Guide
How to compare roofing bids for multifamily buildings
A roofing bid can mean a full tear-off, a recover over the old roof, or only materials. Make sure every bid describes the same job.
Why roofing bids vary
Roof area, the number of existing layers, whether the old roof is torn off or covered over, the shingle line, underlayment, vents, flashing, drip edge, decking repairs and permits all change the price. On an occupied property, the plan for residents, staging and cleanup matters too. Some documents are material-only quotes with no labor at all, so they cannot be set beside a full installed bid.
Line up these items in every bid
- Roof area: the measured area and the waste allowance, in roofing squares
- Tear-off or recover: whether the old roof is removed down to the deck
- Materials: shingle product, underlayment, ice and water membrane, drip edge, vents and pipe boots
- Decking: the price per sheet if damaged decking is found
- Permits and inspections: who handles them and who pays
- Occupied property plan: resident notices, staging, work hours, cleanup and nail sweeps
- Warranty: the contractor’s workmanship warranty and the manufacturer’s warranty, with their conditions
- Payment milestones
- Multi-building pricing: any discount when several buildings are awarded together
- Labor: confirm the bid is not materials only
Watch for these
- Materials-only estimates placed next to full installed bids
- Bids that do not say whether the roof is torn off or covered over
- Decking, gutters and landscaping left out with no unit pricing
- Warranty terms that void coverage unless you give notice within a very short window
This guide is general information. AdoreList is a bid-sourcing and vendor-matching service. We do not perform construction work, and we do not guarantee contractor performance or final pricing.
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