Homeowners face rising roofing costs

It’s an expense homeowners must face eventually, however tight the household budget: roof replacement.

Those who find themselves needing new shingles this roofing season may be surprised to find prices rising even though the home-renovation market has slowed and petroleum costs less than it did last summer.

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AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Bob Kersch, co-owner of Brothers Roofing Supply, poses with some of their roofing products.

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The price of asphalt shingles, which cover the vast majority of houses in the United States, rose 57.5 percent from March 2008 to this March, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index.

Soaring petroleum prices last summer accounted for much of the rise in asphalt shingle costs then. But this year, there may be a surprising factor at play: Asphalt is most in demand for roadwork, and government attempts to revive the struggling economy include an infusion of money for roads.

Manufacturers said shingle prices rose in March because of an asphalt shortage.

“They’re expecting a big rush on the asphalt because of the stimulus package and roadwork,” said Bob Kersch, co-owner of Brothers Roofing Supply in New York City.

Last year’s high petroleum prices are having a lingering impact on asphalt shingle prices, said James Baker, spokesman for the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. In addition, hurricanes, hail and other roof-damaging weather can drive demand for shingles up rapidly.

The bottom line is that home-owners shouldn’t expect bargains on new roofs, even as home values and the overall demand for housing renovations have plummeted.

“We’re not foreseeing any big price increases” in coming months, said Bill Good, executive vice president of the National Roofing Contractors Assocation. “But we’re also not seeing any big price drops.”

That is true across all roofing product lines, Good said. It is possible, though, that the federal economic stimulus package will pump up demand for road asphalt and lead to additional increases in asphalt shingle prices, he said.

There is one bit of good news for homeowners, depending on what kind of shingles they choose. The federal government is offering a tax credit of up to $1,500 through 2010 for certain energy-saving reflective asphalt shingles.

Here are recommendations from Good and others if you do need to have your roof replaced:

» Make sure the contractor has a license — if your state and local governments require one — and proof of insurance.

» Make sure the contractor has a permanent place of business, one way to screen out “fly-by-night” roofers.

» Look at shingles in person before choosing a style and color rather than relying on a roof manufacturers’ Web site or a brochure. Color can look dramatically different on an actual shingle than it does in a picture.

» Get several estimates. Make sure they are in writing and cover everything.

» Get familiar with roofing terms so you’ll know what contractors are talking about and won’t be dazzled by marketing phrases such as “integrated roofing system.” Sheathing, flashing, drip edge, fascia, felt and underlayment are among terms you will likely hear.