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Roof guide

What Does a New Roof Cost on the Eastern Shore?

Illustration of shingles and metal roofing materials

Two roofs of similar size in Daphne or Fairhope can price very differently. Start with published planning figures for the Mobile market, then check which details in your own quote explain the gap.

The short version

  • HomeGuide's national average range for an asphalt roof replacement is $5,700 to $16,000; the Cost vs Value benchmark for Mobile runs higher because it prices a larger, more detailed roof.
  • Tear-off layers, rotten decking, roof pitch, material and FORTIFIED upgrades explain most of the gap between quotes.
  • These are published planning figures, not a quote for your roof.

Published planning figures

Prices checked 2026-09-25. The figures below come from two public sources that measure different things. Use them to judge whether a quote is in a normal band, not as a price for your house. They are planning figures, not a quote for your roof.

What is measuredFigureGeography and source
Asphalt shingle roof replacement, typical total$5,700 to $16,000 (national average range)National. HomeGuide roof replacement cost guide, updated November 7, 2025
Benchmark re-roof: tear-off plus 30 squares of asphalt shingles on a hip roof with two skylights$26,652 average job cost in Mobile, AL ($31,871 national)Mobile, Alabama metro. 2025 Cost vs Value report, Mobile
Same benchmark with standing-seam metal (3,000 sq ft)$38,004 in Mobile, AL ($51,865 national)Mobile, Alabama metro. 2025 Cost vs Value project description

Why the two sources differ: HomeGuide's range comes from its own research and project costs reported by its members, across many house sizes. Cost vs Value prices one fixed, fairly large job, a roughly 3,000 square foot hip roof with skylight flashing and a vented ridge, so its figure sits above a typical small house. Mobile is the nearest market the 2025 report covers; it does not report Daphne or Fairhope separately.

Keep the sources and quote basis separate

The 2025 Mobile Cost vs Value benchmark describes one specified, comparatively large roof. HomeGuide reports national jobs across varied sizes. Neither is an observed Daphne quote. Record each source's date, geography, roof size, covering and included work before comparing it with your roofer's proposal. Check the linked figures and current Strengthen Alabama Homes terms again before reusing them after a quarter or a program change; update the page only when the facts change.

Decking and other add-ons

Rotten sheathing often only shows once the old roof is off. HomeGuide lists roof decking replacement at $2 to $5 per square foot installed, national. A good estimate says how much decking is included and the per-sheet price for anything beyond it, so a hidden repair does not become an open-ended charge. Ask the same about extra tear-off layers, new drip edge and flashing, pipe boots and ridge vents.

What moves an Eastern Shore quote

  • Size, pitch and shape: steep, cut-up roofs with valleys and dormers take more labor and waste than a simple hip roof.
  • Material and wind rating: compare quotes that name the same shingle wind class or metal panel rating; FORTIFIED requires Class F or Class H shingles.
  • Code details: Gulf Shores, for example, requires sealed underlayment and a 160 mph design wind speed under its 2024 code amendments. Ask what your city requires.
  • FORTIFIED upgrades: a sealed deck, ring-shank deck nails and a wider drip edge add cost, plus a separate evaluator fee the homeowner pays.
  • Permit and inspection: ask whether the permit fee and inspections are in the price.

License, grant and insurance numbers to know

Alabama law brings a residential roofer under the Home Builders Licensure Board when a job costs more than $2,500, and a Roofers License requires a $10,000 license bond, per the Board's FAQ. Any full re-roof crosses that threshold, and the roofers in our network are licensed.

Strengthen Alabama Homes grants pay 100 percent of FORTIFIED Roof mitigation cost up to $10,000 for eligible homeowners. The Alabama Department of Insurance's May 2025 FORTIFIED report put the average retrofit cost in the program at about $13,000, so many homeowners pay part of the bill. Insurance pays only under the policy, after the deductible. For how the grant works, see FORTIFIED roofs.

Get a quote you can compare

Ask each roofer for a written estimate that lists tear-off, decking allowance, underlayment, flashing, drip edge, covering and wind class, ventilation, permit and cleanup. Two quotes that list the same items can be compared on price; two that do not are describing different roofs. A roof replacement page walks through each layer.

Quick answers

How much does a new roof cost near Mobile, Alabama?

The 2025 Cost vs Value report puts its benchmark asphalt re-roof, a roughly 3,000 square foot hip roof with tear-off, at an average job cost of $26,652 in Mobile, and a standing-seam metal version at $38,004. Smaller, simpler roofs cost less. Prices checked 2026-09-25; get written quotes for your house.

Why might one roof quote be much higher than another?

The quotes may describe different roofs. One may include new drip edge, sealed underlayment, a decking allowance, a higher wind-rated shingle and permit fees, while the other lists only shingles and labor. Put the line items side by side and ask each roofer what happens if rotten decking turns up after tear-off.

How much does replacing rotten roof decking add?

HomeGuide's national guide lists decking replacement at $2 to $5 per square foot installed, so the total depends on how much is rotten. Nobody knows that until the old roof is off. Ask for a stated decking allowance in the estimate and a per-sheet price for anything beyond it, approved in writing before the work.

How much will the Strengthen Alabama Homes grant cover?

Up to the cap given above, and only after IBHS issues the designation, when the program pays the contractor. Because the program's average retrofit cost runs above the cap, ask the roofer for a FORTIFIED price before you apply so you know your own share, and budget the evaluator fee on top. Check current grant rounds on the program site.

Will insurance pay for an old roof replacement?

Insurance pays for covered damage under the policy, such as a storm loss, after the deductible; policies generally do not pay to replace a roof that has simply worn out. Wind and hurricane deductibles are often a percentage of the home's insured value. Ask the insurer how it would treat your roof's age before counting on a claim.

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