What is the cost of a new roof in Ohio?

When you think about a quote for the cost of a new roof in Ohio, its easy to focus on just the labor and roofing materials but there could be other costs.

• Roof inspection – this will cost around $200 but some roofers will deduct this cost from their overall quotation if you go ahead with their firm
• Building permits – your roofer can advise you on these
• Professional fees – if you are opting for a new roof design or adding features like skylights or dormer windows then you will need to instruct an architect or surveyor to draw up plans
• Tear down costs and dump fees – taking down the old roof and dumping the waste
• Scaffolding hire – your roofer will sub-contract this to a regular scaffolding firm
• Hidden problems – removing the old roof may reveal hidden defects like rotten timber in the roof deck which will need to be repaired before the roof is renewed.  Always keep a reserve of 10%-15% for unexpected problems

How to meet the cost of a new roof in Ohio

Approach your mortgage company because they may offer you some more lending if you have enough equity in the house.  Repayments are spread over the remaining mortgage term so can be affordable.

Some roofers will offer finance with a link to a third-party broker or finance institution although it just tends to be the bigger firms that do this, or you can look around for a bank loan.

You might find a grant in Ohio to help you with the cost of renewing your roof although some grants are only available for roof repairs. Grants are provided from either federal government or locally within Ohio – your roofer should have the latest information as a roof grant can be a good incentive to a customer to sign up.

Most roof grants are capped at a fixed figure and may depend on specific criteria like household income and/or age; many grants are aimed at low income families or older people who will otherwise struggle to afford a new roof and their property is at risk  Another  key driver for a roof grant is sustainability – think about a green roof as this may attract funding as well as significantly lowering your energy bills.

Roof grants can have conditions attached such as the requirement to repay the money if you move house within a specified period – always read the fine print very carefully.

Read about roof prices in other states:

• Roof prices in Florida
• Roof prices in New Jersey 
• New roof prices in Michigan 
• New roof cost in Maryland 

Lowering the cost of a new roof in Ohio

• Roofing materials – roofing materials will represent over half the cost of a new roof so if you choose a more economic product then this can make a big impact on the final bill.  Asphalt shingles are the most popular choice of material across the US and they come in a variety of different ranges including economy
• Keep it simple – adding skylights, dormers or chimneys on your Ohio roof will really bump up the cost so keep the design simple if you are going for a re-model.  Roof features require extra materials and take longer to fit hitting labor costs hard
•  Site access – make your roofer’s life easy by sorting out access to the house before work starts.  There should be a clear ground area around the property so that trucks can pull up alongside to deliver roofing shingles straight to roof height saving the labor and time of carting them up by hand and also to collect the waste material from the old roof tear down
• Roof design – if you are choosing a new style then bear in mind that the steeper the elevation, the more labor it is going to take to re-roof

Being prepared for unexpected costs

The golden rule is not to work right up to your budget as if something unforeseen happens then you will not have the extra funds needed to meet the cost.

Keep a margin of 10%-15% for nasty surprises.  The most common issue is an undetected problem, often a hidden leak (find out how to fix a leaky roof), which is not revealed until all the old roofing material is removed.  Your roofer should inspect the roof internally and externally before issuing a quote, but some problems are just not visible until the old roof is torn down. 

If you are removing a roof overlay, then this is much more likely as defects can be well and truly hidden and it will have been almost impossible to manage repairs on the lowest roof covering on the deck as there is no access.  Hidden leaks will cause rot to roof timbers which will need to be repaired or replaced before new roofing material can be installed.  Always ask your roofer to quote for the extra work once the defect is discovered rather than waiting until the work is finished.

Roof overlay

If you have a property where there has been a roof overlay then it is going to cost more for the tear down and dump fees.  Some properties may have two or even three roofs.

Roof overlays were popular as it is cheaper to install a new roof and quicker.  However, many state roof codes don’t permit these now as they have other problems and not so energy efficient.  They are also unpopular with new purchasers as the lower roofs are impossible to maintain and repair.