The Estimate Game
You call three roofers. You get three estimates. They should be easy to compare, right? Material plus labor plus disposal equals total. But somehow, every estimate looks completely different. Different line items. Different terminology. Different formats. One is a paragraph, one is a spreadsheet, one is scribbled on a business card.
This is not accidental. A confusing estimate is a useful estimate -- for the contractor.
How the Game Works
When you cannot compare apples to apples, you default to the one thing you can compare: the bottom line number. And that is exactly what many contractors want. Because the cheapest number wins the call-back, and once they are in the door, they can explain away the missing items or hit you with change orders later.
Here is what intentionally vague estimates look like:
- "Roofing materials and labor" as a single line item. What materials? What brand? What product line? What warranty tier?
- No mention of underlayment type. Felt paper and synthetic underlayment have very different performance and cost profiles.
- No ice and water shield specified. Is it included? Where? How many linear feet?
- "Flashing as needed." What does "as needed" mean? New flashing everywhere, or reuse the corroded stuff that is already up there?
- No decking repair allowance. When they find rot during tear-off (and they will), that becomes an expensive surprise.
The Inflated Square Count Trick
Some contractors inflate their square count -- the measurement of your roof area -- to justify a higher price while appearing competitive on a per-square basis. If one contractor measures 25 squares and another measures 30, someone is wrong. And it might be intentional.
Ask for the measurement method. Satellite measurements (EagleView, GAF QuickMeasure) are standardized and verifiable. "I eyeballed it from the ground" is not.
What a Transparent Estimate Looks Like
A legitimate, comparison-ready estimate should include:
- Exact roof measurement in squares with measurement source noted
- Material brand, product line, and color
- Underlayment type and coverage
- Ice and water shield locations and linear footage
- All flashing types and quantities
- Ventilation specifications
- Decking repair allowance or per-sheet pricing
- Disposal method and fees
- Warranty terms (both manufacturer and workmanship)
- Timeline and payment terms
If you are looking at an estimate and more than half of those items are missing, the contractor either does not know what they are doing or does not want you to know what you are paying for. Both are problems.
Demand Better
You are spending $10,000 or more. You deserve to know exactly what that money buys. Our estimates are detailed, specific, and built for comparison. We welcome you to hold them up against anyone else's. That is the point.