5 min read · Independent guide
The roofing quote checklist
Print this, or keep it open on your phone. A quote that survives every line below is a quote you can sign without a surprise in week two.
Nothing here is exotic. Reputable contractors put most of it in writing without being asked, and the ones who resist tend to resist for a reason. Work down the list per bid.
Scope and measurements
- Roof area stated in squares, and how it was measured
- Number of existing layers to be removed, and disposal included
- Every structure included or excluded by name (house, porch, garage, dormers)
- Material manufacturer, product line and colour — not just "architectural shingles"
The water-management details
- Underlayment type and where ice-and-water membrane is applied
- Drip edge at eaves and rakes
- Valley method: open metal, woven, or closed-cut
- New step and counter-flashing at chimneys and walls — not re-used, not caulked
- New pipe boots and vent flashings
Ventilation
- Exhaust ventilation type and linear footage
- Intake ventilation at soffits addressed, not assumed
- Confirmation the design meets the manufacturer's warranty conditions
Contingencies and unknowns
- Price per sheet for replacement decking, and how many sheets are included
- How change orders are approved — in writing, before the work
- Skylight, gutter, satellite and solar handling stated explicitly
Paperwork to verify yourself
- General liability insurance certificate, current, naming the contractor
- Workers' compensation coverage for the crew on your roof
- Contractor licence or registration where your state requires one
- Who pulls the permit, and whether the fee is in the price
- Whether the crew is employed or subcontracted, and who warranties the work
Money and schedule
- Total price, deposit amount and payment schedule tied to milestones
- No large up-front payment before materials are delivered
- Start window and expected duration
- Cleanup, magnetic nail sweep and landscape protection
- Workmanship warranty length, in writing, separate from the material warranty
- Your cancellation rights, and no pressure to sign the same day
Five questions worth asking out loud
- What roof area did you measure, and how?
- What happens if you find bad decking, and what will it cost per sheet?
- Are you replacing all flashing, or re-using any of it?
- Who is physically on my roof — your employees or a subcontracted crew?
- What is your workmanship warranty, and how long have you been trading under this name?
Email me this checklist
Optional. We'll send the full checklist as an email you can pull up on site while you read each bid.
Pressure to sign today is not a discount strategy, it is a decision-avoidance strategy. Any price that expires before you can compare it is telling you something.
Once the paperwork checks out, test the number itself: put it through the quote checker, and compare it with an independent range from the calculator.