Cost Per Bundle Of Shingles

Choosing A Trustworthy Roofer

Unless you personally know a contractor, the thought of finding a reputable company can be overwhelming, to say the least. Between horror stories of people getting blatantly ripped off, the fly-by-night crews and storm chasing contractors, it can be hard to know who you can trust.

Use these steps to find a reputable roofer:

1. Ask friends and family for recommendations.

If your friends and family dont know any good contractors they can recommend, then do some online research to identify top local contractors that seem transparent and have solid reviews across different sources.

2. Once you have a list of prospects, call them, and ask these questions:

• Do they take on projects of your size? This one will almost always be a Yes, but it is a good starting point to get the contractors interest and attention
• Can they supply a list of previous clients as references?
• Are they willing to provide financial references from banks and suppliers?
• How many other projects will they be working on while doing your roof?
• Will they be using subcontractors? If so, how long have they worked with them?

This information will tell you how reliable they are, how much attention theyll give to your project and how smoothly the work will go.

3. From your phone conversations, choose three to four contractors to come to your home for estimates. Dont go on personality alone! Be sure to check their reputation with their past clients and/or BBB, rip off report, Angies List if you have it, etc.

Roof Shingles Prices By Style

The appearance of your shingle roof will depend on many factors, including the type of material. Some materials like cedar will give your roof a rustic look, others will make your roof look like a cottage roof. The style and material that you choose depends on your needs and your budget.

Cost To Remove Old Roofing

Before your roofer can install new shingles, he needs to remove the old roof. Removal and tear off fees can be expensive.

It costs as much as $55 per square to take down one layer of old shingles, and $84 per square to tear off two layers. So if you need to remove 2,000 sq.ft. of old materials you will be spending $1,000 1,680, depending on the number of layers.

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Compare Shingle Prices Based On Brand

When researching various asphalt shingle products for your roof, you have surely noticed that some manufacturers and brands are more expensive than others.

However, usually for the same class products, prices are pretty competitive across manufacturers. The biggest difference between them is mostly in the brand name recognition, roofers and homeowners perception of material quality, and installers preference.

Here is a quick reference chart comparing shingle costs across the top brands: GAF, Certainteed, Owens Corning, IKO, Tamko and Malarkey.

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Asphalt Shingles Cost By Material

There are two main materials to consider when shopping for asphalt shingles, ranging from $3 to $12 per sq.ft. installed. Fiberglass shingles are less expensive and easier to find than the organic variety, but the final price varies based on the brand and style. Mild regions may be better for fiberglass shingles. Homes in areas with extreme cold or heat may get better results with organic asphalt shingles.

Fiberglass shingles cost less than organic, about $3 to $9 a sq.ft. installed. Organic shingles cost $9 to $12 per sq.ft. installed. Fiberglass shingles are more durable, with some architectural styles lasting 50 years. They are also less flammable. Organic shingles are less popular but do well in cold or harsh climates, so they may be found in those areas more often. Both materials have a layer of asphalt over a mat and stone granules on top. The material refers to the mat, giving the shingles integrity.

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How Long Does An Asphalt Roof Last

When considering asphalt shingles, many homeowners want to know how long their roof will last.

There is lots of conflicting information out there, including promises of 30 year shingles, 50 year shingles, and Lifetime shingles from roof manufacturers themselves.

What do these numbers really mean? If you buy 30 year shingles will your roof last for 30 years?

Unfortunately, these are all marketing scams, and not even the best asphalt shingles will last 30+ years, or a Lifetime

A properly installed, high quality asphalt roof can last 18-22 years plus at best, if you regularly do maintenance and live in a mild climate. However, most asphalt shingles last about 14-16 years, before needing total replacement.

The reality is there is no way to predict how long your roof will last because a few factors impact shingle longevity:

1. Severe temperature fluctuations will greatly shorten the life of your shingles. Going from hot to cold temps every season speeds up the aging process in the shingle material and it breaks down faster. This is why in the Northern States like MA, NY, asphalt roofs are often replaced every 10-12 years.

2. Exposure to high heat. Living in areas with very hot temperatures year round also ages the shingles much faster than the average expected service life. High heat can easily reduce the service life of your roof by at least 30%

Some people wait for so long before repairing their roof that they come to a point when they need to replace it.

Plastic Roof Shingles Cost

Plastic roofing may sound kind of flimsy but rest assured these shingles are just as strong as standard asphalt shingles. They are actually made of a composite or synthetic material that is resistant to mold, mildew, insects, fungus, and rot. Plastic shingles are easy to install, as they have an interlocking system. They also look just like a more expensive roofing product like slate or cedar wood. Plastic roof shingles cost $4 – $6 per square ft.

