The process of fixing your roof generally begins with gathering various roofing quotes. It's typically recommended to get at least three so you can compare the different price points and work scope. While that might seem easy at face value, roofing quotes can come in numerous variations, making a true apple-to-apple comparison harder to do.
To help make this process a little more straightforward, we've put together a list of four critical elements you should look for in all of your roofing quotes. If a quote doesn't have one of these items, we would warn against choosing them as your roofing partner as it could result in time wasted and unnecessary headaches. We hope the information below is educational and helps you feel confident in who you choose as your roofing partner.
1. Detailed Work Description
One of the most important items to look for in a roofing quote is a detailed description of the work that will be done. This should include, at minimum, a list of all roofing materials to be used, the type of underlayment, the specific area that will be worked on, and even the type of flashing to be used.
A vague work description can be a red flag that the company is artificially inflating the roofing scope since they're avoiding outlining the specifics. This unnecessarily raises the overall cost of your project. Making sure your roofing quote has a detailed work description will help you gain a clear picture of what will be accomplished and what type of materials will be used.
2. Final Roofing Cost
Not only should your roofing quote have the final roof cost, but it should also detail the cost of each type of roof instead of lumping all of them together into one number. Similar to the point above, this will ensure you're not being charged for something that isn't needed.
Comparing these line items with other quotes will also help you determine what roofing company is giving you the best value for what's quoted. While it's tempting to take the offer with the lowest price, we recommend taking a bigger picture approach by comparing what's included in your quotes and what warranties you'll receive.
3. Applicable Warranties
Warranties are one of the areas most people don't pay a lot of attention to until it's actually needed. But, a good warranty can help you save a sizeable amount of money in the long run. Reputable roofing companies will back their work , in addition to the individual warranties provided by the material manufacturers. Your roofing quote should include an overview of what the company offers in terms of a workmanship warranty, as well as materials coverage. While one quote might initially look higher, if it also comes with a robust warranty, it could save you time, money, and headaches down the road. Read our full blog on understanding roofing warranties to get the most out of yours.
4. Contact Information
While this one might seem like a no-brainer, you might be surprised at how many fly-by-night roofing companies operate without providing this standard but critical information. Without it, you could end up in a situation where the company you hired isn't legitimate and leaves you high and dry without any way to contact them if something were to go wrong. It's a situation we've seen time and time again.
Choosing a roofing partner that has their address, phone number, and email address listed on their roofing quote will help you avoid that unfortunate reality. Any reputable roofing contractor should also include their license number so you can rest assured they're a reliable, trusted, and experienced roofing company.
If you're looking to have your roof inspected, we invite you to schedule a free, no-obligation roof evaluation with us! We are a locally-based licensed, bonded, and insured roofing company that will complete your roofing project as smoothly as possible.
