A roofing project can be a significant investment, which is why every cent counts. Before you can finalize your budget, you’ll need to collect estimates and quotes from different contractors. Here’s on how to compare them.
Roofing Estimates vs. Quotes
First off, you’ll need to acquaint yourself with the terminology. Estimates indicate how much contractors think a roofing project will cost based on their experience. As a rule of thumb, the estimate can either be lower or higher than the actual costs of the project.
A quote, on the other hand, is more detailed and accurate. This document outlines all of the project’s aspects so make sure to scrutinize every detail. Once you sign the quote, it becomes a binding contract.
How to Evaluate a Quote
A quote should contain the following details:
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Cost of the roofing materials and equipment rentals, if any
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Expected start and finish dates for the project
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Hourly labor rate
Keep in mind that all of the aforementioned info should be organized neatly in the quote. If not, that’s a red flag in itself.
Factors That Can Affect Quotes
Keep in mind that a lower quote isn’t necessarily better: you need to at least have an idea on why quotes are higher or lower than others. Less experienced contractors with fewer qualifications are more likely to offer lower bids. However, if the quote is too good to be true, the contractor might be desperate, which is never a good sign.
More experienced contractors tend to offer higher bids because they have more equipment. Warranties can also increase the costs, but with increasingly erratic weather, they’re now more of a necessity.
If you want to maximize your returns on investment, some manufacturers offer exclusive warranties for roofing systems that were installed by certified contractors. For example, GAF offers extended warranties for a GAF roofing system installed by a Master Elite® contractor.
If you want to know more about these exclusive warranties, you can consult one of our highly trained contractors.
Pritchett Bros, a GAF Master Elite contractor, offers professional roofing services as well as premium GAF roofing products. To get a free roof inspection, call us at (812) 275-3185, or fill out the form here. We serve homeowners in Bloomington, IN, as well as the surrounding communities.
