# Ballpark cost for a new roof

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballpark-cost-for-a-new-roof/556411>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 7, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballpark-cost-for-a-new-roof/556411 "2010-10-07T21:20:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballpark-cost-for-a-new-roof/556411/21 "2010-10-08T17:13:21Z")

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> [@AnnaLucretia](#):
>
> I just went through this after the Snowpocalypse here in DC - the main roof beam in our 1925 row house actually broke in half (!!). We had to do a complete tear-off all the way down to the interior plaster, replacing both roof beams and all the joists. This is obviously far more than a normal roof requires, even if you’re doing a tear-off and replacement - all told, our new solar-reflective membrane roof cost us (well, insurance) right around $35,000. That cost did not include the skylight and roof access hatch that we paid for out of pocket. We had received quotes from the same roofer earlier that year (so 2009) for about $12,000 to do a tear-off and replace - this is a 1200 square foot flat roof. Asphalt would have been a little less.
> 
> All I can say is…thank you, Snowpocalypse, and if you can, you should get homeowners insurance through USAA.
> 
> AL

Huh - sounds like you did benefit all in all though it sounds like quite a hassle!!

I wonder if we could try to make a claim… supposedly some of the issues look like a heavy weight was on the roof (the repair guy actually asked if someone had been sitting on it!). We’re DC metro also, so got as much snow as you did. What roofer did you use, by the way? (PM me if you don’t want to mention on the board).

No USAA eligibility here… I don’t think they’d buy “but my father served in the Merchant Marines in WWII”.

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballpark-cost-for-a-new-roof/556411/22 "2010-10-08T22:31:41Z")

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> [@Sattua](#):
>
> Um… now that I think about it… while it’s a hugely popular choice here in the Midwest (though less so for residences) and also on the UP where my parents live, it was also hugely popular on Saint Thomas, which makes me conclude that contrary to ChefGuy’s assertion (unless he can explain what he meant), it’s a great material for a variety of climates.
> 
> Okay, I’m done in this thread. OP wanted to know what the ballpark cost was, I said what it was for us.

St. Thomas has no natural wells (I lived there for five months). All their fresh water comes from island water catchment systems, i.e., sheet metal roofs and sheet metal catchment basins. Also, it’s cheap.

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