Full Roof Replacement in Memphis, TN
Thinking about a full roof replacement in Memphis, TN? This free referral service passes your request to one independent local roofer, who walks the roof, writes up the estimate and does any work you agree to. This site never sets a price.
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Request a Roof Estimate
Takes 30 seconds, or call (901) 555-0163
Your request goes to one independent roofer who works in and around Memphis, TN, and that roofer contacts you directly. See our Referral Marketing Disclosure.
Starting Over With a New Roof
A full replacement is more than fresh shingles. The roofer strips the existing covering, checks the wood decking, fixes what has gone soft, and builds up from the boards: underlayment, flashing, vents and the finished surface. It makes sense when patches keep failing or shingles are worn bare.
Memphis houses vary. Many Midtown neighborhoods have early-1900s bungalows and Tudors with steep pitches that take more labor. Many brick ranches pair a main roof with a low-slope section over a porch or addition, which needs its own material. In Cordova and the suburbs, many large hip roofs from the 1980s–2000s are on their second covering.
What This Covers
- Removal to the bare deck. Every old layer comes off so the wood can be seen. Ask how many layers your house has, since each one adds labor and disposal.
- Deck board repairs. Rotted or spongy boards get swapped out. The county's roof policy for Memphis says a single-family re-roof needs no permit "unless there is deck work", so ask who pulls one if boards change.
- Underlayment choices. Ask the roofer what goes under the shingles or panels, and about extra protection at the eaves and valleys.
- Attic airflow. Long, humid summers can turn an attic into an oven. Ask how intake and exhaust vents will be balanced.
- Shade trees and algae. Big trees drop limbs and keep shingles damp, which can feed dark streaks. Ask about algae-resistant shingles.
- Subdivision rules. Many suburban associations want a say on color or material, so get HOA approval in writing first.
The Cost of Roof Replacement
These are installed prices per square foot of roof surface, averaged across Tennessee for 2026; no source published a Memphis-only number.
| Cost row | Figure | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee 3-tab shingles, per sq ft | about $4.60 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Tennessee architectural shingles, per sq ft | about $5.05 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Tennessee premium shingles, per sq ft | about $6.25 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Tennessee exposed-fastener metal, per sq ft | about $6.75 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Tennessee standing-seam metal, per sq ft | about $10.45 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
A steep Midtown pitch, extra layers or bad decking push a job past these rates, and slate, tile and flat roofs need the roofer's own quote. To turn the rates into a rough number for your house, try the roof cost calculator, then read the Memphis cost guide.
How the Job Unfolds
- You reach out. Fill in the form or call (901) 555-0163, and your details go to one independent local roofer.
- The roofer visits. It measures, checks the attic and probes for soft decking. Many roofers give estimates at no charge; ask the roofer.
- A written estimate arrives. It should list materials, layers, deck-board pricing and warranties.
- You look the roofer up. Search its name on verify.tn.gov. In Shelby County, a home job from $3,000 to $24,999 needs a state Home Improvement license, and one of $25,000 or more needs a state contractor license.
- The roofer does the work. Tear-off, deck repairs, underlayment, flashing, the new surface, then a yard sweep for nails.
- You wrap it up. Walk the job with the roofer and register the manufacturer warranty.
What You Can Expect
You never pay this site or receive anything from it; the roofing company pays us for each referral. Your request goes to one roofer, not a list, and what follows is between you and that business.
Ask the roofer for proof of liability insurance and workers' comp, plus a local address and references. Avoid cash-only terms or full payment before work starts; consumer guidance suggests about one-third up front at most.
Common Questions
Does a roof replacement in Memphis need a permit?
For a single-family home in Memphis or unincorporated Shelby County, the county's roof policy says re-roofing needs no permit unless there is deck work, and new or repaired sheathing does need one. The Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement handles those permits (901-222-8300). Several suburbs add their own steps, so ask the roofer who handles any permit for your address.
Can new shingles go over the old ones?
Sometimes. The county's policy leaves the number of layers to the site and the materials used. A tear-off costs more, but it lets the roofer find bad boards before they leak under a brand-new surface. If a layover is offered, ask for both prices in writing.
What happens to the low-slope part of a ranch roof?
Shingles need enough pitch to shed water, so a flat-ish porch or addition usually gets a different covering. Ask what the roofer plans for that section and have it priced on its own line, since the material and labor differ from the main roof.
What belongs in the written contract?
The total price and payment schedule, a scope naming every material, how decking repairs are priced, ventilation and underlayment details, and written manufacturer and labor warranties. Also ask who pulls any permit and, if the roofer pulls county permits, whether it has registered with Code Enforcement.
Other Services Covered
After wind or a falling limb, see storm and wind damage roofs. Compare metal roof replacement with shingle roof replacement, or check whether roof repair is enough with the repair-or-replace quiz.
See What a New Roof Costs
Share a few details, and one independent local roofer will be in touch to see the house and price the job in writing.