How to Compare Roofing Quotes With Different Materials and Scopes

To compare roofing quotes fairly, first make them describe the same job: the same roof area, the same tear-off, the same decking allowance, the same underlayment, flashing and ventilation work, and the same permit, disposal and cleanup responsibilities. Only then compare materials, warranty and price. A lower number that leaves out decking or flashing is not a lower price; it is a smaller job.

This guide gives you a way to line up quotes you already have, including quotes for different materials. For the full list of what an estimate should contain, see what a Texas roof replacement estimate should include. For the cost drivers themselves, see roof replacement cost in Dallas.

Step 1: Put every quote on the same measurement

Roofers price by area, usually in squares. The City of Dallas code defines a roofing square as the area covered by 100 square feet of roofing material.

• Write down the number of squares on each quote. If one quote doesn't state it, ask for it.
• If the measurements differ noticeably, ask each roofer how they measured (on the roof, from aerial imagery, from plans) and whether the figure includes waste for hips, valleys and cuts.
• Note the pitch (steepness) each roofer recorded. Steeper roofs take more labor and safety equipment.

You do not need to climb up to check anything. Measurements are the roofer's job; your job is to make sure every quote is based on the same roof.

Step 2: Line up the scope, item by item

Make a simple list on paper with one line per item below, and mark each quote "included," "not included" or "unclear."

• Tear-off. How many existing layers will be removed? Is all tear-off included, or is there an extra charge per additional layer?
• Decking. TDI suggests asking whether your roof decking is acceptable or should be reattached or replaced while the old roof is off. Decking condition is often unknown until tear-off, so look for a stated unit price for replacement (per sheet or per square foot) and how much, if any, is already included.
• Underlayment and secondary water barrier. TDI lists both as questions to ask. Note the product type on each quote, not just "underlayment."
• Flashing. Is flashing at chimneys, walls, valleys, skylights and pipe penetrations new or reused? TDI lists flashing among its key reroofing questions, so ask each roofer to say in writing which flashing is replaced and which is reused.
• Drip edge, starter strip, ridge cap. Listed separately, or assumed?
• Ventilation. Does the quote change or add intake and exhaust vents? TDI suggests asking whether ventilation is adequate. If one quote changes ventilation and another doesn't, ask each roofer to explain why.
• Gutters, skylights, satellite or solar detach/reset. These are common "not included" items.
• Permit. In Dallas, new roof coverings need a reroofing permit (only very small reroofs are exempt). Who pulls it and is the fee included? The FTC lists a contractor asking you to get the permits as a warning sign.
• Disposal and cleanup. Dallas requires the permit application to list where debris will go and will not perform the final inspection until proof of disposal at a City of Dallas landfill or transfer station is submitted. Ask if disposal, dumpster and magnetic nail sweep are in the price.
• Protection of the property. Landscaping, AC units, driveways and attic contents during tear-off.

Any item that is "unclear" goes back to the roofer as a written question. Ask for revised quotes in writing, not verbal promises.

Step 3: Compare materials on more than price

When one quote is for asphalt shingles and another is for metal or a different shingle line, price alone won't tell you which is the better value. Compare:

• Product line and rating. Ask for the exact manufacturer, product line and any impact or wind rating claimed, and the document that shows it. See impact-resistant shingles for what an impact rating does and does not mean, and asphalt shingles vs. metal roofing in Texas for the trade-offs.
• Insurance considerations. TDI notes that materials less likely to be damaged by wind, hail or fire might qualify for a discount from your insurer. Ask your own insurer or agent; don't rely on a roofer's estimate of a discount.
• Accessories required. Metal roofs and enhanced shingle warranties can require specific underlayment, trim or ventilation; make sure those are priced.
• Warranty. Manufacturer warranty on the product and the roofer's workmanship warranty are separate. TDI says a warranty is not an indication of how long a roof will last. Read roof warranties before treating a longer warranty as a better roof.

Step 4: Compare the paperwork and payment terms

• Written estimate contents. The FTC says a written estimate should describe the work, the materials, the completion date and the price. Missing pieces are a reason to ask, not to guess.
• Blank spaces. TDI advises reading every document and not signing anything with blank spaces that could be filled in later.
• Insurance-proceeds language. If insurance is involved, TDI warns against contract language like "Homeowner agrees to the listed repairs for the value of insurance proceeds." Whether and how to use insurance is between you, your policy and your insurer.
• Deductible notice. According to TDI's summary of Business and Commerce Code 27.02, contracts of $1,000 or more that involve insurance settlements must include a notice that the policyholder pays the deductible, and contractors may not waive or rebate it. A quote that "covers your deductible" is a red flag, not a discount.
• Payment schedule. The FTC says not to pay the full amount up front, and TDI says to be wary of large or full down payments. Compare when each roofer expects payment and what triggers the final payment.
• Schedule. How long each roofer expects the job to take and what can delay it (weather, decking repairs, permit inspection).

Step 5: Ask the same questions of every roofer

1. How many squares did you measure, at what pitch, and does that include waste?
2. How many layers will you remove, and is that all included?
3. How much decking replacement is included, and what is the unit price beyond that?
4. Which underlayment, flashing, drip edge and ventilation products are included?
5. Who pulls the permit, and are disposal and cleanup included?
6. Which warranties apply, who registers them, and can I read them now?
7. What is the payment schedule?

A note on how HVACandRoof matching works

HVACandRoof does not run a bidding contest. Your request goes to screened contractors whose service area covers your ZIP code; the first to accept takes the job and the others are withdrawn, so you work with one contractor. TDI recommends getting more than one bid, and you are free to collect other estimates on your own and compare them with this method. HVAC and Roof Corp, which operates the site, also does some work directly, so the contractor matched to you is occasionally HVAC and Roof Corp.

HVACandRoof is starting pilot coverage in Illinois and Texas. Send your ZIP code and we confirm whether a screened contractor is available near you. Requesting a match is free for homeowners. Read how it works, or see our roof replacement page.