Important
A low quote with vague scope is not a bargain. It is an unfinished decision. If three or more critical fields in the table above are vague, treat the quote as incomplete, not competitive.
This is the centre of the decision. Homeowners spend most of their energy getting quotes and too little energy reading them. That is backwards. The strongest contractor is usually the one whose quote leaves the fewest expensive decisions open.
A good roofing quote does not merely describe a roof. It governs a job. Use the table below as a quote-audit tool — bring it with you when you sit down to compare.
Two areas deserve closer attention after you have scanned the full table.
Warranties are two promises, not one. The Canadian Home Builders' Association advises that a contractor's written warranty should say what work is covered, how long coverage lasts, and what limits apply — separate from manufacturer protection on the roofing product. A manufacturer may stand behind the shingles. The roofer remains responsible for defective installation. If the quote blurs the two together, ask for the wording to be split before you sign.
Payment should follow milestones, not urgency. A standard payment structure involves a deposit (typically 10–30%), a progress payment tied to a visible milestone, and a final payment upon satisfactory completion and inspection. No reputable roofing contractor asks for full payment upfront. Be cautious of any schedule that front-loads money before materials arrive on site.
A low quote with vague scope is not a bargain. It is an unfinished decision. If three or more critical fields in the table above are vague, treat the quote as incomplete, not competitive.
For context on whether the line items in your quotes are in the right ballpark, see our province-by-province breakdown of roof replacement costs.
