The difference is usually underneath
When two proposals list the same shingle brand and a similar sounding scope, it is easy to assume the price difference is markup. Sometimes it is. Often it is not.
The difference is in what is actually included underneath the shingle, and a one page proposal does not always spell that out.
Here is what to ask.
What happens if the deck is damaged?
Is replacement decking priced per sheet, included up to a certain amount, or not addressed at all?
A proposal that does not mention this is one where a mid-project surprise is more likely. A proposal that carries no decking allowance can turn a low initial number into a larger mid-project cost, and that conversation happens after the old roof is off and the homeowner has no good options.
We try to determine this before you sign anything. If a full re-sheathing does not look necessary, we will tell you that, and we will also tell you that in certain areas, particularly where there have been interior leaks, a few boards will likely need replacing. Those are priced per board at current market rates, stated up front.
Where does the ice and water shield go?
This is one of the biggest hidden differences between two prices.
Ohio requires the ice barrier to run from the lowest edges of all roof surfaces to a point at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line. That 24 inches is measured along the slope, starting where the projected outside face of the wall meets the roof deck, so the overhang is part of the run rather than the start of it. On roofs at 8:12 or steeper the barrier also has to reach at least 36 inches measured along the slope from the eave edge. On a steep roof both apply, and whichever reaches further is the one that governs. With a deep overhang the 24 inch rule already puts the barrier past 36 inches from the edge, so it decides. With a short overhang the 36 inch rule reaches further, so it decides. The 36 inch figure is a floor for steep roofs with short overhangs, where ice dams form hardest right at the eave.
Working out how much material that actually takes is a per-house calculation. The overhang matters. So does the wall itself, because a brick wall and a vinyl sided wall are not the same thickness, and that thickness is part of the run. Two houses with identical overhangs can need different coverage.
Ice and water shield comes in 36 inch rolls, so the answer is one row, two rows, or occasionally three. Somebody has to measure and work it out.
That is where corners get cut. A contractor can tell you the roof is built to code, look at a house that genuinely needs two rows, and install one. You will never see it. It is under the shingles for the life of the roof, and depending on how much material is involved it is an easy few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars to take out of a bid.
Ask how many rows are included and why that number.
How is ventilation addressed?
A proposal that does not mention intake and exhaust balance is one where ventilation probably is not being evaluated at all, just left as it is.
We typically remove old box vents, sometimes called turtle vents, and install a ridge vent. But before we do, we confirm there is enough intake at the soffit to support it. Exhaust can only move as much air as the intake lets in.
If the intake is short, we quote correcting it. If that is not in the budget right now, we will still install the ridge vent and you will know exactly where you stand and what to address when you can. You are the homeowner. It is your call, made with the information rather than without it.
What is the warranty actually on?
A material warranty from the manufacturer and a workmanship warranty from the installer are two different things covering two different kinds of failure.
The manufacturer covers a defect in the shingle. The installer covers the installation. A roof can fail because of either, and only one of those is the contractor's to stand behind.
Ours is the Lifetime Workmanship Warranty. We overbuild the systems we install, and we are confident enough in the installation to put that behind it.
Bring us the other estimates
If you are getting several quotes, we will sit down and go through them with you.
Not to talk anyone out of anything. To do an honest apples to apples comparison so you can see where the scopes actually differ, and whether a lower price reflects a genuinely leaner job or material that has simply been left out.
Most of the time the cheapest bid is not the same roof. It is worth knowing that before you sign, not after.