How Much Do Aluminum Shingles Cost in New England?

What determines the cost of an aluminum shingle roof?

The cost of an aluminum shingle roof is set mostly by roof area, pitch, complexity and the condition of what is underneath. Area is measured in squares (100 square feet of roof surface), and a steep or chopped-up roof has more surface and more cutting than its footprint suggests. After area, the big variables are the number of valleys, hips, dormers, skylights, chimneys and walls the roof meets, because each one needs custom flashing and trim. Next comes the deck: rotted or delaminated sheathing has to be replaced before anything goes on top. Then there is the profile and color you pick, the ventilation work the attic needs, and how hard the house is to reach. Two homes with the same square footage on the same street can price quite differently for these reasons.

Why do Capes, Colonials and Victorians price differently?

Capes, Colonials and Victorians price differently because their roof shapes demand very different amounts of labor per square. A classic Cape often has a steep main roof with front dormers, which means extra staging, fall protection and flashing around every dormer cheek and valley. A center-hall Colonial usually has a simpler gable or hip roof, but a later addition, a farmer's porch or a breezeway connecting to a barn can add separate low sections and transitions. Victorians are the most involved: towers, turrets, steep cross-gables, decorative trim and multiple chimneys all slow the crew down and add custom metal work. Farmhouses across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine bring their own wrinkle, with ells and attached barns that turn one roof into several connected ones. Each change in plane is more time and more trim.

How does tear-off affect the price in New England?

Tear-off is often one of the largest single cost drivers on a New England job, because many older homes carry more than one roof. It is common to find two or even three layers of asphalt shingles, and on some older houses cedar shingles still sit underneath, sometimes over skip sheathing with gaps between the boards. Cedar shingles and shakes, concrete tile and natural slate must always be removed before an Interlock roof goes on. A single layer of asphalt may be roofed over only if an inspection finds it suitable; multiple layers come off. Every layer removed adds labor and disposal. Once the old roofing is off, the deck is exposed. Skip sheathing usually has to be covered with new plywood, and damaged boards around chimneys and eaves are replaced. Those repairs cannot be priced precisely until someone has looked.

What site conditions add cost on a New England job?

Several site conditions add cost on New England jobs, starting with height and access. A triple-decker in Worcester, Lowell or Dorchester needs more staging, more lifting and more care around neighbors than a ranch house, and tight city lots can limit where equipment and dumpsters go. Coastal homes on Cape Cod, the Islands, the North Shore or the Maine coast face more wind exposure, which affects fastening and trim details. Homes in a local historic district may need a review before work starts, so check with your local historic district commission early. Season matters too. Short winter days and cold mornings shorten the working day from late fall through early spring. Permits are issued town by town across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and Vermont, and fees and paperwork vary from one town hall to the next.

How do aluminum shingles compare with asphalt over time?

Aluminum shingles cost more than asphalt on day one, but the comparison shifts once you count how many roofs you would buy over the same period. Asphalt in New England takes a beating from freeze–thaw cycles, heavy wet snow and summer heat, and many homeowners end up re-roofing more than once while they own the house. An Interlock aluminum roof is designed to stay on far longer and needs little routine upkeep. It is covered by the Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty for material and finish, held by the original purchaser while they own the home and transferable once, with the second owner covered to 50 years from substantial completion; workmanship is not part of that warranty. The Alunar® finish carries its own 30 Year coating warranty. The honest way to compare is to price both roofs for your house and think about how long you plan to stay.

How do I get an accurate price for my home?

The only way to get an accurate price is to have the roof measured and inspected at the house. Prices on our cost page are a rough guide only — every roof is priced individually, and structural or other site conditions can move the number. An in-home roof consultation is the only way to get accurate pricing for your home. Our metal roof cost guide explains the same drivers covered here and gives a sense of where aluminum sits against other materials, so it is a sensible place to start before anyone visits. During a consultation, the roof is measured, the attic and ventilation are looked at, and the number of existing layers and the deck condition are checked where possible. You will also choose a profile, such as Slate, Cedar Shingle or Shake, and a color. Any written quote should spell out tear-off, deck repair allowances, flashing and permits. In Massachusetts, also confirm your contractor holds Home Improvement Contractor registration under M.G.L. c. 142A.

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