If you’re in the market for a new roof for your home, you’ll have plenty of things to consider. Will you be staying in your home for awhile? Will you be going with the same type of material as the existing roof? Do you have to work with an HOA? And of course, what’s your budget? Let’s go over those points and consider the cost for a roof for a 3000 square foot house.
What Are the Different Roofing Materials?
You’ll have several different options to choose from:
- Asphalt shingles
- Steel roofing
- Clay tiles
- Concrete tiles
Each of these materials has it’s pros and cons, so here’s what you need to know about each one. Also, the roofing industry uses the term “square” to refer to 100 square feet of roof surface. So in this case, a 3000 square foot home will have about 30 squares of roof surface, plus one extra to be safe depending on the type of roof it has. So we’ll go with 31 squares for our estimates here.
Asphalt shingles
About 70% of homes in the U.S. have asphalt shingle roofs. On the advantages side, they come in with a low price, they’re fairly attractive, you can choose from many colors, almost all contractors know the product well and can install them really quickly, and you get a fairly good lifespan of around 20–25 years when you buy high-quality shingles from a top manufacturer like GAF, CertainTeed, and Owens Corning.
On the downside, when you compare asphalt shingles to the other types of roofing, you may not feel they’re actually a great value. They’re cheaper, but won’t last as long and probably won’e endure severe weather as well as metal, clay, or concrete options. But hey, sometimes the budget is the number one factor.
As for cost, good quality architectural shingles from the top brands like those listed about will run about $320–340 installed. That comes out to $9920–$10,540 for 31 squares. Removing the old roof will be around $60 per square for one layer of shingles and $80 per square for two layers. That totals $1860–$2480. So now your total for shingles and tear off comes to $11780–$13020.
You could see some other charges, such as repair to the decking that isn’t apparent when your contractor gives you the estimate. But this a fair starting point.
Steel roofing
While you’ll have several types of metal roofing to choose from, most metal roofs are steel. It’s strong and available in a large variety of formats, such as screw down, standing seam, and tiles. A screw-down roof will come in at the lowest cost, around $550 per square. That comes to about $17,000 for 31 squares in our example, plus tear off and other line items. You’ll see different ribbed profiles on this material, which is often used for agricultural and industrial buildings. It works fine for homes too, though, should easily last 30 years, and handles Florida’s intense sun and storms as well as any roof material.
A standing-seam roof is an upgrade over a screw-down roof. It’s ingenious, in fact, in that the crew will attach special clips to the roof decking. Then they bend the steel panels so they lock together over the clips, hiding them. It’s extremely secure and also clean looking, as you don’t see the fasteners. This method requires more labor, so it comes in at around $1000 per square. That’s a $31,000 roof in this case, plus tear off and miscellaneous. Certainly not cheap, but this type of roof is known to handle severe weather and high winds very well and they can last 50 years.
Another option that’s becoming more popular is stamped steel panels, or shingles. The manufacturers stamp them to resemble clay tiles, slate tiles, or cedar shakes. They’re much lighter than either clay or slate tiles, though. And totally fireproof and moss and algae resistant, unlike cedar shakes. They give you the strength of steel in a lightweight product that’s available in several different colors and finishes. At about $750 per square, this is a mid-range price. That’s $23,250 in our example roof for a 3000 square foot house, plus the miscellaneous items.
Clay Tiles and Concrete Tiles
For that traditional Mediterranean look, clay tiles are the way to go. Concrete tiles can also give you that classic look for a lower price. Here’s a comparison of those two material choices. Clay tiles have been used for millennia all over the world and for good reason. They are simple and incredibly durable. You’ll have a few different choices in profile to choose from, including flat tiles and barrel vault tiles. At $1,400 per square and up, this is a premium material. Our example 31 square roof comes in at $43,400 plus miscellaneous.
Concrete tiles can cut that cost for you as they will start at around $950 per square, bringing the cost to $29,450 plus miscellaneous. Comparing concrete and clay tiles, apart from cost, you’ll find more color choices with concrete tiles, and it’s also a heavier product. If your roof already has tiles, it’s probably strong enough already. Both clay tiles and concrete tiles should last for 50-plus years, so that may very well be your last roof.
With either choice, you will want to make sure you are working with a qualified contractor. One way to do that is to check with the tile manufacturer to see if the contractor is certified. And of course, your contractor should have plenty of references from satisfied customers, as well as a good rating at the Better Business Bureau.
We’re Here When You Need Us
A new roof for a 3000 square foot house is a substantial investment, no matter what material you decide on. If you’d like to talk about replacing your roof with any of these types of materials, give us a call at 813-373-9088. Our team has more than 40 years of experience in roofing. You can also use this form and ask us, “How much does a new roof cost in Florida?” and we will contact you.
