How to Compare Roofing Bids: A Side-by-Side Worksheet

How do I compare roofing bids apples-to-apples?

Put every bid on one worksheet, one row per item, and record what each contractor wrote, not what you assume. A blank cell is information: it means the bid is silent on that item. Ask the contractor to fill it in, in writing, before you compare totals.

Copy the worksheet below into a document or spreadsheet. If a bid does not mention an item, write "not stated".

The roofing bid comparison worksheet

What should every roofing bid include?

Every bid should state the measurements, the removal plan, each material by name, the warranties, the logistics and the exclusions. A bid that is one number with a short description cannot be compared to anything. The sections below explain each row of the worksheet.

Measurements and tear-off

Roof measurement used. Roofs are measured in squares, and one square is one hundred square feet of roof. Ask where each contractor's number came from, such as a measuring report or a tape measure on site. If two bids use different square counts, they price different jobs.

Tear-off. This is the removal of the old roofing. Ask how many layers each bid includes. If one layer is priced and a second is found, that is a change order waiting to happen.

Decking or sheathing. Damage to the boards under your shingles may only show once the old roof is off. A bid can price replacement per sheet, carry a set allowance, or exclude it. Each approach moves risk to a different party.

Materials under and around the shingles

Underlayment. This is the water-resistant layer between the deck and the shingles. Write down the exact type each bid lists.

Ice and water barrier. This is a sticky, waterproof membrane. Ask where each bid puts it: eaves, valleys, around penetrations, or elsewhere. "Included" alone is not enough.

Drip edge. This is metal trim at the roof edges that guides water away. Check that it is listed.

Starter and ridge cap. These are the pieces along the bottom edge and at the peak. Ask whether each comes from the same manufacturer and product line as the shingle, or is a generic or cut-down substitute.

Flashing. Flashing is metal that directs water at joints: where the roof meets a wall or chimney, and in valleys where two slopes meet. For each type (step, counter, chimney, valleys), ask whether the contractor will replace it or reuse what is there.

Ventilation and pipe boots. Ask what ventilation is installed or added, and whether the pipe boots are replaced.

The shingle

Manufacturer, product line and class. "Architectural shingles" is a category, not a product. A real answer names the manufacturer, the product line within it, and the class of shingle. Two bids that both say "architectural" can describe different products. Our post on why roofers quote different prices goes deeper on this.

Why are two bids for the same roof so far apart?

Two bids for the same roof can differ because they describe different scopes, materials, measurements or crews. Match those four things first. Whatever gap remains after matching is the only difference worth discussing with each contractor, so do that matching before you look at any total.

Common causes of a gap:

• Different measurements. One contractor measured more roof.
• Reused versus new parts. One bid replaces flashing, drip edge and pipe boots. Another reuses them.
• Different shingle lines. The names on the bids look alike, but the products are not the same.

How do I compare warranties between bids?

A new roof can carry two warranties. The manufacturer's warranty covers the product. The contractor's workmanship warranty covers the installation. They come from different companies and say different things. Get both in writing from each contractor, and record the details on your worksheet.

Manufacturer warranty tier and what it requires. Manufacturers sell warranties in more than one tier, and some tiers come with conditions, such as who installs the roof, which components are used, or whether the roof is registered afterward. Ask each contractor which tier they are quoting, what it requires, and who files any paperwork. Then read the manufacturer's own document.

Workmanship warranty length. Ask for the length in writing, who stands behind it, and what it covers.

Our guide to roof shingle warranty tiers explains how the tiers are structured.

What do allowances and exclusions do to the total?

An allowance is a set amount a bid carries for something not yet known, such as damaged decking. An exclusion is something the bid does not include at all. Either can make a bid look lower at signing and change the total once work begins.

Ask these questions about each one:

• If the real cost is below the allowance, does the difference come back to you?
• If it is above, what is the unit price for the extra work?
• If the item is excluded, who pays for it if it comes up?

Permit and disposal. Check who pulls the permit and who pays for the dumpster and hauling.

Cleanup and property protection. Ask how landscaping, gutters and the driveway are protected, and how nails are collected.

Payment schedule and deposit. Note what is due and when.

Start window and duration. Write down the dates each contractor gives, and what happens if weather delays the job.

Change orders. Ask how a change order is priced, and whether you approve it in writing before work continues. A bid that is silent on this leaves the question open until mid-job.

Who does the work, and what proof should I ask for?

Ask each bidder whether their own crew installs the roof or a subcontractor does. Either can be reasonable. What matters is knowing who will be on your roof, who answers for the work, and who stands behind the warranty you were promised.

Ask for proof of license and proof of insurance, and check them with the issuing offices yourself. Our list of roofing estimate red flags covers more warning signs to look for in a bid.

Is the lowest bid the best bid?

Not automatically, and the highest bid is not automatically the best either. A price means little until you know what it includes. Compare scope, materials, warranties and contractor details first, then use price to choose among bids that cover the same work.

If one bid is far from the others, do not guess why. Ask that contractor to walk through their scope line by line against your worksheet. A clear answer helps you decide.

How do I ask each contractor to re-quote to the same scope?

Send every contractor the same written scope and the same measurements, and ask them to bid on exactly that. Ask them to list any change as a separate line, and to name any item that is missing from their first bid.

A message you can copy:

I am comparing bids and need them to cover the same work. Please quote this written scope using these measurements, and list any change you would make as a separate line item. Please also state the shingle product line, warranty tier, workmanship warranty length, decking pricing, exclusions and change order pricing.

Our guide to reading a contractor estimate decodes the line items.

What if I have an insurance estimate?

If you have an insurance estimate, it is a written document that may list a scope and measurements, so you can give the same copy to each contractor and ask them to bid on it. Questions about your policy, what it allows, or how a claim works go to your insurer. Otter Quotes does not work with insurance companies.

What to ask: a checklist to copy

• Which measurement did you use, and where did it come from?
• How many layers does the tear-off include, and how is decking priced?
• Which underlayment, ice and water barrier, drip edge, starter and ridge cap, and where?
• Will you replace or reuse each type of flashing and the pipe boots?
• Which shingle manufacturer, product line and class, and which warranty tier?
• How long is your workmanship warranty, in writing?
• What is excluded, and how are change orders priced?

Where Otter Quotes fits

Otter Quotes creates a written scope of work for your project and sends it to multiple contractors. Every contractor bids on the same scope and the same measurements. You compare the bids online, next to reviews and licensing information, and sign online without a salesperson in your home. Subcontractors bid too, so you may be able to work directly with the crew that does the work. We are not a contractor, we do not sell upgrades, and we do not offer inspections. Contractors pay Otter Quotes a fee on the accepted bid.