How pricing works
What the price depends on
The material
Slate, cedar or copper, and within slate the quarry, grade, thickness and size.
The roof itself
Squares of roof, pitch, dormers, hips and valleys, and how high the eaves are.
The attic and the frame
The biggest unknown. Reinforcement is found when the attic is open and written as its own line.
The metal
Copper valleys, flashings, ridge and built-in gutters.
The review and the calendar
Permits and any historic review, and the season. Fall and spring are busy, and winter slows slate.
Cost guides give wide ranges for slate and cedar. Your estimate gives your own roof's figures.
In writing
What an estimate includes, and what costs extra
In every written estimate
Every number below is on paper before you sign.
Strip, sort and haul-away
Deck inspection, with a per-sheet price for bad boards
Underlayment and ice barrier
Flashings, valleys, ridge and permit paperwork where your town requires it
Cleanup with a magnet sweep for nails
Warranty terms and a payment schedule, written before you sign
Priced as extras
Named and priced separately, so nothing surprises you.
Decking beyond the allowance
Reinforcement beyond what the attic visit finds
Chimney masonry and repointing
Built-in gutters and their metal liners
Interior repair from old leaks
Anything a review board or inspector adds
The visit
A roof visit, step by step
- 01
Step 1: You ask
By phone, text or the form. Tell us what the roof is made of and whether it leaks.
- 02
Step 2: We walk the outside
Katya or Thelma looks at the roof from the ground and notes the house's age and history.
- 03
Step 3: Thelma goes up and into the attic
Tied off on the roof, she counts, photographs and checks the frame from below.
- 04
Step 4: You see the photos
Repair or replace, explained on the spot with the pictures in front of you.
- 05
Step 5: You get it in writing
Options and prices on paper, line by line, with the extras named.
- 06
Step 6: You decide
Take the estimate to anyone. We call once to answer questions, then leave it with you.
Questions
Estimate questions
How much does a new roof cost?
It depends on the squares, the pitch, the material, the layers and the deck. The written estimate gives your own figures, with the drivers on this page.
Do you take a deposit, and do you offer financing?
Deposits, payment stages and any financing are written into your estimate, so you know them before you sign.
Can I use your estimate with my insurer?
If you decide to file, we will give you our photos and an itemized written estimate to share. You deal with your insurer, and you owe your deductible. We are not public adjusters.
Ask for a roof visit
Photos, a count and a written scope, in your hands after the visit.