Trade checklist · Roofing
Roof replacement quote review
Two roofing quotes with the same shingle brand can differ by thousands of dollars in what they do at the valleys, chimneys, drip edge, attic vents, and rotted decking. Paste your quote below to get a written benchmark note.
Scope checklist
FN-TRADE-ROOF
finalist.cc trade read
What we check on a roof replacement quote
When a person at finalist.cc reads a shingle or metal roofing quote, we check twelve scope lines that determine whether two bids are pricing the same roof or leaving open change orders on tear-off day.
1. Line by line across a roofing quote
| Line | What a vague quote says | What a clear scope states | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tear-off & layers | “Remove existing roof” | Full tear-off down to bare wood decking, stating how many existing shingle layers are included and the price per square if a hidden second layer is found. | Vague |
| Decking replacement | “Replace bad wood as needed” | Number of 4x8 sheets of CDX plywood or OSB included in the base bid (for example, 2 or 3 sheets) and the exact dollar price per additional sheet or linear foot of 1x board decking. | Change-order trap |
| Underlayment & ice/water shield | “Synthetic felt included” | Named synthetic underlayment product across the field, plus self-adhered ice-and-water membrane in all valleys, around skylights and chimneys, and along eaves where code requires. | Vague |
| Starter & ridge cap | “30-year architectural shingles” | Exact shingle manufacturer, product line, impact rating (such as UL 2218 Class 3 or Class 4), dedicated starter strip at eaves and rakes, and factory hip-and-ridge cap shingles rather than cut 3-tabs. | Vague |
| Drip edge & valleys | “New metal edging” | 26-gauge or 28-gauge pre-painted steel drip edge along all eaves and rakes, and whether valleys are closed-cut shingle or 24-gauge W-valley metal. | Vague |
| Step, apron & counter flashing | “Inspect and reseal flashing” | Whether existing step flashing along sidewalls and chimneys is reused and caulked or replaced with new metal step flashing, plus lead or neoprene-collar pipe boots on all plumbing stacks. | Often skipped |
| Attic ventilation | “Install ridge vent” | Type and linear footage of baffled shingle-over ridge vent (or off-ridge exhaust vents), confirming that existing box vents or turbines are decked over so exhaust vents do not short-circuit each other. | Check spec |
| Fasteners & nailing | “Install per code” | Hot-dipped galvanized ring-shank coil nails (4 nails vs. 6 nails per shingle for high-wind rating), never staples. | Check spec |
| Gutters, satellite & solar | Not mentioned | Whether gutters and downspouts are protected or detached and reset, and who handles satellite dishes, gutter guards, or solar panel detachment. | Missing |
| Dumpster, magnets & landscaping | “Haul off debris” | Roll-off dumpster vs. dump trailer on driveway (with wood runners), tarping of shrubs and AC condenser, and magnetic nail sweep of yard and driveway. | Check details |
| Permits, insurance & warranty | “10-year workmanship warranty” | Who pulls the municipal roofing permit, a certificate of insurance sent from the agent, written workmanship coverage length, and whether manufacturer system registration is included. | Ask in writing |
2. Questions we help you send back to the roofer
- How many sheets of OSB or plywood decking are included in the base price, and what is the exact price per sheet if the crew uncovers additional rotted decking?
- Will the crew install new metal step flashing and chimney apron flashing, or reuse the existing flashing?
- Are valleys built with ice-and-water shield plus W-valley metal, or closed-cut shingles?
- Which exact shingle line (and impact class rating, if claiming an insurance discount) is priced, along with the starter strip and hip/ridge cap product?
- What is the deposit schedule, and is final payment due after city permit inspection and a ground-level walk-through?
Other trade quote reviews on finalist.cc: HVAC replacement quote review · Foundation and drainage quote review · Fence and deck quote review.
Send your roofing quote
Paste the roofing quote below, or choose that it is a PDF or photo. A person at finalist.cc reads it against our roofing checklist and replies by email with a benchmark note.
What happens next
- A person reads the quote line by line.
- If the quote is a PDF, insurance Xactimate scope, or photo, we reply by email and ask for it; you attach it to your reply.
- You get a benchmark note by email: included, missing, vague, the arithmetic, questions to ask, and a scope for a second roofer.
We do not send your quote or your details to roofing contractors.