Have you ever looked at somebody putting a roof on a home and thought “That’s an easy job?” Probably not, especially if it was a 90 degree day, but you may not have thought the job was terribly complicated at least—after all, it appears to be basically just putting a shingle down and nailing it into place. Actually, a lot of thought goes into it, and understanding roofing construction and estimating is the key to being a good roofing professional.
Roofing Construction
There are many different types of roofs, and many are constructed similarly. While some metal roofs might be installed directly onto the rafters, most roofs require a decking material, usually wood, topped with an underlayment to help act as a barrier to keep water out. Flashing is installed at seams and places where the slope of the roof changes, and synthetic or lead boots go around any pipes that protrude through the roof. The major variance between roof types is the covering, which can be asphalt shingles, metal, shakes, slate or tiles. Each covering has its own strengths and weaknesses and each has its own distinctive look.
Roofing Estimating
When a roofing company gives you a quote, what they are essentially doing is telling you how much you will have to pay to cover the cost of all the roofing materials and all the labor while still allowing the company to make an acceptable level of profit. Obviously, this requires incredible skill and experience. If a cost is estimated too low, the company could actually lose money on the installation or repair of a roof. If they estimate the cost too high on a consistent basis, word will get out that they are gouging their customers and business will suffer.
To estimate accurately, the person doing the estimate needs to be intimately familiar with the price of roofing materials—everything from shingles to sheet aluminum to roofing nails. In addition they should have strong relationships with local suppliers so that they can get first class service when it comes to deliveries and warranty issues when needed. They also need to know how much their crew should be paid and about how long the job should take, so that labor can be accurately estimated. It also helps to be at least vaguely aware of what their competitors are charging, so that they can verify that their estimate is competitive.
