Answers · Hiring a roofer
Why is one roofing quote so much cheaper than the others?
The short answer
Usually scope, not greed. Line the quotes up item by item and the gap is normally in the same places: layers removed, decking allowance, underlayment, ice and water membrane, new flashing versus reusing the old, drip edge, ventilation, and disposal.
Where the difference usually is
- Tear-off versus roofing over the existing shingles.
- Decking: an allowance included, or not mentioned until the roof is open.
- Underlayment grade, and how much ice and water membrane and where.
- New flashing at chimneys, walls and valleys, or reusing what is there with sealant.
- New drip edge, which is required by code in many places and is routinely omitted.
- Ventilation work, which is the item most often missing entirely.
- Disposal and cleanup, including magnetic sweeping for nails.
- Permit and inspection fees.
And sometimes it is the labour
A crew without workers compensation costs less than one with it, and the saving is transferred to you as risk if someone is hurt. A contractor who is not carrying insurance, not pulling permits and not paying for disposal can genuinely be cheaper. That is the version of cheap worth refusing.
Also asked
- Is the most expensive quote the best?
- No, and it is a common assumption. A high quote can reflect a larger scope, a better crew, a longer warranty, or simply a busy contractor pricing to stay busy. Comparing the scope is the only way to tell which, and it is why the written scope matters more than the total.
General information about roofs and about hiring, not advice about your building. Roofing contractor licensing, permits, insurance practice and deductible rules are set state by state and province by province across the United States and Canada, so your own authority is the current answer.