What the document should contain
Ours, like any contractor's, should include at least:
- the company's full name, its address and its RBQ licence number
- the measured area
- what happens to the old covering, full tear-off or overlay
- the materials installed, layer by layer, with the product name and grade
- the flashing, vents, drains and accessories, new or reused
- a unit price for replacing damaged decking
- cleanup, the container and debris disposal
- who applies for the permit, if one is needed
- the warranties offered
- how long the offer is valid and the possible dates
- payment terms and taxes
The lines that are often missing
Three gaps come up again and again.
The first is the decking. Without a unit price set in advance, replacing rotten wood gets negotiated once the roof is open, when you no longer have any bargaining power.
The second is the flashing. "Flashing checked" does not mean "flashing replaced". Ask which pieces will be new.
The third is the materials. "Quality shingles" or "two-ply membrane" describes nothing. The quote needs the exact product, so you can check its data sheet and its warranty.
Comparing three quotes
Put our quote next to the other two and go through the same steps for each one.
- Check that the area is in the same range. A big gap points to a measuring error or a forgotten section of roof.
- Compare the tear-off. A full tear-off in one and a partial one in another is not the same job.
- Compare the systems. Note the layers, the products and the accessories in each offer.
- Find what is excluded. A written exclusion is better than silence.
- Compare the warranties and who honours them.
- Look at the price last.
When a line appears in one quote and not in the others, ask the contractors who left it out, including us. Ask whether the item is included and, if not, ask them to add its price.
What the lowest price can hide
A large gap on the low side often has an explanation. The most common ones are an overlay instead of a tear-off, old flashing kept in place, a lower-grade product, no allowance for the decking, or a crew planning to work very fast.
Frequently asked questions
Is a roofing quote free?
Ask us whether the quote is free when you book the visit. A detailed inspection with a written report is a different service, and it can be billed separately.
How long is a roofing quote valid?
The validity period should be written on the document. It varies from one contractor to another, in part with the price of materials. Once that period is over, ask for an update before you sign.
Does the quote replace the contract?
Ask us. Find out whether our signed quote will serve as the contract or whether a separate contract will follow. Either way, the document you sign must include everything in the quote, with nothing removed.