RoofingCalculator.ioRoofing Guides and Resources
Free articles on roof types, materials, maintenance and repair, written for homeowners and contractors.
Roof Cost & Hiring
9 articles
DIY Roofing vs Hiring a Pro
DIY roofing saves the labor bill but adds a nailer, a dumpster and real fall risk, so only small jobs suit most homeowners. Compare costs, time and warranties.
Read moreHow Long Does a Roof Replacement Take?
A roof replacement takes one to three days for most shingle roofs. How material, size, pitch, rotten decking, weather and permits change the timeline.
Read moreHow Much Does a New Roof Cost in 2026?
A new architectural shingle roof costs about $450 to $750 a square in 2026. Prices by material, a worked example and what moves a bid.
Read moreHow to Choose a Roofing Contractor
How to choose a roofing contractor: verify license and insurance, compare three written bids, avoid storm chasers and keep the deposit to 10% to 33%.
Read moreHow to Read and Compare Roof Estimates
What each line on a roofing estimate means, from squares and tear-off to flashing and warranties, and how to compare three quotes side by side.
Read moreRoof Financing Options
Roofs can be financed with home equity, a HELOC, a personal loan, a contractor plan, FHA Title I or PACE. Payment examples and the traps to avoid.
Read moreRoof Replacement vs Repair
Roof replacement vs repair: how the roof's age, the 30 percent rule, the condition of the decking and the cost per year decide whether to patch or replace.
Read moreRoof Warranty Guide
How roof warranties work: what the manufacturer covers, what the contractor covers, how proration shrinks a claim, and the common ways homeowners void one.
Read moreRoofing Permits
Most towns require a permit for a new roof, usually $150 to $400 plus one or two inspections. When you need a roofing permit and what skipping one can cost.
Read moreShingles
10 articles
3-Tab vs Architectural Shingles
Architectural shingles cost more per square than 3-tab, but carry 110 mph wind ratings (3-tab: 60) and usually last about ten years longer.
Read moreBlistering Shingles
Blistering shingles develop bubbles from trapped moisture and attic heat. Learn the causes, how blisters differ from hail damage, and when to replace.
Read moreCan You Shingle Over Shingles?
You can shingle over shingles once if the old layer lies flat and the deck is solid. See the two-layer code limit, the savings and the risks of a layover.
Read moreCertainTeed vs Owens Corning
Neither CertainTeed nor Owens Corning wins outright: Landmark is the heavier shingle with more colors, Duration has the fabric nailing strip.
Read moreGAF vs CertainTeed
GAF Timberline HDZ leads on installation features and its wind warranty; CertainTeed Landmark is heavier with softer color blends. Compare price and warranties.
Read moreHow Many Shingles in a Bundle?
A bundle holds about 26 three-tab or 20 to 22 architectural shingles, and three bundles cover a square. Weights, prices and the waste math for ordering.
Read moreImpact-Resistant Shingles
Impact-resistant shingles earn a UL 2218 Class 4 rating in a steel-ball test. What they cost, how insurance discounts work, and who should buy them.
Read moreRoof Colors
Light roof colors keep a hot attic much cooler, dark colors suit cold climates, and some shades fade fast. How to choose a roof color, by climate and house style.
Read moreTypes of Shingles
Roof shingle types compared side by side: 3-tab, architectural, luxury, impact-rated, metal, wood, slate and tile, with 2026 prices, lifespans and ratings.
Read moreWhat Is an Asphalt Shingle Roof?
An asphalt shingle roof, or comp roof: what is in a shingle, what 3-tab and architectural cost per square, how long each lasts and what warranties cover.
Read moreFlat & Low-Slope Roofs
9 articles
TPO vs Modified Bitumen
TPO vs modified bitumen for a flat roof: installed cost per square foot, seams, install methods, lifespan, energy use and which one fits your house.
Read moreWhat Is a Flat Roof?
A flat roof is a low-slope roof under one sealed membrane. TPO, EPDM, PVC and mod bit compared on cost and lifespan, plus how they drain and where they leak.
Read moreWhat Is a Parapet Wall?
A parapet wall is the part of an exterior wall that extends above the roof edge. Learn the 30-inch fire rule, how scuppers drain it and why parapets leak.
Read moreWhat Is a Roof Cricket?
A roof cricket is a small peaked roof behind a chimney that diverts rain around it. Code requires one past 30 inches wide. Sizing, costs and materials.
Read moreWhat Is Built-Up Roofing?
Built-up roofing is the tar and gravel flat roof of hot asphalt and felt layers topped with stone. See 2026 costs, lifespan and the systems that replace it.
