leaks, such as shingles, tiles, or slate with underlayment (felt paper) or vapor barrier
- Drainage – this is usually where the water runs off the roof, most use gutters and downspouts
- Flashing – this often is a thin metal sheet that gets placed in the roof’s valleys and along the edge to prevent water leakage
Some of the considerations to determine what materials to use are price, durability, aesthetics, and protection from your home’s natural enemies.
Your Roof’s Natural Enemies
Your roof and everything under it has several natural enemies you should consider. The roofing material you choose will help you control some of these:
- Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun
- Rain, sleet, and snow
- Wind and tree limbs
- Condensation
- Algae or moss growth
Your home’s location will determine which of these natural occurrences you should be the most concerned with when selecting your roofing material. Of course, you can control the growth of tree limbs by pruning, condensation by proper ventilation in the attic, and algae growth with regular power washes.
Installation Costs
The pitch or how steep a roof you have, plus how high up it is will affect the labor cost. If you need the old roof torn off, that is mostly labor, so your cost for work will be more. Labor costs are typically higher in urban areas than in the suburbs. To give you a rough idea of the basic price for each type of material installed, here are some estimated figures for each type installed:
- Asphalt shingles – $300 to $500 per square
- Metal – $250 to $750 per square
- Synthetic products – $150 to $1,000 per square
- Tile – $500 to $800 per square
- Slate – $800 to $1600 per square
- Solar shingles – $500 to $800 per square
Although the cost of solar tiles is about the same as regular shingles, the overall cost is a lot more because of all the other electrical components. However, due to the 30 percent tax credit, a $50,000 solar roof could cost around $35,000 and provide energy savings for the life of the home. However, there are very few solar roof installers yet.
How Does the Roof Inspection Process Affect the Choice of Roofing Material for My Home?
The roof inspection process is crucial in determining the right roofing material for your home. By assessing the current condition of your roof, including any damage or wear and tear, you can make a more informed decision about which material will be the most suitable and cost-effective for your specific needs.
Find Professional Roofers in Buda
After you decide what material you want to use, the next most significant factor will be labor. Some roofing contractors will use a figure that includes the cost of materials and supplies, plus labor. If you’re looking for expert roof repair in Buda TX, call Divided Sky Roofing & Exteriors. We’re always happy to help you choose the best roofing material for you home, and we offer free roof inspections in Buda to help determine what kind of work your roof may need.
