How much is my roof going to cost and is it negotiable?

In today’s economy when you need a new roof the first question is how much is this going to cost me. Unfortunately there is no easy answer to that question because the prices can vary majorly from one contractor to the next. Below are the major categories that make up every roofing contractors proposal, some with room for negotiation and others non-negotiable.

Cost of Materials

In every bid that is submitted for your job the contractor will list the cost of materials to do your job. Some contractors choose to break this amount down and show their customer how much the materials are going to cost on the job and others simply submit a bid as a whole including materials. Many contractors will use the cost of materials to drive up the price of your job.

When comparing the bids that you received from contractors, compare the cost of materials for each. If there are major disparities in the amount of materials needed then one of the contractors is either padding their bid or can’t estimate the size of your roof correctly, either way it’s not someone you want on your job.
Most contractors realize some profit on the materials for your job, since they pay contractor prices and charge you retail. This is usually a very small part of their profit, but usually leaves some room for negotiation in the overall price of the job.

Cost of Labor

The cost of labor can change a roofing bid dramatically from contractor to contractor. Some contractors use day laborers at a very modest cost and are able to provide a significantly lower bid. While major roofing companies who have actual employees who they provide benefits to are unable to provide an equally low bid. However as the saying goes most of the time you get what you pay for.

As far as negotiation of labor cost goes, a contractor without the overhead cost of employees will have much more room to negotiate then a major company.

Profit

With either a major roofing company or with a contractor profit is the area with the most room for negotiation. Typically major roofing companies are making more profit per job then a small contractor, but are less willing to negotiate. Most contractors deal more in quality then in quantity, which can work to the advantage of the consumer.

Incidentals that may arise

It is very important as a consumer to understand that things happen. Re-roofing your home is like any other home improvement job, in that you never know what you’re going to encounter until the job is in progress. I’m not talking about the scrupleless contractor that stops in the middle of the job and demands more money. I’m referring to the incidentals that arise when your roof is removed only to find that ten of your rafters are rotten and need to be replaced. As a home or business owner you need to be prepared to possibly expend the extra money if something like this happens. Keep in mind that the cost of repair will be cheaper when the damaged area is exposed and easily accessible.

Houston Roofing Specialist