The short answer
To compare roof replacement quotes, put every quote on the same scope first, then compare the totals. Check that each one measures the roof in the same number of squares, includes the same work from the deck up, uses a comparable shingle, and spells out what is excluded. Two quotes that look far apart are often quoting two different jobs.
If you want to understand how a roofer builds the number in the first place, our guide to roof replacement cost in Calgary covers that. This article is the practical next step: you already have the quotes on the table, and you want to read them properly.
Walk through a quote line by line
A good quote reads like a list of work, not a single figure. Below is a hypothetical layout, in the order most itemized quotes follow, with what to check on each line.
1. Scope and roof measurement
The first line should describe the roof and its size in squares, where one square is 100 square feet of roof surface. Roof area is usually about 1.3 to 1.5 times the floor area the roof covers, so you can sanity-check the number yourself. More importantly, check that the squares roughly match across your quotes. If one roofer counts noticeably fewer squares, their total will look lower for a reason that has nothing to do with value. Ask whether the figure includes a waste allowance for hips and valleys.
2. Tear-off or layover
The quote should say whether the old shingles are removed down to the deck or new ones go over the top. A layover skips tear-off, but nobody sees the deck and ice-and-water shield cannot go against it. It should also state how many layers are coming off, because a second layer from a past layover adds labour and disposal.
3. Deck repair allowance
No roofer knows how much sheathing is rotten until the old roof is off, so this line is usually an allowance or a unit rate. Look for how it is priced: per sheet replaced, or time and materials. A per-sheet rate is easy to understand and check. Be careful with quotes that say nothing about the deck at all, because that cost does not disappear. Ask how you will be told about extra sheets before they are installed.
4. Underlayment
Look for the underlayment type named in writing, ideally synthetic underlayment across the whole deck. A line that just says “underlayment” leaves room for a lower-grade product.
5. Ice-and-water shield
This line should say where the membrane goes: at minimum along the eaves and in every valley. Calgary’s freeze-thaw cycles and ice damming push meltwater back up under shingles at exactly those spots. A quote that mentions ice-and-water shield without locations is hard to compare.
6. Drip edge
Drip edge runs along the roof edge so water drips clear instead of wicking into the deck. Check that it is listed as new metal, not left off or reused.
7. Flashing
Flashing at walls, chimneys, skylights and vent stacks is where many leaks start. The quote should say whether flashing is replaced or reused. Reusing sound flashing can be reasonable; reusing worn or bent flashing under a brand-new roof is not. Chimney crickets and skylight reflashing are often separate lines.
8. Ventilation
Look for new ridge venting and a note about intake vents at the eaves. Exhaust at the ridge only works when there is enough intake low on the roof, and poor balance contributes to ice dams and a shorter shingle life. If a quote lists box vents or ridge vent without mentioning intake, ask how the attic will breathe.
9. Shingle product and class
The quote should name the product line, colour and whether it is a standard architectural shingle or a Class 4 impact-resistant shingle, the top rating under UL 2218. In Canada’s most active hail belt, that difference matters. Comparing a Class 4 quote to a standard shingle quote is not apples to apples.
10. Ridge caps and starter strips
Purpose-made ridge caps and starter strips help shingles seal and hold at the edges and peaks in chinook winds. Check they are listed, not assumed.
11. Disposal and cleanup
Look for bins, haul-away and a magnetic nail sweep of the yard, driveway and flower beds. Loose roofing nails are a real hazard for tires, pets and kids.
12. Permits, GST, payment terms and start window
If a permit applies to your job, the quote should say who pulls it. GST should be shown clearly, since some roofers include it and some leave it off. Read the payment terms carefully: when a deposit is due, what triggers each payment, and what happens if the job is delayed. Finally, look at the start window. A full replacement needs about 3 to 5 dry days, shingle sealant needs roughly 5°C to bond, and in summer good roofers are often booked 4 to 6 weeks out.
