How Much Does Roof Replacement Cost?

As we all know, your roof is your primary protection against harsh weather elements. Due to the recent storms in Queensland it has never been more important to have a solid roof structure installed to help protect you from the unpredictable climate conditions. Replacing your roof is a common job we undertake at Pro Roofing and many people ask us, “how much will roof replacement cost?“. While the price can vary from one region of Australia to the next, the charges will always fall in a certain range. In this article, we explain the average cost of roof replacement in Australia.

What is the average cost of roof replacement?

There are many factors that affect the cost of roof replacement. They include the following:

Material used

The kind of material that is used in the roof will have a huge bearing on the cost of roof replacement. On average, Zincalume and Colorbond materials tend to be cheaper to replace compared to terracotta-tiled roofing. Also, these materials provide better protection. Different steel products have different costs and this will depend on thermal insulation properties as well as other features like double sided power, salt corrosion protection and coated finishes. The cost ranges from $20 to $40 per square metre.

Size

Another important factor that affects the cost of roof replacement is size. In fact, majority of contractors often charge per square metre. But don’t panic if you have a larger than average project. In general, the per-square metre rate reduces the larger a project is. Small-to-medium projects can cost an average of $22 to $30 per square metre, with larger projects costing slightly lower rate of 417 to $22. On average, expect to pay between $4000 and $14,000.

Cost of labour

Lastly, another thing that will affect the cost of replacing your roof is the cost of labour. It is not recommended to accomplish roofing jobs by yourself because of the safety concerns involved. Labour costs are also determined by the ease of access to the roof as well as the cost of removing the old roofing materials.

The type of the roofing material to be removed will change the cost. If a roof contains asbestos, it will be more expensive to remove compared to an old rusty roof. In other words, it’s cheaper to install a new roof on a newly-built home than replacing an old roof.

A simple roof replacement job can cost you an average of $7500 for small homes but a new roof will usually cost you 2-4% of the value of the home. If you are interested in getting a written quote or site visit in or around South East Queensland please visit our home page and use the request a quote form on the left and one of our team will be in contact with you to discuss your roof replacement project.

Using the square metre rate to calculate the cost of replacing your roof

You need to first know the number of square metres that you wish to have replaced. If you don’t know, just use Google Earth to locate your property. After that, make use of the Ruler feature to determine your roof’s length and width. Find the area by multiplying the length by the width measurements. After that, multiply the area by 1.1 to get the effective area if it’s a pitched roof. On average, roof replacement cost per square metre costs $100-$130.

This cost factors in the removal of existing roofing materials as well as disposal, replacing it with roof tiles or colorbond metal and finally tidying up the working area. Difficult sites to access, steep roofs, asbestos cement roofs, remote sites and smaller roofs will generally be on the higher end of price range.

Simple roofs having single or double pitches, average-sized roofs and those that are easy to access will cost lower. The cheapest roofs to replace are concrete tiled roofs, followed by the terracotta-tiled roofs and lastly the colorbond roofs.

How do I save money on roof replacement?

As you can see, roof replacement is not for the penny pinching. Its cost can be substantial. Luckily there some things you can do to bring down the cost of re-roofing. In this section, we explore some of these ways:

1. Have new roofing laid over existing material

To save on cost, don’t even bother removing the old roofing material. Just have new roof superimposed on the old one. This way, you will not have to pay the person who removes them for you, and the cost can run into several thousand dollars.
This can be a fantastic choice when you are installing metal sheets. But the disadvantage of the layover approach is that in some cases, it can void the warranty of the roof or even affect its breathing ability. In such a case, it might be a better idea to just tear the old roof and start from scratch.

2. Shop Around and Be Smart

It’s always recommended to get several quotes and choose the best price. But the lowest quote isn’t always the best. Do not choose a subpar company because this puts you and your family at risk of poor work and delayed completion times. Before you accept to work with the company that offers the lowest quote, do a thorough research on the company as well as its workers, check if it has any complaints and also ensure that the roofing company is fully licensed to work in your area.

3. Do Some Work Yourself

The easiest way to save money on a home improvement project such as a roofing job is to do some of the work. While you certainly need a skilled professional to do the installation of a new roof, there are things that you can handle. This includes demolition of the old roof and removing shingles. This can save you money on labour costs.

4. Choose the Off Seasons

Most people choose to do their roofing during the warm summer months. At these times, roofers stay a pretty busy and will normally charge a lot of money. If you tackle the roofing project at the start of spring or when the winter is ending, you have a chance of bargaining for a better deal. There are times when late fall is slow time for contractors because of upcoming holidays and changing season. At this time, many families are not concerned with home improvement projects.
Other things to save on roof replacement include:

Have your roof inspected at least once a year
Consider long-term benefits
Choose the right materials

Conclusion

The cost of replacing your roof differs from one city to another. However, there is always an average cost. Factors that will affect the cost of replacing your roof include the size of the roof to be replaced, the material, and labor costs. On the whole, expect to pay between $2000 and $4000 to have an average size of a roof replaced.

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