How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Roof? Budgeting Tips and Estimates
Roof replacement costs are rarely predictable, and it’s not because contractors are trying to rip you off. Material prices alone swing widely. Add in labor and permits, tear-off fees, and the condition of your existing structure, and it’s easy to see how one homeowner might pay $6,500 while their neighbor pays $18,000.
How much does it cost to replace a roof in Texas? A basic asphalt shingle roof on a single-story home in Central Texas might land in the $6,000 to $9,000 range. But go with metal or tile on a two-story home in Houston or Dallas, and you could see totals closer to $15,000 to $25,000. The context of a project — roof complexity, material choices, accessibility, and even disposal costs — all feed into your final quote.
In this guide, we’re breaking down what variables the cost to reroof a home so you can set a realistic budget and avoid surprises once the crew shows up.
Varieties of roofing materials
The material you decide to put on your roof goes a long way in determining how long it lasts, how it holds up in a Texas storm, and how much you’ll spend not just upfront, but over the next few decades.
Some homeowners prioritize upfront savings while others want long-term performance or a specific visual style. Below is a breakdown of common roofing material options and what you’re likely to spend per square foot, so you can compute the average cost for replacing a roof based on your choices.
The cost to replace a roof based on materials?
| Types of roof | Cost per square foot | What to know |
| Asphalt Shingles | $4.25 to $5.50 | Most common and affordable roofing material. Easy to install and replace. |
| Metal Roofing | $10.00 to $16.00 | More durable and energy-efficient. Stands up well to wind, hail, and heat. |
| Slate or Tile | $20.00 to $30.00 | Premium materials with high durability and an upscale appearance. Heavy. |
| Wood Shingles | $25.00 to $35.00 | Rustic and natural look. Less suited to moisture, mold, and fire-prone areas. |
Asphalt shingles are budget-friendly and fast to install. They’re also widely available and easy to patch when damage occurs. But they’re also the least durable, especially in high-sun, high-hail zones. You’ll likely be replacing them in 15 to 20 years.
Metal costs more up front but tends to outlast asphalt by a decade or more. It reflects heat and resists hail, so it works well for Texas homes that have to battle extreme temperatures.
Slate and tile are among the longest-lasting options on the market (often holding up for 50 years or more), but they are heavy, so your roof structure must be strong enough to support them.
Wood shingles are full of character but are tricky to maintain especially in areas with humidity or fire risk. They’re often chosen for aesthetics instead of performance.
What’s the right pick? That depends on what your home can structurally support and whether you’re prioritizing upfront cost or long-term savings.
What other factors aside from materials can affect new roofing cost?
Your choice of material is a huge part of how much it costs to replace a roof, but what really drives up the cost is the work it takes to install that roof.
Labor can make up nearly half (or more) of your total roof replacement bill. A simple, single-story asphalt roof might cost $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot in labor alone, but that number climbs fast once the job gets more complicated. Crews need more time, more safety gear, and sometimes more people if your roof is steep, has skylights or valleys, or sits three stories off the ground with no clear access.
Add in location-specific requirements like wind-rated shingles near the coast or fire-resistant materials in high-risk zones, and you’ll quickly understand that you’re just paying for a roof — you’re paying for code compliance.
Even seemingly straightforward replacements can suddenly get more expensive mid-project. Maybe the crew pulls back the first layer and finds rotted decking, or maybe they discover a second layer of shingles underneath that wasn’t mentioned during the walk-through, or maybe the permit process delays things for a day or two and you’re on the hook for extra staging costs.
So go line by line through the estimate before you sign. Clarify what’s fixed and what could change.
How much does it cost to replace a roof based on labor and permits?
| Cost factor | Typical range | What affects it |
| Labor (installation only) | $1.50 to $3.00 / sq ft | Roof pitch, height, features like dormers or skylights |
| Full job (materials + labor) | $4,000 to $20,000+ | Varies by size, slope, material, and number of stories |
| Permit fees | $150 to $1,000+ | Municipality, roof size, complexity, inspection requirements |
| Disposal/dumpster fees | $300 to $700+ | Tear-off volume, material weight, local landfill rates |
| Old roof removal | $1 to $5 / sq ft | Layer count, material type, accessibility |
| Underlayment installation | $0.50 to $2 / sq ft | Required under most roofing materials for moisture protection |
| New flashing | $500 to $2,000 | Required around edges, chimneys, valleys |
| Damaged wood replacement | $500 to $2,000+ | Depends on the condition of decking and framing under the old roof |
Roof replacement: Average costs explained
How much does it cost to replace a 2,000-square-foot roof? That depends on the material and the labor conditions in your area. But to give you a rough idea, here’s what you might expect to spend on roof of this size:
| Roof type | Estimated cost |
| Asphalt Shingles | $7,000 to $12,000 |
| Metal Roofing | $12,000 to $24,000 |
| Wood Shingles | $14,000 to $20,000 |
| Slate Roofing | $20,000 to $40,000 |
Tear-off vs. overlay
A tear-off removes everything down to the roof decking, so costs more because it adds labor, disposal, and time. But it also gives the crew a chance to check for structural problems and water damage that wouldn’t be visible otherwise.
An overlay adds new roofing layer directly over the existing one, so it’s faster and cheaper, but it’s not always allowed. Does your roof have more than one existing layer or is visibly damaged and/or holding weight near its structural limit? An overlay is not recommended.
Some homeowners also consider partial replacement. If only one section of the roof is failing due to a storm or isolated leak, you might not need to replace the whole thing. But patch jobs don’t always address underlying wear especially on older roofs.
Before signing a contract, ask your roofer which method the quote covers. Some estimates exclude tear-off by default to make the price look lower, so be careful. Clarify everything.
Repairing vs. replacing your roof
Sometimes the damage is clear and full replacement is the only option, but other times, it’s a question of cost, age, and how long you plan to stay in the house.
So how do you decide between repairing and replacing? Look at the numbers. Roof repairs typically cost $379 to $1,763 depending on the issue. The cost to reroof a home averages around $9,117. What can you realistically afford?
You also need to look at your roof’s age. Most asphalt roofs last 20 to 30 years. Is yours pushing that range? Repairs might just be buying you time, not solving the problem.
Consider calling Waco roofing contractors who can perform urgent roof repairs if you notice these signs:
- Water stains on ceilings or walls
- Cracked, curled, or missing shingles
- Visible sagging
- Uneven rooflines
- Moss or algae growth that’s caused damage
It’s worth having a roofing contractor take a close look even if the damage looks isolated.
Also Read – How Much Does It Cost For a Roof Repair in 2025
Conclusion
Roof replacement isn’t cheap and it’s not something you want to redo in a few years because of shortcuts or bad advice. How much it costs to replace a roof depends on more than just square footage because you also have to factor in materials, labor, and roof complexity, on top of permitting costs and other such factors.
Clark Roofing can give you a clear estimate so you can find out the cost to reroof your home. Call us at 254 970-3743 or fill out this form.