Mansard roofs and complex multi-hip designs. The geometry on these requires significantly more materials and skilled labour than a standard gable or hip roof. For specialty materials, natural slate is the costliest option at $25 to $50 per sq ft installed in Ontario.
Curved or steeply-pitched roofs add labour time and material waste that can push total project cost 30 to 50% higher than a comparable gable roof. In the Windsor market most residential projects stick to simpler hip or gable profiles for exactly that reason. Choosing a straightforward roof design is one of the most effective cost controls available when building or doing a major renovation.
Style complexity is one of the main drivers behind what is the most expensive part of replacing a roof overall. Both materials and labour inflate with geometric complexity. If performance is the goal rather than aesthetics, the best roof for the money is architectural asphalt on a standard profile. 25 to 30 years of service without the cost premium of complex styles or specialty materials. For full cost context see how much it costs to replace a 2,000 sq ft roof in Ontario.