How much does a new roof cost in Maryland?
The roof is one of the most important parts of any house. It protects the interior and the rest of the structure from damage, and also plays an important part in structural support. A high-quality roof installation should last for many years. Exactly how long a roof can be expected to last will depend on the material it is made from, the size of the property, and where the property is located.
One thing is certain, though. Eventually, you will need to replace your roof.
New roofing is an investment and one that can come with an intimidating price ticket. Replacing a roof is a big project, but if your roof has missing or broken shingles, broken tiles, cracks, damaged flashing, or even worse, a roof leak, then replacing it will be the right decision. In the long run, this will save you time, money, and lot of headaches!
The first question that you’re likely to have is “how much is a new roof going to cost me“. The answer to that is “it depends”. There are many factors that can impact the cost of a new roof, and today we’re going to examine some of them and explain how the estimating process works.
What Goes into Estimating the Cost of a Roofing Project?
There are many factors that can impact on the cost of a roof replacement. Some of the main factors include:
1. The size of your property
Bigger roofs will, of course, require more materials and take longer to install, so they will cost more than smaller roofs.
2. The pitch of the roof
A roof with a steep slope can cost as much as 20% more than one that is shallower in slope. This is because it takes longer, and there are safety risks associated with working on a heavily sloped roof, so the contractors need to take more precautions.
3. How the roof was installed
What type of roof is already in place? Did the previous contractors do a good job? Is the entire roof being replaced or can some sections be replaced without touching other parts?
4. The cost of the materials used
Roofs can be made from different types of roof shingles, clay tiles, synthetic slate, concrete tiles, metal shingles, and many other materials. The cost per square foot for each of these materials can vary massively, and the overall labor costs may be affected too, depending on how easy the materials are to work with.
5. Any building codes/regulations associated with the property and the area it is in
You may need planning permission or to comply with certain building codes. If you need planning permission, the contractor may expect you to obtain it or may be willing to handle this for you, but for a fee. Make sure you know what you are getting in to before starting work. This is particularly important if you will be making major changes to the look or size of the property since there is the risk of being turned down for any permits you apply for.
6. Any skylights, chimneys, or piping that needs to be considered during the installation process
Anything that makes the work more complicated could increase the price. Remember, an estimate is exactly that. If the contractor runs into any problems, such as pipework that they have to be careful not to disturb, or that they have to route around, then that may make the job take longer. If you know of anything unusual about your property, be sure to disclose this information during the initial site visit.
In addition to the above, the size and quality of the firm that you work with, and how they handle the project, will also impact the price. The roofing industry is big business. With private contractors seeing a big increase in projects over the last few years thanks to extreme weather, new housing developments, and other changes.
This means that there’s no shortage of roofing companies to choose from. Indeed, as single-family housing projects increase and more and more homeowners are looking for storm-resistant products, demand for new roofing countrywide is expected to increase by 4.9% in 2021, making the industry worth $19.9 billion!
So, to summarize, even here in Maryland, you have plenty of options when it comes to choosing and hiring a roofing company. But why not hire the best roofing company for your project? Yes, I know we’re biased here 🙂 but you can always check out our 5-star reviews.
How Much Might a New Roof Cost?
The cost of a new roof here in Maryland can vary massively. If you don’t actually need a new roof and instead need a roof leak repair, the cost would be much much lower of course. This can all be worked out for you when you schedule a free roof inspection. The price for a complete new roof installation for a small townhouse could be from $4,000 up to $12,000.
Replacement roofing for a single-family home roof can start at $5,000 and go up to $25,000. It all depends on the layout, size, and type of roofing materials.
Remodeling, a major national publication, conducted a survey into the average cost of roof replacements and found that the average cost of a roof replacement for a 30 square domestic residence in Maryland in 2018, was $20,636.
For clarity, a roofing square is a 100 square foot area of roof (or a 10ft by 10ft area, to express that another way). The average single-family home in Maryland is around 30 square.
These statistics give you a vague idea of the budget you should set. If you have a small property, you can expect quotes at the lower end. If you have a large property and want something particularly unusual done with the property, you can expect quotes at the higher end.
Getting a Good Deal on a New Roof
Once you have an idea of what a reasonable quote looks like, you can start looking for a roofing contractor to work with. Remember that your roof is an important part of your property. It wouldn’t be wise to just look for the cheapest contractor. You should make sure that the contractor you work with is one that you can trust, and that the estimate they give you is clear and indicates that they understand the requirements well and can do a good job.
Things to consider when choosing a contractor include:
– Are they established? Do they have a tax ID, license, and a permanent address?
– Do they have all the required insurance policies – such as liability cover and workers’ compensation?
– Are they willing to provide a list of references, and ideally past projects that you can visit to see the standard of their work?
– Does the quote include a detailed description of the work and full specifications?
– Is the contractor able to clearly describe their procedures, how long it will take to do the job, and their quality control processes?
– Do they offer warranties on both materials and labor?
In addition to the above, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if the company has hand any complaints made against them. One or two complaints against a long-established business is not a glaring red flag. It is hard for a company to please everyone. Sometimes things go wrong that are not the fault of the business, and sometimes customers complain for reasons that others might see as being unreasonable. With that said, if a company has a long list of complaints leveled against them, then you should be wary.
Do not work with a company that is unable to provide evidence of insurance and licenses, or if the estimate is vague and the quote does not lay out clear expectations and processes. There are many potential scenarios where a roofing contractor could run into unexpected problems, and having clear expectations laid out about how extra costs might be handled, what will happen in the event of work being interrupted, etc, will save you a lot of time and stress.
You may be tempted to try repairing your roof as a DIY project. Unless you are a skilled contractor yourself, with all of the required tools and materials, we would not advise this. There are many potential complications associated with roof repair. Would you recognize, and know what to do about, damaged timber in the framing? Would you be able to choose the right shingles for the slope, frame, and environment? Do you know how to work safely at heights?
Unless you have experience working as a roofer, it is best to bring in the experts. We are a team of roofing contractors serving Maryland and the surrounding areas, and we are here to help you keep your house in the best possible condition.
If you are looking for a new roof in Maryland, why not give us a call? We are here to help you get the best deals and the best workmanship on your new roofing project. We would be happy to come out for a site visit, give you a no-obligation estimate, and, if you are happy with our prices and our skills, start work on your roof as soon as possible. Call us today, or get in touch via our contact form, to discuss your roofing repair or renovation requirements.
