Asphalt Shingle Price Guide for Estimating the Cost of Asphalt Shingle Roofing

Asphalt shingles continue to be the most widely used type of roofing on today’s homes.  They are easy to install, very durable, and come in dozens of colors and styles to give each home the look desired. Affordable materials combined with 20-30 years of longevity make it is easy to understand while asphalt shingles remain popular. Just how much does an asphalt shingle roof cost?

 

Let’s explore that question.

The cost of having your home roofed with asphalt shingles will be determined by many factors.  The truth is, the cost of roofing 2 homes of the same size can differ by 50% or more based on the variables listed below. For a quick rough cost check How Much Does A New Roof Cost?

Type of Asphalt Shingles

If you’ve started to price shingles then you know there are several different types to consider.  Traditional 3-tab shingles are the least expensive.  Architectural shingles, often called dimensional shingles because the overlapping material adds the dimension of height to their profile, include up to 50% more material and cost quite a bit more. Organic asphalt shingles feature a base layer of felt composite material that absorbs 40% more asphalt than fiberglass (3-tab/architectural) shingles making them more wind-resistant and more durable. They are the most expensive type of asphalt shingle but come with the longest warranty.

Quality of the Shingle

The length of the warranty is a good way to evaluate the quality of the shingle.  The least expensive typically have a 15-year or 20-year warranty.  Better shingles will come with a 25-year or 30-year warranty.

Color

Not usually a major factor in price, shingles in some “premium” colors cost more. Check around your area. You most likely will find that shingles of a color that is “normal” in your area will cost less then if you decide to put a pink roof on in a northern gray or black shingled neighborhood.

Complexity of the Roof

Roofing contractors base their estimates in part on how much time they think it will take to install the asphalt shingles. If your roof is not steep and doesn’t have many angles, peaks, valleys or dormers, it will cost less. Steeper and more complex roofs cost more because they take more time to complete.  Additional safety equipment, if required on steep roofs, will also add to the cost. Know your roofing type before you talk to a roofer.

Time of Year

Roofers are busiest in the middle of summer, and their prices are higher at that time.  When they are less busy in spring or fall, their prices may be more competitive.  Depending on the climate where you live, roofers may not install shingles at all during winter.  If your climate is mild enough to install asphalt shingles in winter, weather-related issues may affect the price.

Because of the these factors, it is always a good idea to get written estimates from multiple roofing contractors in order to find the best price.

What Did You Pay?

We want the Roofing Tutor to be a site our readers can rely on for complete information about roofing. You can help!  If you’ve had a new asphalt shingle roof installed in the last few years and would be willing to tell other readers about it, we would all appreciate it greatly.  The form below is provided for that purpose.

Tell us about your home – how large it is and how complex the roof is (easy, medium, hard). What type of shingle did you choose?  What’s the warranty?  What time of year did you have the work done and where do you live?

How much did the job cost?  If you can separate material costs from labor costs that will help too.  Do you have any suggestions for other readers as they consider an asphalt shingle roof?

We know that all of our readers will really appreciate your input!  A huge THANK YOU in advance for your help!

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