13. Exclusions
A clear exclusions list is a sign of an honest quote, not a warning sign. Common ones are extra layers, chimney rebuilds, skylight replacement and attic insulation. What matters is that exclusions are written down.
Apples-to-apples comparison table
The easiest way to compare quotes is to copy each one into a single table. Leave totals out until every row is filled in. Where a quote is silent, write “not listed” and add a question.
| Line item | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C | Questions to ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roof size in squares | How was it measured? Waste included? | |||
| Tear-off or layover, layers removed | How many layers are coming off? | |||
| Deck repair pricing | Per sheet or time and materials? | |||
| Underlayment type | Synthetic across the whole deck? | |||
| Ice-and-water shield locations | Eaves and every valley? | |||
| Drip edge | New along all edges? | |||
| Flashing | New or reused, and where? | |||
| Ventilation | Ridge vent plus enough intake? | |||
| Shingle product and class | Standard architectural or Class 4? | |||
| Ridge caps and starter strips | Purpose-made products included? | |||
| Disposal and nail sweep | Bins, haul-away, magnetic sweep? | |||
| Permit, if applicable | Who pulls it? | |||
| GST | Included or extra? | |||
| Payment terms | When is each payment due? | |||
| Start window | What happens if weather delays it? | |||
| Exclusions | What else could be added? |
Why the lowest number isn’t always cheaper
The lowest quote is often low because something is missing, not because the roofer is more efficient. Once your table is filled in, the gaps usually explain the price difference: fewer squares, reused flashing, no ice-and-water shield in the valleys, no ventilation work, or no mention of deck repairs.
Missing items rarely stay missing. Either the work gets skipped, which shows up years later as leaks or ice dams, or it reappears as a change order once the old roof is off and you have no leverage. The real comparison is total cost for the same finished roof over its life, which in Calgary is about 15 to 20 years for asphalt shingles.
Questions to ask every roofer
Ask each roofer the same questions, and ask for the answers in writing:
- How did you measure the roof, and how many squares did you get?
- Is this a full tear-off, and how many layers are coming off?
- How is rotten sheathing priced, and will you tell me before replacing it?
- Where exactly does ice-and-water shield go?
- Is flashing new or reused at walls, chimneys and skylights?
- How are you balancing ridge exhaust with intake at the eaves?
- Which shingle product and impact class is this quote based on?
- Can you show proof of liability coverage and workers’ compensation coverage?
- What are your written workmanship terms, and what do they cover?
- When could you start, and how do you handle weather delays?
Red flags in a written quote
Some problems show up on paper before a single shingle comes off.
- One lump sum. A single total with no line items makes it impossible to compare or hold anyone to the scope.
- Vague “materials.” No product names, no underlayment type, no shield locations.
- No tear-off mentioned. If the quote doesn’t say the old roof comes off, assume it might not.
- Verbal-only promises. If it was said but not written, it is not part of the deal.
- Expiry pressure. A price that is only good “if you sign today” is a sales tactic, not a material cost issue.
- Door-knocking after hail. After a storm, unsolicited crews move through Calgary neighbourhoods. Take their card, then get quotes on your own schedule.
How insurance-funded quotes differ
When hail or wind damage is going through insurance, there are two scopes: the insurer’s and the contractor’s. The adjuster writes what the policy will pay for; the roofer writes what the roof needs. Items such as ventilation fixes, extra layers or code-related work may appear on one and not the other, so compare them line by line and ask about each difference before work starts.
Roof age also shapes the payout, and policies vary. Under 15 years, an insurer may pay for a full replacement minus your deductible. Between 15 and 25 years, the payout is typically depreciated by 50–80%. Over 25 years, you may get actual cash value only, or the claim may be denied. Confirm your own coverage with your insurer before you choose a roofer.
Next steps
Fill in the table, send your questions, and compare totals only once every quote covers the same roof. For background on what drives the numbers, see our full guide to roof replacement cost in Calgary. If you want another itemized quote to compare against, book a free inspection or contact us and we will measure your roof and write out every line.