How Rising Gas Prices Impact Roofing

Make no mistake about it — you can expect to feel the consequences of rising gas prices in all areas of your life. Food prices, energy bills, building supplies, and repair costs will all be impacted, and that’s just the start.

If you’ve been contemplating roof replacement for a while now, and you are finally ready to take the plunge, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. All in all, roofing prices have risen by around 25 percent in recent years — and it’s not unrealistic to expect an even sharper rise in the near future.

The cost of roofing is, to get a cheap but accurate pun in, through the roof. In case you’re wondering why rising gas prices would influence the cost of a new roof, that story goes deeper than you might think — and your roofing contractor is just as frustrated as you are.

There’s Oil in Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles remain the go-to roofing material in the United States, and while they remain more affordable compared to slate or tiles, the fact that oil is one of the primary components of asphalt shingles has a lot to do with the current energy crisis. The very same geopolitical upheaval that’s pushed gas prices to the limit is also hitting the cost of oil hard, after all.

Roofing Contractors’ Overhead Costs Trickle Down to Consumers 

The roofing contractor you hire for roof replacement feels the impact of rising gas prices as much as you do. Everything roofers do is more expensive in the current climate, from purchasing roofing materials to transporting them to your home, where they will install your new roof. The gas-fueled generators your contractor uses is yet another example of the ways in which increasing gas costs cause their expenses to surge.

All of this trickles down to you, the consumer. That’s true regardless of the roofing material of your choice — spiking fuel costs affect the entire supply chain, so no matter what kind of work you’re having done, you’ll have higher costs.

Rising Energy Costs Might Completely Change the Kind of Roof You Want

The fact that energy prices have risen by 27 percent in the United States in the last 12 months has hit many Americans hard already. In the current situation, that trend is only set to continue. Investing in a more energy-efficient home is one of the best ways to reduce your monthly utility costs, so homeowners who are planning to have their roof replaced would be smart to take heir return on investment into account over the longer term.

Asphalt shingles might have been the most popular roofing material until now, accounting for four in five American roofs, but they also absorbs heat and are not very reflective. Homeowners who want to slash their energy bills may be better off if they opt for metal, tile or slate roofing, which can be pre-treated to be as reflective as possible, and to add new insulation while they are having their roof replaced. Looking for roofing materials that qualify for Energy Star means committing to a larger upfront investment. This choice will, however, pay off over time.

About Prime Roofing

As an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, the roofing contractors at Prime Roofing are uniquely qualified to provide a high quality, energy-efficient roofing solution for your home, apartment building, or residential complex.

Call us today at (904) 530-1446 to schedule a free estimate.