In our previous article, we reported on a large price increase for roofing shingles, that took place in 2011. Due to these price increases, the overall roof installation costs have also gone up, as roofing contractors have to pay more for the shingles and roofing accessories. We updated our main roofing calculator (which estimates overall roof installation price) and roofing shingles calculator, which estimates the cost of roofing materials and accessories needed to replace your roof (including shingles, roof underlayment, drip-edge, nails, ridge vent and ridge cap shingles, etc.).

We’ve already updated our roofing materials calculator about a week ago, and now we rolled out the update for the main roofing calculator.

Summary of price updates for Roofing Calculator:

Base installation price for 30 year architectural shingles went up by $25 per roofing square – this accounts for $19 increase in shingles prices and about $6 / square increase in accessories cost. Base price now is $275 per square, installed.

Base price for 50 year architectural shingles also went up by $29 per square, and is now $324 / square.

Base price for EPDM rubber also increased. We’ve been receiving price increase notices from our supplier, throughout the year, and overall it amounts to about about 10% annual increase in membrane and accessories cost. We now estimate cost to install EPDM rubber roofing at about $535 per square.

Please note that rubber roof installation prices will vary greatly depending on your roof, roof size, contractor you are working with, your geographic location and MANY more details specific to flat roofing installation. Also big difference in roof replacement cost will come from your property classification. If you have a residential home, then price per square will be more, that large commercial flat roof. However, in commercial roofing, there are certain requirements to the contractors, and the project itself, such as a minimum of 20-r value roof insulation on all new roofs, and in many cases union labor or prevailing wage on government projects. Also, if the roof is located on the top of 22 story building, access to the roof is that much more difficult, and cost per square will be significantly higher.

Basically in commercial roofing world, cost per square can range for somewhat low ($400-500/square) to over a $1000 per square.

Because commercial roofing is very diverse, our roofing calculator is geared more toward residential flat roofing.

Metal Roofing Costs:

Metal roofing prices are more stable and more volatile at the same time. They can go up and down throughout the year, depending on commodity prices (for example copper roofing prices change daily), and will also depend on the manufacturer and their inventory on hand. Back in 2008, metal roofing prices started going up in the beginning of the year, because cost of metal went up a lot, and overall increase was about 25%. However after the market crush in the fall of 2008, when commodity and oil prices took a dive, metal roofing manufacturers were sitting on a large inventory of VERY expensive metal coils, and did not reduce prices until mid 2009, when they replaced their inventory with less expensive materials.

Due to this volatility, we did not change metal roofing installation prices. Also, a lot of the total metal roof installation cost is attributed to labor, which is a lot more involved than shingles installation and requires trained professionals to properly install a metal roof. Therefore, materials cost has less influence on metal roofing prices in percentage valuations.

We will keep you updated on any sizable changes in roofing materials prices, as they take place.

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