Am I crazy?

[Russell Cissell]

I found the following information in an article I was reading online today. It is in the real estate section of AOL and appears to be published by Service Magic. This is the sort of thing that scares me about the Internet. I would imagine that many people who read these types of articles take them at face value.

This article starts off simple enough, but when they go into their breakdown of roofing costs the information they provide becomes questionable. Granted I am in the Midwest and the cost for building is nothing like it is on either coast, but I can build an entire home here for less than they quote for the installation of replacement asphalt shingles.

I am all for free speech, but I think people should also be responsible for delivering facts accurately. Just based on their simple numbers, if a man in "some snowy" area of the country should build a 1500 square foot home and live in it for 40 years he should expect to pay well over 1.2 million dollars on quality asphalt shingles.

He could on the other hand choose slate tiles and only have to install it once for just over 1.5 million dollars. I can say, that after reading this I would love to work for Service Magic as a roofer if they will guarantee these prices.

Choosing Your New Roof
In some snowy areas of the country, roofs need to be replaced every five to seven years. In other areas, every 20 to 25. At some point, you will have to replace a roof, either on your current home or your next one. Roofs are big components in energy efficiency, not to mention they are your first line of defense against the elements, so they need to be sound. This doesn't mean, however, that they have to be a dull part of your home.

Here is a breakdown of current roofing materials with some typical price ranges.
Asphalt Shingles: These are the least expensive, which is why they are the most common. The cost range is typically $50-$150 per square foot (sq. ft.), but this doesn't include the cost to remove the old shingles, which can add $30-$60 per sq. ft. Asphalt shingles are durable and a little more exciting than they used to be with their new colors.
Metal Roofing and Concrete Tiles: These materials are very durable and add a very cool design element to your curb appeal. The pricing has a high variance, starting at $115 per sq. ft. on the low end and $650 on the high for extra coatings and more expensive metals.
Ceramic Tiles: These are very unique and add very chic style to your roof. Clay tiles can cost $275 to $500 per installed square foot.
Slate Tiles: Slate is the highest of the high end because it requires a special skill to install them. This process can cost right up to $1,000 a square foot. The good thing is that once slate is installed, it will last 50 years.

[Scott Stone]

Looks like an article that was written by someone that did not know. My guess is that someone dropped the info on the desk of a technical writer, and the information was something liek $50 a square, and the writer assumed it was a square foot. In roofing terms, I am pretty sure a square is a swaure yard, or nine square feet, and $50 is still high.

[Washaway]

Tile, shingle or otherwise, is everything but any line of defense against the elements. We all know that tiles serve nothing more than asthetical appearance and that the underlying materials are what prevent our domesticated structures from the elements.
If you wanted to you could use bitumen as an underlying material, used primarily in commercial flat roof applications, and you'd never have to install shingles/tiles in your life. Granted, your home would look very unpleasant.

Someone should write them a letter and put them on the spot.

ps: if they're numbers are right then I shall live out of a motor home and be a millionare before I die.

[PressurePros]

No way, that author is on drugs. You should be able to get a mission tile roof (barrell) or even a slate roof for about $15 pers/f

As far as asphalt tiles..Even in the worst case scenario.. few layers of old shingles tore off, new sheathing, ridge vents, ice dam barriers and heat tape installed and the roof is unwalkable you still wont spend over $15 per s/f (and thats for the 40 year shingles.

[Beth n Rod]

And this was on Service Magic?
Amazing.

Beth

[JFife]

Wow. "a square" in roofing is defined at a 10'x10' area.....I'm sure that is what he meant. Though I have no idea on the costs for sure.......some projects I've been working on lately, the bids for low-pitch roofs were around $30 a square installed, up to about $50-$60 for steep pitch. About a year ago I got the prices, but they should be roughly correct.

[PWkid]

Well I know for a fact after the hurricanes a couple yrs ago roofers were getting $250-300 a square for shingles and it went up from there depending on roof pitch and the materials that were laid. That price has come down to a more manageable $125-175 a square. Square= 10ft x 10ft

[JFife]

I looked up my #'s and I think Mel is pretty close. Mine started at around $50 for install, thinking the shingles were starting around $50 a square. Better shingles, better installer, probably be around $150-175.

[Paul Kassander]

Around here it is 100-150 a square (10x10) and 250 a square for tear off and install of new archt. shingles.

[JBenson]

Unquestionable that the writer made a mistake. If not then i need to bump my prices a little. For a roof of 3500 sq. ft you can get good shingles for about 1700 bucks. Installed with cost of materials and all for about 6200. Off the top of my head as i just bid it.

[Washaway]

Originally Posted by PWkid

Well I know for a fact after the hurricanes a couple yrs ago roofers were getting $250-300 a square for shingles and it went up from there depending on roof pitch and the materials that were laid. That price has come down to a more manageable $125-175 a square. Square= 10ft x 10ft

The article clearly states "per square foot" and where I live the price of roofing went UP instead of coming down, after the hurricane.

[plainpainter]

I charge 300 per square for rip and install new shingles - I add in all sorts of stuff like pipes going through the roof - dormers getting in the way - etc. I also add in the cost of a dumpster, I never average that into the costs.

-Dan

[Katy Contractors]

Hi,

The author clearly did not know this difference between a "Roofing Square" that is 100 square feet and the term "Square Foot". Is the article still on Service Magic somewhere?

Chris Rivademar

Katy Roofing Contractors

[dstowell]

I was on about 60-70 roofs last year quoting re-roofs (most with simple asphalt shingles) like the kind he is talking about here.

His problem stems from using the terms "square foot" when he means "square" A square in roofing means a hundred square feet, he has his numbers pretty close if you put in "square" (100 sq feet) rather than square foot.

...That would be nice though... do two or three roofs a year and life the easy life the rest of the year!

-Dan