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Roof Shingles Cost Breakdown

Here is a closer look at prices for different types of asphalt shingles.

In the past three years, from 2016-2020, prices have actually gone down by about 20%. This is great news for homeowners looking to get a new roof.

Finding The Size Of The Roof In Squares

Roofing contractors estimate projects and materials by the square, so it is crucial to find this measurement to estimate the amount of material needed accurately. A square simply refers to a 10 x 10 square of roofing. This is simply 100 square feet of roof.

To find the squares, divide the overall roof area by 100 and then round up. For instance, if the roof is 1550 square feet, then it is 16 squares.

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How Much Do Certainteed Shingles Cost

CertainTeed manufactures some of the most reliable composition shingles on the market. However, their prices for asphalt shingles are the highest in the roofing industry.

Since the list of all their shingles products is quite extensive, here are the prices for the most popular CertainTeed Shingles (note, these are material prices only, and do not include the cost of professional roof installation:

3-Tab category XT 30 IR: $62 $76 per 100 square feet Most affordable architectural shingles Landmark: $81 $95 per 100 square feet Most popular architectural shingles Landmark Pro: $114 $124 per 100 square feet Premium architectural shingles Landmark Premium: $142 $152 per 100 square feet Most popular designer shingles Grand Manor: $209 $232 per 100 square feet

You can by some 3 tab and architectural shingles products by CertainTeed at Home Depot or Lowes. This is especially convenient if you want to do the roof installation by yourself and also want to get fairly cheap roof shingles.

On the other hand, if you are looking for more upscale architectural or designer shingles by CertainTeed, you need to get them from a local roofing supply store or from your roofer.

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Wood Or Cedar Shake Roof Cost

When it comes to wood or cedar shake roofs, there are some important factors to consider when were evaluating the materials used. First, there is a range of the level of thicknesses when we are talking about wood shake. This will obviously have an effect on the overall price.

According to Homeguide, The national average for wood or cedar shake roofing is between $12,000 and $16,000, or $800 per square footage. The anticipated life span for most wood-shake roof installations is between 30 and 40 years.

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How Much Is A Bundle Of Shingles

Asphalt shingles are sold in bundles. There are 3 bundles per square. 1 square of roof area covers about 100 sq.ft.

Here is a quick look at the cost per bundle of shingles:

Note, the precise number of bundles you need to buy really depends on your roof size, slope , and how cut up it is. For example, a 1600 sq.ft. roof will need at least 16 squares or 54 bundles of shingles .

Keep in mind that a professional roofer will also estimate a slightly larger order of shingles, just to be on the safe side and have enough shingles to finish the job.

Usually, roofers estimate about 10% waste for materials. For example, if your roof is 16 squares, your price quote will include 17 squares of roof shingles.

You may be able to get cheaper pricing if you go to a roofing supplier and by shingles from IKO, Owens Corning or Atlas.

Asphalt Shingles Pros And Cons

Many homeowners choose this material for affordability and durability. It is one of the most economical roofing types with a decent return on investment, especially with 30 or 40-year shingles. Many colors and textured designs are available and advanced technology to protect against storms, algae, and cracking. Laminated and luxury architectural pieces cost more than the traditional three-tab version. Even the most basic ones should last 10 to 20 years.

While this material has many advantages, some downsides, such as the shorter lifespan and inefficient recycling opportunities, exist. Asphalt shingles are difficult to recycle once you are done with them and contribute to toxic fumes in landfills, with millions of tons of asphalt discarded yearly. An annual inspection is recommended. Curled, cracked, or missing shingles can lead to irreparable damage that requires an expensive roof replacement.

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Which Should I Use To Re

Asphalt, wood or slate are the preferred material for steep rooftops. However, when re-shingling a hip/steep one, consider the type of shingles that were used previously. Using a material of comparable weight and quality can help ensure that the structure is designed to support the new weight. If heavier ones must be used, then the home may need to be reinforced before the project can proceed.

How Many Shingles In A Square

For regular 3-tab, non-laminated shingles, youll have around 78 shingles per square. Some older styles of 3-tab shingles will have up to 87 shingles per square. Architectural shingles will have anywhere from 57 to 66 shingles per square.

The number of shingles in an architectural or laminated shingle bundle vary since there are many, many different varieties of these types of shingles available for purchase. Sizes are different and therefore the number of shingles in a square differs from square to square for that type of shingle.

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Architectural Shingles Vs 3

Both architectural and 3-tab shingles are subtypes of asphalt shingles. 3-tab is the least expensive and oldest shingle type. It is made of fiberglass or felt mat topped with asphalt and granules. Architectural materials are two or more layers of fiberglass that have been laminated. 3-tab comes in uniform sizes designed for easier installation, while architectural materials come in varying sizes for a dimensional appearance.

