Roofing work: how to order a new roof or repair at a fair price
What a roof includes besides the covering
A roof is not only metal sheets or tiles. Under the covering there are rafters, insulation, waterproofing and a vapour barrier, battens, and on top the ridge, valleys, flashing around chimneys and the gutter system. So “redoing the roof” can mean replacing only the covering or rebuilding everything from the rafters up.
This is the most common reason offers differ so much: one roofer counts only the covering, another the whole roof “pie”. So in your request, spell out exactly what you need.
What to put in your request
- What to do — a new roof, replacing the covering, repair, insulation, removing the old one.
- Area of the roof (not the house) in sq ft.
- Covering material — metal roof tiles, profiled sheet, bitumen shingles, standing seam, cement sheets.
- Type of roof — single-slope, gable, hip, complex shape.
- Rafters — existing, needing repair, or built from scratch.
- Property — house, garage, extension, number of floors.
- Materials — yours or the contractor’s; address, timing, budget.
Example: “Adelaide, private house. I need the roof redone with metal roof tiles, 1,600 sq ft, hip roof. Remove and haul away the old cement sheets, check the rafters. Contractor’s materials. Finish before the rainy season, budget up to $5,200.”
What the cost depends on
- Complexity: the more breaks, valleys and joints, the more cutting and time.
- The covering: metal tiles, bitumen shingles and standing seam cost and are installed differently.
- Height and access: on higher roofs you need a crane, safety gear, scaffolding.
- Removing the old covering, cement sheets included, and hauling it away.
- Season: roofing becomes harder, or is not done, during heavy rain.
How to compare and how BlaBlaPrice works
You write a request on the home page, and roofing crews in your area reply in chat with offers. They see where their offer stands and can improve their price or timing. Contacts stay hidden until you choose a roofer. Details are on the “How it works” page.
When comparing, check that everyone has the same covering and thickness, whether waterproofing membranes are included, whether all the elements (ridge, valleys, flashing) are counted and whether waste removal is in the price. Ask about the warranty on the work separately from the manufacturer’s warranty on the covering.
Common mistakes
The worst mistake is saving on waterproofing and ventilation gaps: condensation destroys wood and reduces the effect of insulation. The second is laying a new covering on old rafters without checking their condition. The third is planning installation in rain or strong wind: it is dangerous and hurts the quality. Also ask for photos of several finished roofs.
If you need other work along with the roof, see construction services, and when ordering a whole building, turnkey construction.