Read moreWhat Is EPDM Roofing?
EPDM rubber roofing costs $5 to $12 a square foot installed and lasts 25 to 30 years. How 45, 60 and 90 mil compare, seams, and when EPDM beats TPO.
Read moreWhat Is PVC Roofing?
PVC roofing is a white, heat-welded single-ply membrane for flat roofs that resists grease. It costs about $8.50 to $14.50 per square foot installed in 2026.
Read moreWhat Is Rolled Roofing?
Rolled roofing costs about $50 to $70 a roll and lasts 5 to 10 years. It suits sheds and garages better than houses. Slope limits, installation and costs.
Read moreWhat Is TPO Roofing?
TPO roofing is a white single-ply membrane for flat roofs with seams welded by hot air. What it costs in 2026, which thickness to choose and how long it lasts.
Read moreMetal Roofing
4 articles
Metal Roof vs Shingles
A metal roof costs about twice as much as shingles and can outlast two or three shingle roofs. The cost-per-year math, plus hail, wind and energy.
Read moreMetal Roofing
Metal roofing costs about $6 to $16 a square foot installed and lasts 40 to 80 years. How to choose the panel, the metal and a paint finish that holds color.
Read moreStanding Seam Metal Roof
Standing seam metal roofs cost about $10 to $16 a square foot installed. Snap-lock vs mechanical seams, which gauge and paint to choose, and why installs fail.
Read moreWhat Is DECRA Roofing?
DECRA roofing is stone-coated steel formed to look like shingles, shake or tile, warranted for 120 mph wind and rated Class 4 for hail. See 2026 costs.
Read moreRoof Styles & Materials
13 articles
Gambrel Roof vs Gable Roof
A gambrel roof gives you a near-full upper floor; a gable roof costs less and has fewer leak points. Compare price, framing, weather performance and upkeep.
Read moreHip Roof vs Gable Roof
Hip roof vs gable roof compared: cost and waste, hurricane wind resistance, attic space, leak points, upkeep, snow and framing, with 2026 shingle prices.
Read moreSynthetic Slate vs Natural Slate
Synthetic slate vs natural slate: weight, installed cost, lifespan, hail and fire ratings, and upkeep compared, so you can pick the right slate roof.
Read moreTypes of Roofs
The main types of roofs are gable, hip, mansard, butterfly and flat, in materials from asphalt to slate. What each costs, how long it lasts, where it leaks.
Read moreWhat Is a Butterfly Roof?
A butterfly roof is an inverted gable with two wings sloping into a center valley. How it works, where it leaks, which materials suit it and what it costs.
Read moreWhat Is a Cedar Shake Roof?
A cedar shake roof is split Western Red Cedar that costs about $900 to $1,400 a square in 2026. Lifespan, fire ratings, code rules and upkeep explained.
Read moreWhat Is a Clay Tile Roof?
A clay tile roof can last about 100 years but weighs up to five times as much as shingles. 2026 costs, frost grades, tile shapes and underlayment explained.
Read moreWhat Is a Concrete Tile Roof?
Concrete tile roofs cost $900 to $1,600 a square installed in 2026. See the weight, lifespan, code rules, climate fit and why the underlayment wears out first.
Read moreWhat Is a Dutch Gable Roof?
A Dutch gable roof is a hip roof with a small gable on top. How the gablet improves venting and headroom, what the roof costs and where it tends to leak.
Read moreWhat Is a Mansard Roof?
A mansard roof costs $15,000 to $45,000 to replace. How the steep lower and nearly flat upper slopes work, the pros and cons, materials and where it leaks.
Read moreWhat Is a Shed Roof?
A shed roof is a single sloped plane running from a tall wall to a short one. It is quick to frame and suits solar but needs careful venting. Costs and tips.
Read moreWhat Is a Slate Roof?
A slate roof is split natural stone that can last 60 to 125 years or more and costs $15 to $35 a square foot installed. Learn the grades, weight and repairs.
Read moreWhat Is a Thatch Roof?
A thatch roof is 10 to 15 inches of packed reed or straw that sheds rain. In the US it costs $15 to $30 a square foot. Lifespan, upkeep and fire risk.
Read moreParts of a Roof
11 articles
Open Valley vs Closed Valley
An open valley lines the valley with metal that sheds snow and ice fast; a closed valley weaves shingles across it. Cost and drainage, compared.
Read moreParts of a Roof
Rafters, sheathing, underlayment, drip edge, flashing, valleys, vents, soffit and pitch: every part of a roof from the attic up, what it does and what it costs.
