Roofing · Estimates
The roofing estimate checklist that stops change orders
7 min read · Updated January 2026
Roofing change orders almost always trace back to something nobody wrote down at the inspection. This checklist is what to capture before the estimate leaves your hands.
Measure and document the roof
Get the numbers on paper before you talk price.
- Squares by roof plane, plus waste factor for cut-up roofs
- Pitch on each plane (affects labor rate and safety setup)
- Layers of existing roofing and deck condition where visible
- Linear feet of ridge, hip, valley, rake, eave and drip edge
- Penetrations: pipe boots, vents, skylights, chimneys, satellite mounts
Photograph the conditions that create disputes
Photos are your record of what the roof looked like before you touched it. Take wide shots of each elevation plus close-ups of damage, soft decking, prior repairs, flashing, gutters and any landscaping or driveway that will be under the dump trailer.
Write the scope in plain language
The estimate should read like instructions for the crew and a promise to the homeowner at the same time. Name the products by manufacturer and line, state the number of tear-off layers included, and spell out the ventilation plan.
- Shingle line, color and warranty
- Underlayment, ice-and-water coverage and where it goes
- Flashing: replace vs. reuse, on every penetration
- Ventilation: ridge vent linear feet, intake plan
- Cleanup: magnet sweep, dumpster placement, landscaping protection
Price the unknowns as unit rates
You cannot see rotten decking from the ground, so do not pretend to. List a per-sheet decking replacement rate, a per-foot fascia rate and a rate for extra layers found during tear-off. Unit pricing agreed up front converts an argument into a line item.
Set terms before you set a start date
State the deposit, the progress payment schedule, the balance due at completion, how long the price is valid and what happens on weather delays. On insurance work, note that the scope follows the approved claim and that supplements are billed to the carrier.
Frequently asked
- How long should a roofing estimate be valid?
- Thirty days is standard. Material prices move often enough that an open-ended quote can cost you the entire margin on a job.
- Should I include a deposit on a roofing estimate?
- Yes for material-heavy jobs. A deposit that covers materials protects you if the homeowner cancels after delivery, and it should be stated on the estimate rather than raised later.
Run this workflow in TradePilot
Quote, schedule, invoice and collect payment from one place — built for roofing crews.