How Much Does a Composite Shingle Roof Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $15,000 - $25,000
The average composite shingle roof costs $20,000, but it can range between $15,000 and $25,000, depending on its size, pitch, and condition.
If you’re installing a new composite shingle roof, you can expect installation prices of around $20,000, with costs commonly ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 or more.
Composite shingles are durable, long-lasting, relatively easy to install, and arguably more attractive than traditional asphalt types. Here are the factors that determine composite shingle roof costs.
- Average
- $20,000
- Low end
- $9,500
- high end
- $33,000
Composite Shingles Cost Factors
Composite shingles come in various types and styles, including architectural shingles, dimensional, three-tab, and kinds that imitate shakes or even slate roofing. Their large style selection, coupled with varying material compositions, means that composite shingle roof costs also vary widely based on several factors.
Roof Size
The size of the roof you're installing is the primary pricing factor regarding composite shingles. The roof size directly affects the amount of material necessary to cover it, as well as the length of time needed.
The average home's roof is roughly between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet. However, roofing work is often subject to measurements cited in squares instead of square feet. A square simply refers to an area equal to 100 square feet, regardless of its shape.
| Roof Size in Square Feet | Roof Size in Squares | Average Composite Shingle Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1,300 | 13 | $5,200–$10,400 |
| 1,700 | 17 | $6,800–$13,600 |
| 2,000 | 20 | $8,000–$16,000 |
| 2,500 | 25 | $10,000–$20,000 |
| 3,000 | 30 | $12,000–$24,000 |
Roof Pitch
While not technically the same thing, roof pitch and slope are interchangeable terms for our purposes. Both refer to the steepness of a roof, which can profoundly affect the price of installing or re-roofing it.
The first reason is that the steeper the roof or the higher the pitch, the more roofing material it will take to cover it. A steep roof will require more shingles than a more shallow roof on a similarly sized home.
The other reason is for safety and maneuverability. Particularly steep roofs can require additional safety equipment and roof jacks, or even scaffolding, to keep the roofing crew safe and allow them to move around the project while working. These additional procedures take extra time to execute with the result being higher labor and equipment costs.
Expect prices for a very steep roof to be about 15% to 50% higher than those of a shallow roof on a same-sized home.
Complexity
Complex roofs that feature several dormers, skylights, penetrations, varying slopes and angles, and other interruptions cost more to install a roof on than do more simple roof structures. Due to the need to stop and restart the next roof area multiple times and the additional cutting and trimming requirements, complex roofs take longer to re-roof or install. The additional effort increases the labor costs and can increase the material costs due to extra waste.
Complex roof structures may also require more flashing and detail work than simpler ones, which can raise the total price.
Preparation
Building a new roof requires very little prep work other than the construction itself before installing the roof. However, in re-roofing situations, preparation costs are a significant pricing factor.
Before installing composite shingles on an existing home, workers must remove and dispose of roofing materials that are already there. Existing roof material removal and disposal will be part of the roofing estimate your roofing company supplies and can add between $1 and $5 per square to the job price.
Additional preparation work may be necessary if your roof needs repairs before continuing the re-roofing part of the job. Repairs can consist of fixing rot or water damage or reinforcing a sub-standard structure. If necessary, roof repairs can range from about $100 to over $2,000.
Labor
Labor is a major price factor of a composite roof installation project. Alone, roofing labor accounts for between 45% and 60% of the total job cost. Labor charges are a direct reflection of combinations of most of the other price factors related to the job. The labor cost for your roof project will be part of the pricing estimate you receive for the work.
Materials
Composite roofing materials are available in several styles and generally mimic more traditional material types. The difference in styles can affect the overall cost of the roofing project. While materials cost for composite shingles in an architectural style cost between $4 and $8 per square foot, shake and tile varieties can cost up to $10 per square foot. The cost differences can reflect quality as well as aesthetic characteristics.
