What a roofing estimate should include
The biggest unknown on a roof is what you can't see until the shingles come off. A good estimate prices the visible work exactly and says up front how anything hidden will be billed.
- The repair area in squares. "Repair storm-damaged area, approx. 3 squares" at $385 a square tells the owner how big the job is. "Approx." is honest: the real area can grow once you're up there.
- Every penetration counted. Four pipe boot flashings at $45 each, priced by the piece, so the owner can see you counted each vent instead of rounding up.
- Skylights and weak spots by name. Resealing the skylight curb is its own $220 line. Skylights are a frequent leak point, and naming it shows you looked.
- Gutters with a length. "Clean and secure gutters, 120 linear ft" sets the edge of the job. If the gutters need replacing, that's a new line and a new price.
- The inspection report. A report with photos for $150 gives the owner a record of the roof's condition, which is useful for their files and for any claim they make.
- Hidden damage priced per unit. The exclusions say hidden decking damage is billed per sheet if found, and the notes put a number on it: $78 per sheet. The owner agrees to that rate now instead of getting a call from the roof later.
- What isn't yours. Interior ceiling repair is excluded. Stains on the ceiling inside belong to a drywall or painting job.
This example has no deposit and a price valid for 30 days. On a full replacement, where you order materials before the job, consider asking for a deposit and write the amount and when it's due.
How to write a roofing estimate
- Get on the roof, or as close as you safely can. Measure the damaged area and count the penetrations. Photos from the ground and from the roof back up every line you write.
- Price in the units roofers use. Squares for shingles, linear feet for gutters and drip edge, sheets for decking. The owner can check each unit price against other quotes.
- Put a price on what you might find. Write the per-sheet decking price into the notes. If the tear-off uncovers rot, you replace it at the agreed rate and show the sheet count on the invoice.
- Say how weather affects the date. Nobody roofs in the rain. One line saying the start date depends on weather saves a week of phone calls.
- For insurance work, ask the adjuster what they need. Some want a particular format or a certain level of line detail. Don't assume your estimate will be accepted as written.
- Get written approval before tear-off. A signature on the estimate covers the per-sheet price too. TapBill lets the owner sign on your phone screen while you're still in the parking lot.
Use this roofing estimate template
Once the roof is done, the roofing invoice template shows a full tear-off billed by the square, with six sheets of decking on their own line. For other outside work, compare the painting estimate, which prices rotted trim by the foot, and the landscaping estimate, which handles a patio and plantings.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a roofing estimate for an insurance claim?
Write it like any roofing estimate - measured area, materials, labor, flashings, exclusions - then ask the adjuster what format and detail they need. Your photos and inspection report help make the scope clear to everyone reading it.
What is a change order on a roofing job?
It's a written addition to the estimate when the job changes: more squares than expected, extra decking, or a second layer of old shingles under the first. List the new lines and prices and get the owner's approval before you do the work.
How do I price rotted decking I can't see yet?
Give a price per sheet on the estimate, as the example does with $78 a sheet, and say it only applies if damage is found. Photograph and count each sheet you replace, then bill the exact number.
Does a roofing quote template work for small repairs?
Yes. The example on this page is a repair, not a whole roof. Keep the same structure - measured lines, exclusions, a validity date - and the estimate stays clear at any size.