A roofing estimate, line by line

A roofing estimate should describe the tear-off, roof measurements, replacement materials, flashing, access and cleanup. State rates for hidden decking repairs separately and explain how extra work will be approved.

The two fictional estimates below use invented prices. Complete the shingle brand, product, color, ventilation plan and project-specific installation requirements before sending a real quote. For pricing structure, see roofing prices per square.

Both examples use measured roof area for the square quantities. The installed-shingle rate includes the additional material needed for cutting waste; it is not a purchase quantity. Tear-off rows cover removal and loading labor; dumpster rows cover container delivery, pickup and disposal fees. In the colonial, the separate hand-carry line adds ten combined worker-hours for the difficult access, beyond ordinary tear-off loading.

Estimate 1: one-story ranch, tear-off and reshingle

Cedar Ridge Roofing LLC · 4120 Millwright Road · (555) 010-4188 · [email protected] Estimate #2026-356 · Issued August 23, 2026 · Valid through September 22, 2026

For: Dana Whitfield, 812 Larkspur Lane

Scope: Remove one layer of existing asphalt shingle down to the deck. Install 24 squares (2,400 sq ft) of architectural shingle, color to be selected from samples. 5/12 pitch, straight gable, driveway available for dumpster and material drop.

Included: tear-off and disposal, all underlayment, starter, drip edge, ridge vent, ridge cap, two pipe boots, cleanup, and a 5-year workmanship warranty.

Not included: any decking that turns out to be bad (priced above, per sheet), gutter replacement, fascia or soffit repair, satellite dish removal or reinstall, interior drywall repair.

Payment: $[lawful deposit amount] on material delivery, balance when the listed work is complete. Fill in the amount and check local payment and cancellation requirements before sending. Estimate assumes a driveway free of vehicles on the tear-off day.

Estimate 2: two-story colonial, two layers, cut-up roof

Same crew, same shingle, 32 squares instead of 24. The roof is 9/12, carries two layers, and has six valleys, a masonry chimney, two skylights and no driveway wide enough for a truck — everything gets hand-carried. It also sits in a jurisdiction that requires an eave ice barrier. Whether yours does is your building department's call — the code edition and the local amendments it has adopted decide that, and it is not a national rule.

Not included: skylight replacement (flashing only — the units stay), chimney masonry repair or crown work, gutter and downspout replacement, and any decking beyond the per-sheet rate above.

Thirty-three percent more roof, twice the price: $543 per square on the ranch against $814 on the colonial. A homeowner who heard a per-square number from a neighbor will ask about that gap. The pitch, layer, access and flashing lines are the answer, and they are countable.

Building permit fees and tax are excluded from these totals

The examples leave the building permit unpriced. Ask the local building department whether a permit and inspections are required and who must obtain them, then show the responsibility and fee before sending. The colonial’s street-placement permit covers its dumpster, not the roof work.

The example totals also exclude tax. Check the job’s treatment with your state revenue department before presenting a final price. California contractor guidance, for example, distinguishes installed materials from fixtures; a generic percentage copied from another quote is not enough.

Show a rate for possible decking repairs

The sheathing line is the most important one on both estimates, and on a good day it stays at $0.

Deck condition may remain unknown until tear-off. Show the proposed rate before the customer decides: in this example, $95 per 4×8 sheet, with the required thickness and grade confirmed for the actual roof. Photograph damage and propose the quantity needed before covering it.

The rate alone does not approve the extra work. Record the repair scope, quantity, price and schedule impact and get written customer approval before starting it. Follow the local requirements for contract changes.

Use the same approach for possible fascia or chimney repairs. Avoid charging twice: drip edge replacement is already included in both example totals.

Match the expiration date to supplier terms

Both estimates carry an acceptance deadline. Ask how long your supplier will hold the quoted materials price and whether it extends to the planned order date. Recheck and reissue an expired, unaccepted estimate. Once accepted, use the agreement’s price-change terms and required approval process.

Two different warranties, and they are not interchangeable

Separate any workmanship warranty you offer from the manufacturer’s product warranty, so the customer can see who handles each kind of claim.

Your workmanship warranty covers installation: flashing, fastening, and leaks caused by how the roof was put on. You set the term, and it is worth only as much as your business is still around to honor it.

The manufacturer’s material warranty covers specified product defects under its own terms. For example, GAF’s shingle and accessory warranty contains coverage periods, exclusions including damage from inadequate ventilation, and transfer conditions. Enhanced coverage has separate eligibility requirements. Check the exact warranty for the selected product; do not present one manufacturer’s terms as a rule for all shingles.

Write both on the estimate, separately, with the manufacturer named. Do not summarize the material warranty in your own words — read the terms for the shingle you carry and attach them. Promising something the shingle maker does not cover is your problem, not theirs.

Reuse roofing items and check measured quantities

The colonial has sixteen priced or rate lines and the ranch has nine. Reuse the common descriptions, then check the pitch, access, flashing and hand-carry work required by the actual roof.

Save roofing services and selling prices in DoneQuote, then describe the roof using your measured squares, linear feet and item counts. Photos can provide context, but they do not supply reliable measurements. Review the drafted quantities, included work and any zero-quantity repair rates before sending.