Read moreRoof Ventilation and Vent Types
How roof ventilation works, how to size attic vents with the 1/150 and 1/300 code rules, and what ridge, box, turbine, power and soffit vents cost installed.
Read moreTruss vs Rafter
Truss vs rafter roof framing compared: what each costs, how far it spans, what it means for your attic, lead times, storm and fire performance, and repairs.
Read moreWhat Is a Drip Edge?
A drip edge is a bent metal strip that directs water off the roof edge, and code requires it on shingle roofs. Types, metals, install order and cost explained.
Read moreWhat Is a Rain Diverter?
A rain diverter is a bent metal strip set under shingles to steer roof runoff away from a doorway. See what it costs, which metal to use and why diverters leak.
Read moreWhat Is a Soffit?
A soffit is the flat panel under the roof overhang that covers the rafter tails and lets the attic take in air. Materials, 2026 prices and venting requirements.
Read moreWhat Is Roof Flashing?
Roof flashing is the bent metal that seals every wall, chimney, vent and valley on a roof. The main types, the best metals, signs of failure and repair costs.
Read moreWhat Is Roof Pitch?
Roof pitch is the inches a roof rises per foot of run, such as 4/12 or 6/12. How to measure it safely, what each pitch allows, and why steep roofs cost more.
Read moreWhat Is Roof Sheathing?
Roof sheathing, also called decking, is the plywood or OSB your shingles are nailed into. How thick it should be, 2026 replacement costs, and how to spot rot.
Read moreWhat Is Roof Underlayment?
Roof underlayment is the water-resistant layer under shingles that stops water that gets past them. Felt, synthetic and ice and water shield, with costs.
Read moreRoof Problems & Maintenance
13 articles
Are Skylights Worth It?
Skylights are worth it in a dark hallway or windowless bath. Figure $1,500 to $3,500 a unit, and know that most leaks are a flashing problem.
Read moreCommon Roof Problems
The most common roof problems are leaks, hail and wind damage, ice dams, moss and worn shingles. What each looks like, what it costs, when to replace.
Read moreHail Damage Roof Guide
How to spot hail damage on a roof, what repairs and replacement cost, how ACV and RCV policies pay, and how to file the claim before the deadline.
Read moreHow Long Does a Roof Last?
An asphalt roof lasts about 20 to 30 years, metal 40 to 80 and slate 60 to 150. Lifespans, installed prices and what shortens a roof's life, by material.
Read moreHow to Find a Roof Leak
How to find a roof leak: trace wet wood uphill from the stain in the attic, run a two-person hose test, and check pipe boots, flashing and valleys first.
Read moreHow to Get Insurance to Pay for a Roof
How to get insurance to pay for a roof: document storm damage, know whether you have RCV or ACV, have your roofer meet the adjuster and dispute a low scope.
Read moreIce Dam Prevention
Ice dam prevention starts in the attic: seal air leaks, insulate to R-60 and vent from soffit to ridge. Why icicles form and what each fix costs.
Read moreRegular Roof Maintenance
Regular roof maintenance usually costs $300 to $1,000 a year. What to check each season and the low-cost habits that help a roof last longer.
Read moreRoof Inspection Checklist
A roof inspection checklist covering shingles, flashing, gutters, decking and the attic, plus what a pro inspection costs ($150 to $400) and what drones add.
Read moreRoof Leak Repair Cost
Roof leak repair costs about $350 to $1,500 for most jobs in 2026. Prices for pipe boots, chimney flashing, valleys and rotted decking, and when to replace.
Read moreRoof Moss and Algae Removal
Roof moss and algae removal means a low-pressure spray and time, never a pressure washer. What soft wash crews charge and how to keep growth from coming back.
Read moreSigns You Need a New Roof
Signs you need a new roof: curled shingles, bald patches, daylight in the attic and a soft deck. What a replacement costs and when a repair is enough instead.
Read moreStorm Damage Roof Repair
Storm damage roof repair step by step: inspect from the ground, tarp quickly, tell hail from wind damage, file the insurance claim and avoid storm chasers.
Read moreGutters
3 articles
Gutter Guards
Gutter guards reduce ladder trips but don't end them. Compare screen, foam, brush, micro-mesh and reverse curve guards, priced from $0.50 to $35 a foot.
Read moreHow Much Do Gutters Cost?
Gutters cost about $1,200 to $4,500 installed for most houses. Per-foot prices for vinyl, aluminum, steel, zinc and copper, plus downspouts and guards.
Read moreTypes of Gutters
Types of gutters compared: K-style, half-round, box and fascia in aluminum, steel, copper, zinc or vinyl, plus seamless vs sectional, sizing, guards and cost.
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