Roof Flashing
Roof flashing protects the intersections of roof planes and creates barriers in corners where roofs meet walls or other roof penetrations. Roof flashing is also important for helping to divert rainwater away from vulnerable roof areas. Your roofing estimate should include replacing the necessary flashing pieces. However, very complex roofs with extensive flashing requirements can incur increased roofing costs by up to $25 per linear foot of flashing for materials and additional labor.
Location
Where you call home can impact the cost of installing a new roof. Pricing variations between states can be roughly $1,000 and $1,200. Additionally, houses located within city limits often cost more to roof than similar homes in rural areas. The primary cost differences reflect higher labor costs and the potential for high-demand pricing in metro areas.
Permits
Roofing work often requires a building permit. Your roofer will include the cost of the permit in your estimate. Depending on where you live and the project's scope, a building permit will add between $100 and $1,000 to the price.
Composite Shingles Ongoing Expenses
While composite shingles have few ongoing expenses, they're not exactly set-it-and-forget-it things. Depending on the weather and conditions your home must deal with, you'll have to do more or less the following tasks to realize the longest life span possible from your roof.
Maintenance
Regardless of the type of roofing materials on your home, keeping the roof clean and gutters flowing is essential for the well-being of the roof structure and the house. Gutter cleaning costs range from $0 if you perform the task yourself to an average of $170 once or twice a year to have professionals do it. Cleaning your roof costs between $295 and $620 for a professional job.
Repairs
Timely roof repair is necessary whenever your roof suffers damage from weather, accident, or other act of nature. Roof repairs can range from replacing a few shingles to rebuilding part of the structure and everything in between. Fixes generally cost between $385 and $1,875, depending on the extent of the problem.
| Roof Materials | Average Expected Life Span (Years) |
|---|---|
| Three-tab shingles | 10–20 |
| Architectural shingles | 20–30 |
| Composite shingles | 30–50 |
| Composite tiles | 40–55 |
| Metal | 40–75 |
| Slate | 75–175 |
DIY Composite Shingle Installation Vs. Hiring a Pro
Composite shingle installation is a task that only professionals should tackle. Due to the high falling and injury risks, it's simply not a good DIY project. While installing your own roof is possible, we don't recommend it. However, should you choose to do so, you can reduce the project's price by up to half the cost of professional installation.
Our recommendation is to stay on the ground where it's safe, enjoy your time pursuing more entertaining tasks, and hire a nearby roofing company with the qualifications and licensing to ensure a trouble-free installation.
Cost of Common Composite Shingle Roof Add-Ons
Installing a composite shingle roof is a big job. However, while someone will be on the roof anyhow, it’s a good time to consider other roof-related work to add the job for convenience or bundle-pricing deals.
Gutter installation: $625–$1,700
Skylight repair: $50–$1,500
Chimney repair: $160–$750
Attic-fan installation: $370–$915
Attic insulation installation:$1,700–$2,100
Gutter guard installation: $645–$2,445
How to Save Money When Installing Composite Shingles
While we don't recommend installing your own composite roof, there are several things you can do to help control costs. Roofing companies often will only install materials that they purchase, so buying your own materials for the company to install isn't always an option.
However, if you want the durability and aesthetics of a composite roof but won't live in the home for 50-plus years, you can consider installing lesser-grade composite types to save money.
Additionally, you can talk with your roofing company to see if you're eligible for any seasonal or other discounts it may offer.
Finally, shopping around for at least three price estimates before choosing your contractor can help save unnecessary expenses. Compare quotes based on price and service levels, and avoid extremely low bids out of suspicion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Composite shingle installation is worth the additional cost over more traditional asphalt varieties if you're planning to stay in your home for a while or desire the visual appeal of the product. If you're looking for value in terms of a return on your investment (RO), architectural shingles or other roofing materials tend to offer better bang for the buck.
While composite shingles have plenty going for them in terms of durability, longevity, and good looks, they also have downsides to consider. Three disadvantages of composite shingles are that they cost more than traditional asphalt varieties, have a lower ROI value, and lesser-quality varieties can experience fading from the sun over time.