Types

• There are several materials used to fabricate rooftops, including asphalt shingles, wood shingles, rubber, plastic, concrete tile, clay tile, various metals, slate and synthetic slate. Choice of material can greatly affect the price of replacing a rooftop.
  
  

Costs

• According to CostHelper.com, having asphalt shingles installed on a ranch-style house can cost upward of $8,400. Having wood shingles installed on the same sized house can cost upward of $20,000. A rubber or plastic roof can cost up to $18,900. A concrete tile roof can cost up to $21,000. For a 1,700- to 2,100-square-foot slate roof installation, consumers can pay up to $84,000.
  
  

Metal

• Metal roofing is some of the most durable roofing on the market. Aluminum, steel and copper are all metallic materials used for roofing. Replacing a steel roof can cost between $3 and $10 per square foot installed. Aluminum roofing can cost between $7 and $15 per square foot installed. Copper roofing can cost between $11 and $18 per square foot installed.
  
  

Removal

• Removing and disposing of the preexisting roof can be a costly venture in itself. According to CostHelper.com, professional removal of an existing roof can cost between $3 and $5 per square foot.
  
  

Difficulty

• More-complicated replacement projects, such as projects involving steep rooftops, rooftops with skylights or many architectural features, can heavily drive up the costs of a rooftop replacement project.