How To Compare Re-Roof Estimates
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When you're getting re-roof estimates from different roofers, there may be large differences between their costs. This video will empower you and give you the knowledge, as the homeowner and the client, to be able to build a Request For Proposal for your re-roofing project so you can get estimates from your roofers that have the same scope of work. That way, you can truly compare apples-to-apples estimates from each of them.
We give you 14 tips (and one bonus tip) on how to get all your roofers to give you estimates that are equivalent so you can intelligently compare each estimate.
CHAPTER MENU
00:00 Intro
1:00 Why the process can be intimidating
1:56 Tip 1 – Roof measurements
3:33 Tip 2 – Shingle brand
7:00 Tip 3 – Ridge shingle style
7:47 Tip 4 – Underlayment
9:54 Tip 5 – Ice & Water shield
12:09 Tip 6 – Drip edge
13:06 Tip 7 – Wall flashings
15:42 Tip 8 – Pipe flashings
17:06 Tip 9 – Starter shingles
18:24 Tip 10 – Number of nails
20:05 Tip 11 – Ventilation
21:29 Tip 12 – Workmanship warranty
22:49 Tip 13 – Manufacturer warranty
23:37 Tip 14 – Ask for their input
25:36 Bonus Tip
Homestead Roofing, Inc is a licensed and fully-insured roofing contractor in Colorado Springs, Colorado and serving homeowners in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Falcon, Peyton, Manitou Springs, and other surrounding communities.
Visit the Homestead Roofing website for a lot more information, education, scam alerts, and tips at or call our office at 719-433-6991 if you have any questions about this, or any other roofing-related topics.
This was an awesome video. I’m absolutely going to use your list. I live in New Jersey so these things might be unique to my area, a couple things I thought you should ask as well was removal cost and how many “boards” are going to be included and how much for each additional board. This is common in my area.
Wow! I’m super excited that this was helpful for you. Hopefully you were able to weed through all 30 minutes of it.
@Homestead Roofing, Inc Absolutely! and well worth my time considering how much a roof costs in my area.
It seems a lot of information for the most of homeowners, but not for me. I want to make sure that I hire the right contractor to do one of the most important jobs of my house. I spent 3-4 days to educate myself about how to install a new roof from the very beginning. Getting farmiliar with all the terms and procedure. Now, I am still not 100% confident so I will keep learning as much as I can.
Thank you for your information. I have learned a lot from your videos. Wish you the best.
Very glad it was helpful!
That was the most helpful video I have yet seen through my attempt at self-education on obtaining roofing estimates. Wow! Thank you so much.
Thank you very much for that encouragement!
Thank you so much for all this information! It’s wonderful being able to learn so much and being able to be educated enough to know how to not get screwed over
I’m honored that you have found the information helpful. I hope you’re able to use the info to find a great roofer.
This video is excellent! Thank you very much for all of your excellent advice.
Thank you for the feedback!
Thanks for the information, we are in the process of roof estimate now. The last estimate was double the price of the first two, I didn’t realize he priced out a 50 year shingle compared to 30 years shingles on the first Two estimates.
You should ask these roofers which shingle brand they’re using. Almost every shingle out there now has a 50 year warranty.
This is probably my 15th video of trying to find what information to ask the roofing estimate person and this is by far the most helpful. Thank you so much for taking the time out to educate us.
Hey, thanks for the encouraging comment! Glad it was helpful for you.
Thank you for answering my questions and very quickly.
I have really hard time deciding between 2 contractors with 1 brand each in NC.
One roofer offers me Certainteed Landmark and other GAF hdz.
The one pushing GAF hdz says it is the best because company has been around over 100 years, 50 year warranty on shingles, takes winds of 180 mph. They have the GFA certification to install it, offers 10 year labor warranty.
The Certainteed Landmark comes with lower warranty and only takes winds of 110 mph and only 5 year labor warranty.
I seen more complaints and bad comments against GAF hdz but nobody explains why
Hopefully you can tell me the negative/problems of GAF hdz. And which one will you put in your roof in hot NC with hurricanes.
Need to decide soon.
Thanks in advance and God bless you.
Subscribed to your channel to learn more.
@Joaquin Suarez, I just checked the GAF website and see that the Timberline HDZ has a max wind rating of 130mph. If your CertainTeed installer uses 6 nails per shingle instead of 4, it also has a wind rating of 130mph. If you like the CertainTeed product, I would recommend going to CertainTeed.com and click on the Find A Pro button to find a certified installer. Otherwise, if you like the roofer you’ve been talking to, tell him you want 6 nails per shingle so you get the 130mph wind warranty.
@Homestead Roofing, Inc Thank you.
Is it better to pay more for hand nailing vs pneumatic nail gun?
@Joaquin Suarez I would be ok with the gun. Makes the job go much faster and if the installer is good, the nail job will be as good as hand nailing.
