Building Cost Estimates for Concrete Tile Roofs
For thousands of years, people have used clay tiles to construct strong, permanent roofs to protect homes and other buildings. Now, concrete roof tiles offer you many of the very same advantages of traditional clay tiles in a far lower price point, making this material available to a wider audience. Understanding the different costs associated with concrete tile roofs can help you choose the right roof for your house without blowing your budget.
Forget Square Feet
When pricing roofing materials, it is important to comprehend how contractors measure roof region. Rather than the normal square feet utilized for many other construction materials, roofers rely on squares. A square is equal to the amount of tile required to cover a 10 by 10-foot region of roof, or 100 square foot. Keep this in mind to more accurately evaluate estimates as you price your concrete roof project.
Average Price Per Square
While the price of concrete roof tiles varies by area, manufacturer or other aspects, you can expect to pay between $310 and $500 per square installed, depending on your 2014 post on BobVila.com. This figure is roughly half the price of clay roofing, that costs $700 to $1,000 per square foot. To help you properly evaluate estimates, Bankrate.com suggests thinking about roof prices in terms of a rule of thirds. About one-third of this price covers substance, one-third covers installation, and one-third covers contractor administrative costs and overhead. If you receive a price for materials only, you can use this information to estimate total price by tripling your material price.
Structural Upgrades
Concrete roof shingles can drop 2 to four times as much as conventional asphalt shingles. While the Tile Roofing Institute implies that many homes can readily accommodate this additional weight, it is always best to check with the pros to make certain. The home improvement show “Rosie on the House” implies consulting a structural engineer in a price of $400 to $600 to find out if your roof can handle the weight. If it can’t, plan to pay another $1,500 for wood to beef up the structure.
Price Vs. Value
Despite their higher upfront cost compared to conventional asphalt shingles, concrete roof tiles may represent a better value over the long haul. Based on the material you choose, asphalt shingles price $150 to $300 per square as of 2014, based on BobVila.com. These shingles last 15 to 25 years before they require replacing, compared to concrete roof tiles, which last 50 years or more.
