Compare roofing quotes properly
A roof quote’s gaps do not show up on handover day — they show up in the first big storm, or in year three as a ceiling stain. Compare the scopes now, while the fix is a line item.
Tick the items each quote explicitly prices. Not sure or can’t find it? Leave it blank — that’s the point.
| Scope item | A | B | C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarking / roof underlay included | |||
| All flashings and penetrations priced (count basis stated) | |||
| Gutters, downpipes and valleys — this quote or the plumber’s? | |||
| Edge protection / scaffold compliance | |||
| Insulation blanket / anticon under metal roofing | |||
| Battens per the engineering (spacing/gauge stated) | |||
| Material delivery and crane/handling | |||
| Roof ventilation (whirlybirds/vents) if specified | |||
| Installer warranty and material warranty terms in writing |
General guidance only — the checklist covers the most commonly missed items, not every line your roofing package needs. Your drawings and engineering are always the final scope.
The items roofer quotes most often leave out
A blank in a quote is not "included" — it's "unpriced", and unpriced work comes back mid-build as a variation with no competition on the price. These are the lines to hunt for in every roofing package quote before you sign:
Sarking / roof underlay included
Required in many zones and cheap during install — retrofitting it means lifting the roof.
All flashings and penetrations priced (count basis stated)
Flues, vents and skylights each need flashing — "penetrations by others" is a leak with a date on it.
Gutters, downpipes and valleys — this quote or the plumber’s?
The single most common roofing/plumbing boundary gap. Get one quote to own it, in writing.
Edge protection / scaffold compliance
Legally required fall protection; if unpriced, the hire cost or the safety shortcut is yours.
Insulation blanket / anticon under metal roofing
An energy-report requirement in most new builds — quotes silent on it are pricing a different report.
Battens per the engineering (spacing/gauge stated)
Wrong battens for the wind rating fail at inspection — after the roofer has left.
Material delivery and crane/handling
Roof sheets and tiles arrive by crane truck — unpriced lifts appear on the invoice as "site costs".
Roof ventilation (whirlybirds/vents) if specified
Small items, but "not on my drawing" is the standard answer once the roof is on.
Installer warranty and material warranty terms in writing
Sheet warranties can be voided by bad install — the installer’s own written warranty is what protects you.
How to read your result
The comparison above is the first pass of the levelling method: make every quote answer the same scope list, then compare. When the tool finds blanks, don't cross that quote off — send each roofer their blank lines and ask for prices in writing. An honest contractor fills them in quickly; evasion ("we'll sort it on site") is information too. For the full line-by-line version across every item in your drawings, use the free levelling spreadsheet — and the quote comparison guide walks the whole method.