Asphalt Shingle Roof Replacement in Fort Wayne

How much does a shingle roof replacement cost in Fort Wayne?

Published cost data puts Fort Wayne shingle roof replacement at roughly $5 to $7 per square foot of roof area. Roofers price by the "square," which is 100 square feet of roof. A typical Fort Wayne home has 18 to 30 squares, which is why most jobs land between $9,000 and $18,000.

What pushes a roof toward the high end:

• Pitch and complexity. A steep two-story roof with dormers, valleys and a chimney needs more labor, safety equipment and flashing than a simple ranch gable.
• Layers. Tearing off two layers of old shingles doubles the debris and adds labor.
• Decking. Soft or rotted sheathing found during tear-off gets replaced. We price it per sheet in the quote so there's no surprise.
• Upgrades. Thicker impact-resistant shingles, extra ice and water shield, or added attic ventilation.

For a line-by-line breakdown, see our Fort Wayne roof replacement cost guide.

What's included in a full roof replacement?

A shingle roof is a system, not just the shingles you see from the street. A complete replacement includes:

1. Tear-off to the deck, with tarps over landscaping and a dumpster or trailer for debris.
2. Deck inspection and repair. Any soft, delaminated or rotted sheathing is replaced.
3. Drip edge along the eaves and rakes to steer water into the gutters and protect the deck edges.
4. Ice and water shield at the eaves, in valleys and around chimneys and skylights. This self-adhering membrane is what stops ice-dam leaks in Fort Wayne winters.
5. Synthetic underlayment over the rest of the deck as a second water barrier.
6. Starter strip at the eaves and rakes so the first course of shingles seals down against wind.
7. Architectural shingles from a major manufacturer such as GAF, Owens Corning or CertainTeed.
8. New flashing at walls, chimneys and valleys, plus new pipe boots on plumbing vents.
9. Ventilation: ridge vent and intake at the soffits, balanced so the attic can breathe.
10. Cleanup with a magnetic sweep of the driveway, walks and lawn.

Can you put new shingles over the old ones?

Most building codes allow no more than two layers of asphalt shingles on a roof, so a roof with one layer can technically take an overlay. We recommend a full tear-off anyway, and here's why:

• You can't inspect or repair the deck under an old roof. Rot keeps spreading under the new shingles.
• Flashing and ice and water shield can't be installed properly over old shingles.
• An overlay adds weight and traps heat, which shortens the life of the new shingles.

We see this a lot in older Fort Wayne neighborhoods. Steep 1920s roofs in the '07 District, South Wayne and West Central often already have two layers, sometimes over original plank decking with gaps between boards. Those roofs need a tear-off, and plank decking often needs to be covered with new plywood or OSB so the nails hold.

Architectural or 3-tab shingles?

Almost every roof we install uses architectural (dimensional) shingles. They're thicker, laminated in two layers, carry higher wind ratings and look better from the street. Three-tab shingles cost a little less but are flatter, lighter and more prone to blowing off in the spring storms that roll through northeast Indiana. Many manufacturers have scaled back their 3-tab lines.

Compare them side by side in architectural vs. 3-tab shingles. If you're weighing brands, our GAF vs. Owens Corning comparison covers the main differences. If you're considering a longer-lasting roof, read metal roof vs. shingles.

Do you need a permit for a new roof in Fort Wayne?

Yes. The Allen County Building Department requires a permit for roofing work in Fort Wayne and across the county, and it licenses the contractors who pull those permits. Indiana has no statewide roofer license, so the local permit is what keeps the work on record.

We pull the permit as part of every re-roof. Indiana's Home Improvement Contracts Act also requires a written contract for home improvement work over $150, and our quote spells out the materials, deck repair pricing, permit and cleanup. More detail in our roofing permit guide.

How long does a new shingle roof last in Indiana?

A well-installed architectural shingle roof typically lasts 20 to 30 years in northeast Indiana. Hail, high winds and a poorly ventilated attic shorten that. Many newer homes in Aboite and Perry Township were built with too little intake ventilation, so the attic overheats in summer and shingles age early. Fixing attic ventilation during the replacement protects your investment. Read how long a roof lasts for the full picture.