How Much Does a New Roof Cost In Los Angeles?

We have all seen the comedic images of a living room with buckets all over the floor collecting rainwater from a leaky ceiling while the family struggles to stay dry. We laugh at their plight but in real life even one small drip from a leaky roof is a cause for concern. If the roof is less than 5 years old, then the small leak should be easily repaired. Older roofs eventually will need to be replaced at the homeowner’s expense barring any event that is covered by the homeowner’s insurance policy. The average cost to replace a roof is about $8,000 to $10,000 but this can vary widely depending on a lot of factors such as the roof size, the angle or “pitch” of the roof and the type of roofing materials used.

Shingles are a common roofing material. Asphalt shingles are the most popular as they are low cost and easy to install. They can be made of wood, metal, clay or slate rock.

Wood shake shingles are an attractive alternative to asphalt, but they require more care to maintain and unless they are chemically treated for fire resistance they are a hazard in dry wooded areas prone to wildfires. Metal shingles are made with aluminum, galvanized steel and even copper or zinc. They are more expensive than other materials but their durability and ability to withstand conditions that ruin other roof materials make them an attractive option. Terra-cotta clay roof shingles are a common sight in western states and offer energy efficiency over other shingle types. Tile shingles made with ceramics or concrete offer a long life and can be made into many shapes and styles to obtain a unique roof.

A new roof cannot be installed until the old leaky roof is removed. This is a significant part of the cost of roof replacement. Shingle removal is arguably the hardest part of the job.

It is dirty hard work and a potentially dangerous task if precautions are not taken to prevent injury from falls and from shingles thrown from the roof that can strike a bystander. Plan as to where the discarded shingles will be dropped and create a make shift barrier to keep people away from that area, especially curious children.

Care must be taken not to damage existing flashing which is sheet metal pieces placed around chimneys and joints to prevent rainfall from entering the house. When removing shingles inspect the flashing for any rust or damage and replace them. Undamaged flashing can be re-used when the new shingles are installed.

After the shingles are removed there may be nails and other debris that must be cleared before the new roof is installed. This is also a good time to inspect for any wood decay in the plywood sheathing and rafters. Finally, if the re-shingling cannot be completed in one day the placement of tarpaulins over exposed roof areas will protect the sheathing from any rainfall and dew. The removal of shingles can cost up to $5 per square foot of roof and more if any wood damage is discovered. This can be a DIY project if you are willing to put forth the effort, but most people will want to leave that up to a professional shingle remover.

Other work needed for a roof replacement is replacing damaged flashing as discussed earlier, replacing gutters, soffits and fascia that are important parts of the roof. Gutters provide the route for water to flow into a down spout to the ground away from the building. Fascia is a decorative trim piece that covers the edges of the home’s trusses and rafters. Its function is to support he gutter and the lower edge of the ceiling tiles. Soffits help keep attics ventilated and are located under the overhang of the roof. None of these items are expensive but will require some handyman skills to install.

If you are replacing your asphalt shingle roof with another type of roof that is heavier the concern is that the house framing may not be able to support the added weight. The frame and trusses should be inspected and braced if needed. This is just one of many pitfalls that can thwart the homeowner and cause delays. Remember that a well-built roof can last many years so perhaps the investment of $10,000 to hire a qualified roof builder is wiser then trying to do the whole job yourself risking injury and a roof that you will have to replace again in a few years.

We, at Los Angeles Remodeler, pride ourselves on being professional, reliable, and affordable. We can help you any type of roof. We are fully licensed and fully insured. Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-818-532-0482