@Homestead Roofing, Inc Great, thanks.
Hi. Thanks to your advise I will go with Certainteed Landmark Pro.
Roofer is giving me 10 year craftsmanship warranty and shingles come with limited lifetime warranty which I think covers 100% replacement for the first 10 years, and after that warranty is prorated and if want longer warranty “Surestar” Certainteed has 3 different ones, I believe 15, 25 and 50 years that will cover 100% replacement but I have to pay extra for them.
Do you know how much more they cost and if they worth the extra money?
Please advise.
Sorry for the delay in replying. I’m obviously way behind on checking comments!
Thank you for engaging with our content. Some roofers don’t charge for the extended warranty. Others do.
This video is very helpful and I look forward to familiarizing myself with your roofing content. As a new homeowner I can attest to the daunting considerations prompted by the demands of the insurer and plan to follow your common sense approach of researching materials to be being knowledgeable, and prepared to approach roofers with measurements to manage my expectations. FYI I also follow Grand Roofing Inc as a helpful YouTube channel with really good best practice advice, too. Anyway, Thanks for the walk and talk. Peace!
I like Grand Roofing’s content!
Nice overview of things to think about–not only if I have a contractor do it, but if I want to tackle doing myself.
Glad this was helpful!
You are definitely a MASTER TEACHER!! Evren New Roofers can learn from this Lesson!! THANKS A LOT!!! Some homeowners want to pay less, but pay more for the Consequences !!
Wow, thanks!
I appreciate the comment!
I compared apples with apples on Google with the estimates I got. Learned alot doing this. Looked up shingles and under layments.
Perfect!! An educated homeowner is one who will most likely avoid scams! Good for you!
Great video! Question for you. You mentioned asking building dept. about elevation requirements and I wondered if this work requires a building permit, as well as architectural approval by Homeowners Association?
Also, the info regarding the flashings and the 6-nail per shingle warranties was helpful. Another question for me is the penetrations (skylights and vents) and the use of ice and snow around them, or even starter row shingles to fortify the protection. What would you recommend as offering the best protection for the roof? I have a shade tree that slows the melt of snow on one section of my roof and wondered if more ice and snow underlayment there is useful. I liked your mention of the drip being different lengths. I have gutters on the eaves (2 sides of the house) but not on the other 2 sides where the roof rises to the apex , is that the gable? Well, I can see utility of ice and snow near the. Front porch, which is on the north face of roof and where there is an L shape to the gutter and slope of the roof. How wide should the ice and snow shield be in those areas? You mentioned code, so your answer may be different depending on that. Also, with chimneys, can the flashing be replaced? Do the shingles go over or under the flashing around skylights, etc? Thanks in advance if you will answer my questions. I love Colorado Springs area!
Permit requirements are dependent on the local jurisdiction. You’ll want to call them to find out if you need a permit.
My recommendation for the best protection is for your roofer to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for the full roof system available from that manufacturer. Often, this will not only give you the best assurance of no leaks or wind blow-offs, but it will give you a better warranty, too.
Also, material costs are high now. In two years the estimate to replace the plywood structure if needed has jumped from $65 to. $95 on most recent proposal. The shingle cost increase was said to be about 10 percent increase in past two years. How long are shingles good for? How can you tell the date of manufacture on a bundle or box of shingles? I am told that architectural shingles are now more affordable than the older style of shingle. Do they have better performance against hail damage?
Yes, costs have dramatically increased. There were 5 price increases in shingles last year, and there have been 3 already this year (as of 7/1/22).
The life of the shingle has a lot to do with the environment and climate in which you live.
Yes, the dimensional shingles typically will withstand hail better than the older, 3-tab shingles.
This was incredible. Informative, straight forward, clear to understand. Makes me wish (for several reasons) that I lived in Colorado.
Thank you so much for that comment. That was very encouraging.
Great video and love the tips here but I was kinda also looking for information re: aluminum chimney vents options. Types, galvanized, vs. straight metal, Paint options, new styles, flashing for.. etc? Didn’t hear this. Just some feedback.
Very helpful. I just had a roofer leave and talk to me about the roof. You have proven to me that he knows what he is talking about. He quoted Certainteed Landmark, which I see is entry level and didn’t rate very well on Consumer’s Reports. Any advice would be appreciated as to the value of upgrading.
I think every shingle out there has bad reviews. I think that’s mostly because no one would ever think to leave a good review because if a shingle is doing what it’s supposed to do, you don’t ever think about it.
I actually prefer CertainTeed products. In my opinion, the Landmark is a good product and it’s a step above the entry-level shingles from Owens-Corning, GAF, and the others.
Great intro for the new roof buyer! Thank you!!
That was encouraging!! Thank you for that!
Thank you. Informative, balanced, well presented. Also, thanks for not adding music or distracting sound effects.
I’m really glad this was helpful! Thank you for your comment and for engaging with our content.