When bidders are given identical information, regarding the scope of the project, you have the ability to see the prices being offered to achieve your desired results. To receive accurate bids, make sure to provide defining parameters. These can include: the square footage to be re-roofed, project deadline, specific material requirements (e.g. do you want to use 3-tab architectural shingles in a specific colour) and whether the new roof should be applied over the existing one or have the whole roof torn off first. All these are examples of details to include in a roofing bid and will impact the project price.

Compare Tasks Included in Bid

After you’ve had various contractors assess your roof’s situation, they will provide the work they deem necessary to repair the damage and restore your roof to an optimal state. Seeing the work broken down in each bid is important, as each contractor may take a different approach to repairing your roof.

For instance, one contractor may plan to apply new shingles over the existing ones, while another plans on removing the existing shingles prior to applying new ones. The first method is less labour intensive and likely costs less; however, not removing the old shingles can cause issues to go unnoticed that can give you a headache down the road. It’ll cost more to have old shingles removed first, but it can expose issues like roof rot and even potential leaks that could be forming under the old shingle layer–these issues would otherwise not be addressed.

Another potential difference in tasks is the materials being used. If you’re looking to have your roof replaced and one contractor offers a significantly cheaper price for the work than another, examine the materials being used in the project. One contractor may be using lower-quality shingles that won’t fare as well in harsh weather conditions. Although these materials may have a lower initial cost, they’ll break down faster and need to be replaced sooner.