Methodology & sources

Roof replacement cost

The estimate is a transparent parametric model:

One roofing square = 100 sq ft. Per-square material ranges are national installed figures (material + labor) cross-checked against consumer cost aggregators. We publish a low–high range and a line-item breakdown rather than a single false-precision number, because roof pricing genuinely swings with material, pitch, access, and tear-off. Cost data last verified 2026-06-29; refreshed roughly annually.

Roof measurement (squares)

Roof area = footprint × pitch multiplier, where the multiplier is √(1 + (rise/12)²) — the true slope length per foot of horizontal run. Squares = area ÷ 100. Bundles assume three per square; underlayment about four squares per roll. A waste allowance (default 12%) is added for cuts, ridges, and starter course.

Insurance coverage verdict

The verdict applies standard ISO HO-3 logic: damage from a sudden, named peril (hail, windstorm, fallen tree, fire, weight of ice/snow) is generally covered; age, wear and tear, neglect, defects, and gradual leaks are excluded. A cosmetic-damage exclusion (common on metal and tile) can remove appearance-only hail dents. This is general educational information, not a coverage determination.

Claim payout (ACV vs RCV)

We use straight-line depreciation by age fraction (roof age ÷ expected service life), capped at an 80% salvage floor so an old-but-intact roof retains value. Actual cash value = replacement cost − depreciation. Both ACV and RCV policies pay the ACV value minus your deductible first; an RCV policy releases the held-back recoverable depreciation once the work is completed and invoiced. A payout never goes below zero. Adjusters set the actual depreciation and scope — treat ours as a planning model.