It is the first question almost every homeowner asks, and the honest answer is that no two roofs cost the same. What follows is what actually moves the price, so you know what a roofer is looking at when they work out a number for your home.
W Contracting Roofing is a Saskatoon roofing company, and what follows is what we look at before we put a number on a roof. The local range and what moves it sit on our roof replacement cost in Saskatoon page.
We do not put a price on a roof without seeing it, and any roofer who quotes a firm number over the phone is guessing. A roof replacement is priced per job after an inspection, because the cost is built up from several things that are different on every house. Here is what each one is.
The size and shape of your roof
The biggest single factor is how much roof there is to cover, measured in squares rather than the floor area of the house. A steep roof adds to that, because a crew cannot walk it safely and the work slows down. Valleys, dormers, hips and multiple levels all add cut shingles, flashing and labour, so a plain gable roof and a complicated one of the same size are not the same job.
The material you choose
Material is the next big lever. A quality asphalt shingle system like the GAF shingles we install is the common choice and the more affordable one. Metal roofing costs more up front but lasts far longer, and flat or rubber sections are priced differently again. If you are weighing shingles against metal, our guide to metal versus asphalt on the prairies lays out the trade-offs.
Tearing off the old roof and what is underneath
Stripping the old roof takes time and disposal, and a roof already carrying two layers costs more to remove than one. The bigger variable is what the tear-off uncovers. Decking that has rotted or delaminated under an old leak has to be replaced before the new roof goes on, and that is not always visible until the shingles are off. A good estimate accounts for the likely condition and is clear about how any surprises are handled.
Access, flashing and the details
The parts of a roof that are easy to overlook are often where the labour goes. Chimneys, skylights, vent stacks and wall junctions all need flashing done properly, because that is where most leaks start. Height and access matter too, along with any ventilation that needs correcting while the roof is open. These details are a real part of the cost, and they are also the difference between a roof that lasts and one that leaks in five years.
When the work happens
Timing plays a smaller part. The prairie roofing season is busy through the warm months, and booking ahead of a rush or outside the peak can help. A roof that has to be weatherproofed now and replaced in spring is a different plan than one done in a single visit, and we will lay out the options for your situation rather than push one.
Where insurance and financing come in
Price is not always the same as what you pay. If the roof was damaged by a storm, a home insurance claim may cover the replacement, and our Saskatchewan hail damage claim guide walks through how that works. Insurance covers sudden storm damage, not age or ordinary wear, so it is not a fit for every roof. For the rest, we keep financing available through Financeit so the cost can be spread over manageable payments instead of paid all at once.
How to get an accurate number for your roof
The only way to know what your roof will cost is to have someone measure it, get up and look at the condition, and put it in writing. Our inspections are free and come with no obligation, and you leave with a written estimate that spells out the material, the scope and what is included. If your roof is past its years or has been repaired more than once, our guide on repairing versus replacing a roof is worth reading first, and the roof replacement page covers how we do the work.