What goes into the cost of a roof? Is there an easy way to calculate this based on square footage?
It always depends on the condition of the roof.
There are many variables in the pricing of a roof. The first and most important item would be the correct measurement of the roof and the slope or pitch of the area to have work performed on. More roof area = More product to cover the area, increasing the cost of materials and labor. More Pitch= More Safety Pre-cautions which equals more set-up and work time. Next, you need to know the product you are using, 3 tabs are more economical than Architectural Shingles, but have less life. Metal roofing is more expensive and has a longer life than architectural. The same formula goes for Hot Tar, Build-ups, Flat Roofs, Roll Roofing, Tile Roofs and etc…, Everything is co-dependent upon the Squares in Roofing with the materials. The Area of the surface to be covered. Materials used in Roofing Applications can be itemized and priced to the foot. Roofs have flashing, underlayment’s, sometimes wood replacement, vents, Eaves-drip etc… I hope this helps… Oh, and don’t forget, if this is a re-roof project, you are going to need a dumpster or roll-off cart on site for all trash and debris from the demo of the previous roof. I hope this helps.