What is the cost of a New Roof in Michigan?

What can you expect to see on a roofing quote for the cost of a new roof in Michigan?

Most roofing quotes are split into two parts: labor and roofing materials. Roofers can quote slightly differently so some provide an all-inclusive cost per roof square whereas others will split the costs up into different sections.

A roof square is a convenient and very commonly used unit of measurement which helps to make it easier to work out the cost of roofing materials and compare different types. A roof square is 100 square feet so if you know your roof area then just divide it by 100.

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 

Most roofing depots will price their materials in roof squares but just bear in mind that their costs won’t include labor or tear down costs which could be on your estimate per roof square and which will obviously make it higher.  There is also a distinct difference between how much material is needed for one roof square and the price per roof square; your roofer will take into account wastage and also the fact that more material may be needed for parts of the roof where there are joints or complicated features.

What else will be on your roofer’s estimate?

•         Third party costs like scaffolding hire although this can be billed separately
•         Dump fees
•         Labor and materials for roof features like skylights, dormers and chimney stacks
•         Renewal of rainwater goods such as guttering, soffits and eaves boards

What are the extra costs which won’t appear on your roofing estimate?

There are plenty of extra charges which can attach to your roofing project and which you will need to take account of when planning your budget. Not all will apply to your home but here is a pretty extensive list to act as a guide:-

• Professional fees for an architect or surveyor if you are planning a new roof design or converting space in the roof void for extra accommodation. You might need the services of a structural engineer if there are problems with the frame of the roof, all of these fees will be in the hundreds of dollars and some may touch around $1,000
• Upgrades required by the local area roofing code, these usually only apply to older properties and your roofer should be able to flag these when he makes his inspection
• Hidden damage caused by an invisible water leak which has caused rot to the lumbar in the roof; sometimes this is not revealed until after tear down even with the most thorough of inspections. Rotten timber will need to be repaired or replaced before any further work can take place
•  Building permits

How to save money on the cost of a new roof in Michigan

Don’t necessarily choose the cheapest quote, pick the roofer in Michigan you want and then see if you can negotiate with him once he knows your budget. There are some things you can do to keep costs down short of getting up on the roof yourself to do the tear down which is not recommended.

• Change the roofing material, this can have one of the biggest impacts on cost and save money. Look around for special offers particularly if you have a small roof, you might be able to buy shingles which are end of range and set to be discontinued – just make sure you have enough spares for the years ahead for when they break or need replacing
• Consider an overlay, this is where you put the new roof on top of the old roof or roofs and loses the tear down costs and dump fees. Roof overlayment is permitted in most states of the US but some contractors are quite anti and won’t do them. They are only an option for certain types of roof, usually ones which are in good repair and not sagging
• Make sure your site access is clear and that it is easy for trucks to come alongside the property, this is one of the few things the homeowner can impact on when it comes to labor costs. If your roofer has to cart all the shingles up from the ground or can’t tear down the old roof because the dump truck can’t get in or the scaffold truck is too big to fit then it will all take much longer and you know who will be paying for that

What are the drawbacks of a roof overlay?

There are lots of drawbacks to a roof overlay which could well outweigh the sole advantage of saving money. These are:-

•  The roof you install over one or two previous roofs will not have the same lifespan as if you put it straight onto the wooden deck
•  Insulation is virtually zero
• If there are leaks or repairs to the lower roofs then they will be almost impossible to access
• Not every roof is suitable for overlayment, the roof will need to be in reasonable condition and your roofer will need to agree to do it
• Insurance companies will only insure the top roof layer and not the ones below
• Prospective purchasers can be put off by roof overlays

Finding a good roofing contractor in Michigan

If you don’t already have one through roofingpricing.com - then ask around in the local area, friends, family or work colleagues. Social media can be a good place to look for a roofing firm but bear in mind the recommendations made are sometimes from people you don’t know.

Always get two or three quotes so you can compare and contrast. Ask your chosen roofer whether he is correctly insured and licensed. Will you need any building permits?

Find out if there is anything else he is aware of as a cost that doesn’t appear on the estimate. Ask about warranties and guarantees. Your contractor should give a warranty for the workmanship, these are usually for around ten years and there will be specific guarantees from the manufacturers of the roofing materials although these can be voided if the installation is not done correctly and professionally. Find local expert contractors and search quotes for a new roof.