The cost of roofing shingles comprises two broad components – materials and labor. Roofing shingles installation costs can vary depending upon the size and nature of the roof, and upon whether or not the old roof must be torn down. Material expenses will depend upon the nature of the roof and the quality or brand of roofing shingles that you will use.
Cost of Roofing Shingles – Material
3 tab roofing shingles are the most commonly used roofing material and come with 20 to 25 year warranties. Just look around your home and you’ll probably find most roofs are of shingles. Prices for roofing vary from $70 to $100 per square, a square being the equivalent of 100 square feet.
Dimensional shingles are slightly more expensive, with typical rates being $90 per square. You’ll need special accessories for dimensional roofing shingles such as a ridge cap and starter strips.
Ice and water shields are applied to the eaves of homes, and have an underlayment that extends 2 feet inside the outer wall. This guards the building against ice build up. Material costs run to $55 per square. The shield comes in rolls which can be run down valleys and any gaps in the roof.
Tar Paper or Felt is applied to roof decking over the ice and water shield and absorbs water vapor that can otherwise condense beneath the roofing shingles. Most felt is reinforced with fiberglass and sits smoothly and flatter than organic varieties. The price is $50 per square.
The cost of roofing shingles material is therefore dependent upon how much of each kind you will need and the brand or location where you will purchase it from.
Other than these materials, other accessories are often required for roofing projects. Turtle vents run to around $15 per piece and ridge vents are $5 per running foot. These vents are needed near the peak of the building to cover the ridge vent. Under special circumstances, turbines (which are vents that spin to suck air out of an attic) may be installed. Turbines cost $60 apiece.
Accessories such as broan vents, plumbing stacks, valley metal and drip edges are used under specific conditions. Counter flashing is needed to cover the top of exposed walls such as a brick chimney. A groove needs to be made in the wall to slot this into.
Miscellaneous other material like nails, hammer tack, staples, silicone and such material add to the cost of roofing shingles installation.
Cost of Roofing Shingles – Labor
Labor cost of roofing shingles depends upon the type of roof, the need to tear off the existing roof, the price to install roofing shingles, the cost of roofing accessories installation and woodwork charges.
As you may well imagine, this covers a broad range of pricing. A one layer low pitch roof can cost $90 per square to tear off shingles, $115 per square for installation of new roofing shingles and $70 per square for accessory labor. For steep roofs or higher storied buildings, the labor charges rise steeply because of the degree of difficulty of the work as well as the danger involved and the mandatory need for safety precautions, with their attendant costs.
The cost of roofing shingles depends on so many variables. Yet the labor is relatively easy and the materials are relatively inexpensive, making roofing shingles the preferred roof solution for many households across the country.