Compare roof replacement quotes beyond the surface material

Align the scope before comparing totals

Ask each contractor to identify the roof areas included, the existing layers to be removed and any roof sections excluded. Clarify whether porches, low-slope areas, detached structures and wall transitions are part of the proposal.

Request exact product names rather than a brand alone. Ask which components form the proposed system and which items are assumed to remain. If an allowance is used, record what it covers and how the final charge will be established.

Use a roof-specific comparison checklist

Create a row for each of the following and mark included, excluded, allowance or unresolved. A blank row is a question to resolve, not evidence that the item costs nothing.

• Tear-off, hauling, disposal and site protection.
• Decking investigation, included repair quantity and additional-work pricing.
• Underlayment, edge details and the selected covering.
• Flashing at walls, valleys, penetrations and existing equipment.
• Ventilation review and any specified changes.
• Permitting, applicable product documentation and inspections.
• Cleanup, closeout documents and written warranty terms.

Ask specifically about retained flashing and accessories

Have the contractor identify which components will be replaced and which may be reused after assessment. GAF’s asphalt-shingle flashing bulletin illustrates why condition and compatibility with the selected product matter. Its details apply to the specified system; they should not be turned into a universal reuse rule.

In Florida, ask the project team to identify applicable product approvals and installation documents for the actual site. The state search tool lets users locate product records, but finding a record alone does not establish that every listed assembly suits your roof.

Resolve change handling and completion evidence

Ask what happens when concealed damage appears: who documents it, what pricing basis applies and how authorization is obtained while the building is protected. Review any weather contingency and rescheduling assumptions.

Finally, compare who provides each warranty and what is included in a covered remedy. Request the actual documents before selecting a proposal. Choose after the material differences are understood; the lowest visible total may simply represent a different or less-defined scope. Keep the completed comparison with the signed contract for reference during the work.