Architectural materials are more expensive but last longer, with 50 years being the average length for most warranties. Traditional 3-tab roofing lasts an average of 20 years, but it may last up to 30 years in the right climate with proper care. Both come in many colors, with architectural shingles also available in different appearances like slate and wood shakes.

Below is the average cost to install both materials per square foot.

Cool Roof Shingles Cost

A cool roof is an energy-efficient roof that stays cool even in the hottest weather. Three key features characterize these asphalt shingles: thermal emittance , and solar reflectance index or SRI . The higher the SRI rating, the cooler the home will stay. Normally, cool roof shingles will be lighter colors. The cool roof shingles cost about $2.50 per square ft.

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Weight Of Asphalt Shingles

The average weight of asphalt shingles per square foot is 1 to 3 pounds. The weight of a bundle of asphalt shingles is 50 to 80 pounds. Bundles of three-tab asphalt shingles are generally at least 50 pounds. Architectural asphalt shingles may be closer to 65 pounds. The asphalt shingle weight per square is 230 to 430 pounds, depending on the type. Three-tab shingles squares are 230 to 250 pounds. Architectural shingle squares most commonly weigh 400 to 430 pounds.

It is important to know the weight to understand the replacement and reinforcement requirements and the project costs. Your roofs home deck may require replacement or reinforcement if the new shingles are significantly heavier than the previous roofing material. The cost of professional teardown depends on how heavy they are and how much material requires disposal. Many dumpster providers charge per pound, with an overweight fee if the dumpster weighs more than expected.

Weight and thickness vary depending on the material design. Standard asphalt shingles are the least thick and can be layered across existing roofing for fast installation. Architectural options are thicker due to the lamination. While they do not weigh much more than standard shingles, they appear heavier for greater visual substance. In comparison, slate, metal, and tile are heavier and need a reinforced roof deck before use. Asphalt and wood shingles do not need reinforcement.

Should You Consider Diy Roof Installation

As we discussed before, professional labor to install a new asphalt shingles roof constitutes at least 70% of the total cost. This means that you can potentially save thousands of dollars if you can do the tear off and installation yourself.

The million dollar questions is, should you?

When it comes to asphalt shingles, one of their biggest benefits is that they are extremely DIY friendly. Indeed, asphalt shingles is one of the very few roofing materials that a handy homeowner can put up on their own.

Shingle installation does not require any special tools or technical training. This is the reason why so many roofers install them its the easiest entry point in this field.

You can purchase all the necessary materials and supplies at your local big box home improvement store, and avoid the hassle of hiring a roofing company. In fact, basic 3-tab roofing shingles is one of the cheapest roofing options out there, and you can have a brand new roof for under $3,000.

Moreover, there are many step-by-step guides and YouTube videos on how do this correctly.

Keep in mind that when you buy shingles, you need to carefully measure your roof and also buy extra shingles to account for the waste factor. Typically, gable roofs require about 5% waste, while hip roofs are about 7.5%

Still, if you do everything carefully and educate yourself about the nuances of proper installation, you can do a very successful shingle install and keep thousands of dollars in your pocket.

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Energy Star Asphalt Shingles Cost

Energy-efficient asphalt shingles come with an Energy Star rating, similar to many other home building products. These reflect the sun better for adequate temperature control. Depending on the shingle, they can reduce the roof temperature by as much as 50º, leading to less heat transfer. Energy Star pieces reduce air conditioning requirements by 10% to 15%. Most brands offer some form of Energy Star shingles that cost $25 to $60 per bundle. They are worth the extra money for many homeowners, especially for cost savings.

Roof Pitch For Shingles

The pitch is the slope of your roof–the rise compared to the run or horizontal measurement of 12. For example, a roof that has a rise of 6 would be referred to as 6-in-12 or just 6-pitch.

Roofs with a very high pitch are more difficult to install, which increases the installation cost. It is harder for the roofer to walk or remain safe on a roof with a . So, there is often staging and additional equipment involved, which increases the length of time for the set up prior to installation. While installation may cost anywhere from $1.50 to $5.00 a square foot for a roof with an average pitch, these costs may be double or more for roofs with a higher pitch.

Low to medium-pitched roofs are the preferred standard for easier walkability for repairs and maintenance. A flat roof is prone to standing water and leaks while a high-pitch roof creates issues with installation, repairs, and maintenance.

Another aspect of knowing the roof pitch is to know the right type of roofing material to use for your particular roof, as well as what roofing supplies will be needed. Some roofing materials are better suited to high pitch roofs.

A pitched roof is any roof slope greater than a 3-pitch. A-frame houses have a 12-pitch, but some roofs are even more pitched than that. Most pitched roofs in todays construction industry are built using asphalt shingles.

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