How to get several roof quotes without the runaround
One bid tells you a price. Three itemised bids tell you the truth, and the asking takes one afternoon.
Give every contractor identical scope
Tear-off, decking per sheet, underlayment, ice and water shield, flashing, ridge ventilation, disposal, permit, and warranty terms. Identical scope to all three, or the comparison means nothing.
Compare line by line, not totals
A bid missing decking is not cheaper, it is thinner. Lay the three side by side and the omissions become obvious. The middle bid is usually the honest one.
Ask what happens if the deck is bad
The answer reveals the contract. A per-sheet allowance is fair. We will deal with it is not, and a surprise invoice mid-job is where budgets die.
Book them close together
Same week, so material pricing is comparable and no contractor is bidding against a stale market.
Frequently asked questions
How many quotes is enough?
Three, itemised. Two lets one outlier skew the decision.
Should I tell them the other prices?
Only after all three are in. Before that it anchors the bid.
Is the middle bid always right?
No, but it is the one worth interrogating first. Compare its lines to the cheapest.
What if a contractor will not itemise?
Ask once more, then move on. It usually means the bid is padded somewhere.