Average Cost Roofing Multi-Family Property in San Antonio | Price Guide
Roofing a multi-family property in San Antonio typically costs between $20,000 and $100,000 or more for the building, and the single biggest factor is the roof’s square footage, not the number of units. By material, expect roughly $4 to $8 per square foot for modified bitumen, $5 to $10 for a TPO or EPDM flat roof, $4 to $9 for architectural shingles on pitched garden apartments, and $8 to $16 for standing seam metal. On top of that, tear-off, a two-story or taller building, steep pitch, and any rotted decking push the number up. Labor alone runs 40 to 60 percent of the total. The only way to get an accurate figure is a roof measurement and a written estimate. At BH Roofing we assess multi-family roofs across San Antonio and give itemized numbers, with financing available.
If you own or manage an apartment building, the first thing you want from a “cost” article is an actual number, not a list of factors. So here it is up front: most multi-family roofing projects in San Antonio land between $20,000 and $100,000 for the building, and which end you hit depends mostly on the roof’s square footage and the material. Per square foot, that’s roughly $4 to $16 installed.
That’s a wide range because a fourplex and a 200-unit complex are very different jobs. Below is the real cost breakdown by material, what pushes the number up, and how owners here actually plan and pay for it.
How much does it cost to roof a multi-family property in San Antonio?
For a typical building, budget $20,000 to $100,000-plus. The number tracks the roof’s total square footage far more than the unit count, so two buildings with the same number of apartments can cost very differently if one has a bigger or more complex roof. The material is the second big lever. Here’s where the common systems land.
| Roofing system | Installed cost (per sq ft) | Typical building total* | Common on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modified bitumen (flat) | $4 to $8 | $20k to $70k | Low-slope apartment roofs |
| TPO or EPDM (flat) | $5 to $10 | $25k to $90k | Flat multi-family, energy savings |
| Architectural shingle (pitched) | $4 to $9 | $20k to $80k | Garden apartments, townhomes |
| Standing seam metal | $8 to $16 | $50k to $150k+ | Long-term holds, lowest maintenance |
A rough way to sanity-check it: on a two-story garden-style building, the roof area works out to somewhere around 500 to 700 square feet per unit, so a mid-range system often pencils out near $2,500 to $6,000 per unit. That’s a ballpark for budgeting, not a quote, since your real number comes from measuring the actual roof. For which material is the best fit, we compare them in our guide to the best roofing materials for apartment buildings.
What drives the price up on a multi-family roof?
A handful of factors move the number, and most are about the building, not the shingle. Roof square footage is the biggest, since everything scales with it. After that, building height matters: a two-story or taller building adds roughly $20 to $40 per roofing square (100 square feet) because crews need lifts or boom trucks to get material up safely. Tear-off of the old roof is its own line, usually $30 to $60 per square depending on how many layers are up there.
The rest are condition and code. A steeper pitch is slower and riskier to work, so it costs more than a low slope. If the tear-off reveals rotted decking, that gets replaced before the new roof goes on, which is the most common “surprise” on the invoice. And San Antonio’s building codes for multi-family structures can require wind-mitigation or fire-rated components that a single-family roof wouldn’t. None of these are hidden if your contractor inspects first, which is exactly why a real estimate starts on the roof, not over the phone.
How is labor priced, and how long does a project take?
Labor is the single largest slice of a multi-family roof, typically 40 to 60 percent of the total. That’s because these jobs are big, often need larger or specialized crews, and have to be sequenced around occupied units. The more rooftop equipment, valleys, and complex layout a building has, the more labor hours it takes.
Timelines scale with size. A standard 20-unit building might take about a week, while a large complex can run several weeks to a few months. The other timeline factor is tenants: most crews work in sections, finishing one building or wing at a time while keeping safe access, parking, and reasonable noise hours for residents. That phased approach can stretch the schedule a little, but it’s what keeps a roof replacement from turning into a tenant-relations problem. For how that replacement process is planned end to end, see our multi-family roof replacement guide.
How do owners manage and finance the cost?
Three levers make a six-figure roof manageable. First, insurance. Most commercial property policies cover roof damage from a qualifying event like hail or wind, though normal wear and tear is on you. If a storm hit, document the damage thoroughly with a professional inspection and photos before you file, because that’s what carries the claim with the adjuster. Second, financing: many contractors offer payment plans, and commercial improvement loans spread a large project over time. We offer financing so a re-roof doesn’t have to be one lump sum.
Third, and most overlooked, is a reserve. Setting aside funds for roof maintenance and eventual replacement turns an emergency into a planned expense, and a scheduled maintenance program stretches the roof you have so the big bill comes later. When you do collect bids, get itemized estimates that break out material, labor, tear-off, and any decking or code work, and make sure every bid quotes the same scope so you’re comparing like for like.
Get an itemized multi-family roof estimate from BH Roofing
A multi-family roof is a major capital expense, and the worst way to budget for it is a number pulled from a national average. The right number comes from measuring your actual roof and pricing the actual scope.
BH Roofing assesses and re-roofs apartment and multi-family buildings across San Antonio, from flat TPO and modified bitumen to architectural shingle and standing seam metal. Our team measures the roof, checks the deck and the access, and hands you an itemized estimate that breaks out every line, with phasing planned around your tenants.
Call BH Roofing at (210) 267-9029 for a free multi-family roof assessment and a real number for your property.
