How to Quote a Roofing Job: A Complete Guide for Roofers

Roofing quotes are high-value and competitive. Get the numbers wrong and you either lose money on the job or lose the job to a cheaper quote. This guide covers how to build an accurate, professional roofing quote — and get it to the customer before your competitors do.

What Makes Roofing Quotes Different

Roofing jobs have more moving parts than most trades. A single quote needs to account for:

• Variable material quantities (tiles, felt, battens, ridge, hip, lead flashing)
• Scaffolding costs — which can vary wildly by access and height
• Skip hire and waste disposal
• Weather dependency and scheduling risk
• Structural unknowns (rotten timbers, inadequate decking)

Miss any of these and your margin disappears. Include them clearly and you look professional — which matters when a customer is weighing up three quotes for a job worth thousands.

What Every Roofing Quote Should Include

1. Materials — Itemised

List every material line separately: tiles or slates, underfelt, battens, ridge tiles, hip tiles, valley materials, lead or GRP flashing, fixings. Customers can't compare quotes when one says "materials: £1,200" and yours says nothing.

Always spec the material grade. "Sandtoft concrete interlocking tiles" is more trustworthy than "tiles." It also protects you if a customer later disputes what they were quoted.

2. Labour

Break out labour from materials. State whether it's a fixed price or a day rate. For larger jobs, show labour per section — stripping, felt and batten, tiling, ridge, lead work — so the customer understands what they're paying for.

3. Scaffolding

Either include scaffolding as a line item or explicitly exclude it and state that a scaffolding contractor's quote applies separately. Never leave it ambiguous — scaffold disputes are one of the most common causes of roofing payment problems.

4. Waste Removal

Skip hire, bag removal, or tipping fees need to be on the quote. If it's included, say so. If it's not, say so. A customer who sees £300 on the final invoice for waste removal — when it wasn't on the quote — will argue.

5. Exclusions

Always state what's not included. Common roofing exclusions:

• Replacement of rotten timbers or sarking boards (price on discovery)
• Chimney repointing or rebuilding
• Guttering replacement
• VELUX or skylight installation
• Fascia and soffit work

If you find rotten timbers once the old roof is off, you need a paper trail that shows this wasn't in scope — or you'll be expected to fix it for free.

6. Guarantee

State your workmanship guarantee clearly — typically 10 years for a new roof, 5 years for a repair. If you're a member of a trade association (NFRC, TrustMark), include it. This is a major trust signal for high-value roofing jobs.

7. Payment Terms

For roofing jobs, a deposit is standard — typically 25–40% upfront to cover materials. State this clearly on the quote, along with when the balance is due (on completion, or in staged payments for larger jobs).

How to Estimate Roofing Materials

For a standard pitched roof:

• Measure the roof area in m² (length × width × pitch factor — use 1.15 for a 30° pitch, 1.3 for 45°)
• Add 10% for cuts and waste
• Check the tile manufacturer's coverage rate — typically 10–16 tiles per m² depending on tile type
• Calculate ridge and hip lengths separately — these need their own tiles or capping
• Lead flashings: measure linear metres of abutments, valleys, and chimney details

Under-ordering materials mid-job causes delays and can mean going back to the merchant twice — which costs time and money. Always over-order slightly.

Estimate vs Fixed Price for Roofing

Give a fixed price for straightforward re-roofing where you've fully assessed the job. Give an estimate with a contingency range for older roofs where you can't see the structure until stripping starts.

Never give a single fixed price if there's a realistic chance of rotten timbers — this is how roofers lose money. "£4,200 fixed, plus £45/m² for any rotten sarking discovered on strip" is fair, transparent, and protects you.

How to Send the Quote Quickly

Speed matters in roofing. A customer getting three quotes often goes with the first professional one that lands. Waiting until you get back to the office to write it up on a spreadsheet costs you jobs.

With TradeQuote, you can describe the job in plain English — "re-roof detached house, 85m², concrete interlocking tiles, scaffolding included, skip hire, 10-year guarantee" — and get a branded PDF quote sent to the customer's email in under 60 seconds. Works from your phone while you're still on the drive.

Final Checklist Before Sending a Roofing Quote

• Materials itemised with specifications?
• Labour clearly stated — fixed or day rate?
• Scaffolding — included or excluded and stated?
• Waste disposal — included or excluded and stated?
• Exclusions listed (timbers, guttering, etc.)?
• Workmanship guarantee included?
• Deposit amount and payment terms clear?
• Quote validity period stated?
• Your business name, contact, and trade memberships on the document?

A thorough, itemised roofing quote builds trust before the job starts — and protects you if anything is disputed after.