The Cost of Roofing Today

One of the very first things most roofers are asked is, “how much is this going to cost?” It makes sense as most expect their new roof installation will cost as much as a new car. And, if they live in certain areas of the country it just might. However, here in Chicago new roof construction can be determined by working out four factors we’ll discuss in-depth below. These factors are (in no determinate order): size, materials, pitch, ease-of-access. Once we have an idea of these factors we can provide a concrete answer for this all-too common question.

Let’s dissect each factor to get a better idea of what kind of influence it has on the final cost for your new roof construction project. Keep in mind that this is all specific to the Chicago area. Costs in different locations will be vastly different than in others, so a new roof in Tulsa, Oklahoma is not going to cost the same as one on Long Island, New York.

Size of Roof: This is one of the primary movers of the cost of a new roof project – obviously – and can be understood best when you understand how a roofing professional views you roofing. We look at it in terms of squares, or 10×10 foot sections, that total 100 square feet. The larger your roof the more squares it will contain and the higher your overall cost. Roof components like skylights and HVAC equipment can also play a role here due to adding complexity to a square. Your roofer will explain all of this to you during your estimate visit.

Roofing Materials: This one is pretty straightforward. Certain materials cost more to produce and offer specific benefits – like chemical resistance – so they’re clearly going to cost more. Metal roofing is more expensive than PVC roofing, yet even among metal roofs there are differences in price. Everyone knows copper costs more than tin after all. In the end, the materials you choose will be a large part of the total cost of your project and should be discussed with your roofer if you feel you need a lower cost option for your specific roof service.

Angle of Roof: You may not realize it, and we wouldn’t blame you if you hadn’t, but the angle of your roofing will also play a role in the pricing for your new roof installation. See, the angle, or pitch, of your roofing will determine how easy it is to do the necessary work. On a flat roof, there’s far less safety gear to wear than on a highly-pitched roof. These require additional measures to be taken to allow the labor to be handled safely – not to mention to store materials as work progresses. Moving materials from the ground to roof level when they’re needed takes far more time, labor, and expense to tackle.

Ease-of-Access: This is usually the one that customers in the market for new roof construction don’t see coming. In Chicago, many homes and businesses are built exceedingly close to one another. This can make getting in and out of a jobsite difficult and add substantially to the time it takes to finish a project. A great deal of material has to be moved from street level to your rooftop and that requires space to handle efficiently. In cramped quarters it can be done, but it’s much more labor-intensive which adds to the final price tag.

No matter where you are in the US, you should never be paying anything less than $2.50/square foot installed. If you encounter a price less than that in the Chicagoland area for new roof construction you should run from that contractor as fast as you can. They’re obviously playing fast and loose with their licensing, their insurance, their labor costs, or a combination of all three. They’re not worth the money you think you’ll save – really they’re not. A poorly installed roof can cost you more in repairs over time than you want to spend and be nothing but a constant headache for you. So, get an estimate from Roofing by Hernandez and get the right new roof installation for the right price.

Chicago’s Trusted New Roof Installer

Are you in Chicago and in need of roofing or roofing-related services? Roofing by Hernandez specializes in everything from simple TPO repairs to tear-offs and roof restorations. Our extensive network of resources means we can deliver spectacular results anywhere in Chicagoland – maybe even the same day. So, make the call to Roofing by Hernandez at (312) 439-0556 for the highest-rated roofing services in town!