While inflation has finally slowed, living costs have vastly increased over the past few years. For instance, even a routine expense like groceries is steadily on the rise. These prices are for our everyday necessities, yet they border on unaffordable.
Thus, budgeting is a daily balancing act. Yes, you need to find affordable options wherever they exist. However, providing yourself and your family with comfort and quality means you can’t always dive headfirst into the cheapest option.
Equipping your home’s exterior is one situation where you’ll be confronted with this tension—quality versus pricing. More specifically, your roofing must strike the balance of affordable and reliable quality, offering tangible long-term value.
After all, you lose money long-term if your roof doesn’t hold up and provide you the security, reliability, and comfort you deserve.
Choosing something “cheap” means you won’t achieve optimal value. Going “cost-efficient” is a different story. Because you’re finding the middle point between affordability (and long-term value) and quality you can count on.
Asphalt roofing shingles are a cost-efficient, value-based roofing option many homeowners have come to rely on.
Below, we’ll examine the pricing specifics for asphalt shingle roofing.
Prices For Asphalt Shingles
This section will explore asphalt shingle roof costs through various lenses and sources.
We’ll start with Forbes, which cites asphalt three-tab shingles costing around $90 per square (100 square feet) for basic black, brown, or gray shingle options. According to the cited article, some can be lower than that—but you’d be sacrificing quality and long-term reliability.
Asphalt shingles tend to veer higher, Forbes claims, due to fluctuating oil prices.
This Old House broaches the topic, too. It cites an average of $5,994 to $9,791 to install asphalt shingles onto a roof with a 7-inch slope. This is for a 2,000-square-foot home.
Modernize Home Services assesses pricing for a 3,000-square-foot home, citing an asphalt roof shingle cost range between $5,130 and $18,360, accounting for labor and materials.
Expect more premium options like architectural asphalt shingles to hover around the $5.50 per square foot mark. However, the average per-square-foot price range sits between $1.71 and $3.12, or $171 to $312 for every square.
One Price Doesn’t Fit All With Asphalt Shingle Roofing
The above section clarifies one unique challenge when you choose asphalt shingles for your roof—pricing isn’t cut and dry.
We’ve cited three sources with vastly differing answers about asphalt roofing prices, but none is wrong.
Many factors dictate the overall cost of your asphalt shingle roofing project or installation. Yes, it’s possible to garner an idea of costs. Still, every situation is unique based on the factors discussed below. You won’t know what you’re dealing with until receiving multiple estimates.
What Kind Of Shingles Are You Installing?
Asphalt shingles come in varying styles and makes.
Three-tab options are the most basic, and the price will be more frugal. Premium architectural asphalt shingles will ramp up the price per square footage.
Specifically, it’ll cost you around $200 per square for three-tab asphalt shingles.
Conversely, architectural makes can reach up to $700 per square.
At the highest end, luxury synthetic shingles are even more expensive, averaging $950 per square.
How Much Are The Materials?
Per square, expect to pay anywhere from $138.51 to $252.62 for asphalt shingle materials. This price range entails shingles, flashing, drip edges, sealant, underlayment, etc.
You might also require gutter installation while replacing your roof with asphalt shingles, increasing the overall price.
What Does Labor Cost?
You can always offset labor costs by DIYing your roofing project, but that requires a level of proficiency many don’t have. Thus, paying someone else to perform this work is necessary for most homeowners.
Expect to pay between $56.12 to $102.35 per square for the labor costs of installing asphalt roofing shingles.
Factors further impacting labor pricing include the following:
● Roof size.
● Slope of roof.
● Pitch of roof.
Do You Need To Remove Your Old Shingles?
Adding new shingles might mean removing old ones (unless you’re moving into a new build). Per square foot of removal, clear room in your budget for $200 to $500 per square. The cost of debris disposal might also be included in these expenses.
One way to avoid this cost is to install your new shingles over the old ones. Ask your contractor to inspect whether this is an option for you.
What Brand Are You Purchasing?
The brand of asphalt shingle you invest in will have a role in determining overall costs. Popular options include CertainTeed, Owens Corning, and GAF.
Expect a price range between $100 and $550 for shingles from the above brands, depending on features and overall quality, such as:
● Aesthetic touches.
● Energy efficiency.
● Durability.
● Elemental (or weather) resistance.
● Size.
● Color.
● More….
Is There A Warranty?
A warranty might protect you from the perils of product failure. Yet, it contributes to a more expensive upfront cost for your asphalt shingles.
Warranties for asphalt shingles often max out at 50 years and can be as low as 20. Lifetime or limited lifetime warranties on materials will cost between 10% and 15% more.
A Brief Overview Of Asphalt Shingle Types And Colors
Here are the three types of asphalt shingles you’ll generally come across on the market:
● Three-tab Asphalt Shingles: $2 per square foot, and the most basic grade option, distinguished by tabs or cutouts at their lower edge, making each shingle resemble three separate pieces.
● Architectural Shingles: $4.50 per square foot for 30-year makes, featuring asphalt-laminated lower portions, providing a contoured, dimensional aesthetic.
● Synthetic Asphalt Shingles: $9.50 per square foot and able to successfully imitate high-end roofing materials (e.g., cedar shake or natural slate) at a vastly reduced cost.
The color you select will dictate the overall success of your asphalt shingle installation. After all, you want your home’s aesthetic to benefit from your roofing choice and need the color to tie everything together. Color options include:
● Beige.
● Medium brown.
● Red.
● Medium gray.
● Pale gray.
● Dark gray.
● Blue-green.
● Blue.
● Polychromatic tones (dark and light).
● Dark brown.
Want to learn more about asphalt roofing shingles? Contact Canopy Roof and Solar today with any questions.
