Roofers in the Erie region aren't climbing down anytime soon.

Local roofing contractors say they've been busy all year, and the work will remain steady through the fall as they plow through their list of jobs.

Although some experts say fall is the best time to replace a roof as weather conditions tend to be more favorable for those doing the work, local contractors say most times of the year are good for getting the job done.

"For us, we're busy all the time," said Andy Vinca, owner of Angelo's Roofing & Construction in Erie. "The fall is the old-school rush, where everyone says they want things done before winter."

Roofers have remained busy despite some challenges that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily issues in getting materials. Vinca said that while he could get most items needed to do a roofing job, there were occasions when he couldn't get a couple of necessary items.

"It was definitely hard," he said. "Sometimes we were having to overbuy, sometimes paying too much for stuff."

A few materials got more expensive, including nails and wood, said Perry Morey, a supervisor for Brink Roofing in Harborcreek Township. He noted that a sheet of oriented strand board, or OSB, was up to $40 a sheet at one point, but is now down to less than $18.

Vinca and Morey also noted that some shingle manufacturers limited the number of shingle colors they were manufacturing.

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Noah McClung, the owner of Pinnacle Roofing & Construction in Erie, said his business had to adapt because of supply issues.

"There used to be a lot of stuff in stock. I could just call in and get it when I needed it. I had to convert to buying more in bulk to have it," McClung said.

Vinca said the supply issues seem to have stabilized.

"We have a really good relationship with local suppliers. That made a difference," he said.

The average national cost for replacing a roof is $7,211, with most homeowners spending between $4,707 and $10,460, according to information on the HomeGuide website. The cost is dependent in part on the materials used, with the square-foot cost of materials ranging from $3.60 for asphalt to $8 for metal to $14.80 for slate, according to the website.

Roofers in the Erie area said it's hard to put an average cost on a roof replacement locally.

There are too many variables to provide an average estimated cost, McClung said. In addition to materials, the variables include the roof's size, pitch, its height and the amount of work that has to be done in replacing it, he said.

Other factors, according to HomeGuide, include where a person lives, the effect of local building codes, and features on a roof such as chimneys and skylights.

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Whether or not insurance will pay for at least a portion of a roof repair is also dependent on some factors.

Homeowners insurance is designed to cover the cost of sudden and unexpected damage, said Matthew Cummings, spokesman for Erie Insurance. Generally, a policy doesn't cover damage from delayed maintenance or routine wear and tear to an old roof, he said.

A roof isn't something that is typically replaced right away.

The timeline for getting a company out to review a project and begin work depends on the time of year and how busy a roofing contractor is, said Morey of Brink Roofing, which employs four full-time crews and some part-time workers.

Vinca said Angelo's Roofing is backed up for several months. But he said the company offers a service to those planning to have their roof replaced in which the company will come out and do some maintenance to address an issue such as a leak right away.

"Because a roof is not just going to go out one day. It's a gradual process," he said. "We never leave people hanging. If they have a roof leak, we can tend to that."

Once crews are ready to replace a roof, that work typically takes one to seven days to complete, depending on the roof, Vinca added.

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McClung, of Pinnacle Roofing, said homeowners need to plan ahead if they expect to have their roof replaced. He said they should get an assessment done to get an idea of how long their current roof will last and a ballpark figure on what the work might cost, and will have to determine how long they plan on waiting until hiring someone for the job.

"We run into that a lot. We'll get a call for a leak repair, we'll say, 'Look, this needs replaced,' and the customer is not aware and not prepared and they have to throw money at an old roof, trying to get it to limp through," McClung said. "A roof is something people take for granted. They don't expect issues, and once they have them, that's when they start thinking about it."

McClung said customers also need to be educated on types of roofing materials, their cost and warranties. He noted that there are two distinct methods of fastening metal roofing, which has grown in popularity. Metal roofing with exposed fasteners is cheaper than metal roofing with hidden fasteners, but the exposed fasteners don't last as long, he said.

Vinca said the most important step a homeowner can take in hiring a roofing contractor is to make sure they are hiring a quality company. He said Angelo's Roofing is fully insured and does not subcontract any jobs, guaranteeing a safe and quality job.

Some companies will subcontract some roofing jobs, and the crew that gets the work may be from out of town and may not be insured, Vinca said.

A quality roofing company will also be certified and will warranty its roofs, Morey added.

Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNhahn.