Roof Proposal Checklist: What Should Be Written Down?

A roof proposal is useful when another person can read it and understand what will be removed, installed, repaired, excluded, and charged separately. A total without that scope is hard to compare because two contractors may be pricing different work.

This checklist is for residential, cash-pay asphalt-shingle replacement proposals before contract or deposit. It is not a substitute for the contract, local permit requirements, product instructions, or advice from a qualified professional.

1. Identify the roof and the measurement basis

Look for the project address and a description of the roof being replaced. The proposal should make clear whether quantities are based on roof area, measured squares, an aerial report, or another method. If detached structures, low-slope sections, porch roofs, or additions are included, they should be named.

Ask:

• Which roof sections are included?
• Is the stated quantity roof area or floor area?
• Are waste, starter, ridge-cap shingles, and accessory materials included in the total?

The goal is not to force every contractor into the same estimating format. It is to make the boundaries of each bid visible.

2. State tear-off and disposal

The proposal should say whether the existing roof will be removed or covered, how many layers are included in the removal scope, and who handles debris. It should also identify any separate charge triggered by an additional concealed layer.

Useful language answers practical questions: dumpster or trailer placement, site protection, daily cleanup, final debris removal, and magnet sweeping where appropriate. Avoid assuming a cleanup service is included because it was mentioned verbally.

3. Name the roof-covering system

“Architectural shingles” alone leaves important details open. Look for the manufacturer, product line, shingle type, and selected or to-be-selected color. The proposal should also address the related system components that are actually part of the bid:

• Underlayment
• Leak-barrier or ice-barrier membrane
• Starter course
• Field shingles
• Hip and ridge caps
• Drip edge
• Flashing and penetration boots
• Ventilation products

Product-specific installation instructions matter. A contractor can identify an equivalent product, but the substitution process should be written down rather than improvised after signing.

4. Separate known scope from concealed conditions

Roof decking is often not fully visible until tear-off. A complete proposal can still define the decision process before work begins. Look for the included quantity, unit of measure, installed unit rate, material specification, who authorizes replacement, and how the condition will be documented.

Read the dedicated decking allowance guide before comparing phrases such as “as needed,” “included,” and “additional.”

5. Make water-management details explicit

The proposal should address eaves, rakes, valleys, sidewalls, chimneys, penetrations, and transitions that exist on the house. It should distinguish new flashing from reused flashing and identify any wall or siding work that is outside the roofer’s scope.

For a closer comparison, use the flashing guide and the water-protection guide.

6. Define ventilation work

“Ridge vent included” does not establish whether the attic has adequate intake or whether the proposed exhaust works with the existing system. Look for the attic area or calculation basis, intake type, exhaust type, product ratings, baffle work, and treatment of existing vents.

The ventilation and warranty language guide explains what to ask without treating a proposal as an engineering design.

7. Identify permits, schedule, warranties, and exclusions

The proposal should state who obtains required permits and inspections. It should identify an estimated start window, weather or material-delay handling, property-protection responsibilities, and the point at which the work is considered complete.

Keep material and workmanship warranties separate. Record the issuing party, written term, transfer rules if any, registration responsibility, and exclusions. Do not rely on a sales label alone; the written warranty controls.

Finally, read the exclusions. Skylights, gutters, masonry, siding, insulation, interior damage, electrical service masts, solar equipment, and structural repairs may require other trades. An exclusion is not automatically a defect in the proposal—it is a boundary that should be visible before signing.

A practical comparison method

Create one row for each scope element and one column for each bidder. Mark each cell as stated, excluded, separately priced, allowance, or not stated. Attach the exact page and words supporting the mark. That keeps “not stated” from being misread as “will not be done.”

See the synthetic sample Decision Record for an example, or start a private roof project to compare complete proposals.

Sources

• Federal Trade Commission: How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam
• International Code Council: 2024 IRC, Chapter 9 Roof Assemblies
• GAF: Timberline LayerLock installation instructions

Local adopted code, permit requirements, product instructions, and the signed contract control the actual project.