Hone your roofing bids: price the whole roof, not the shingle
The shingles are half the job. Tear-off, details, and the deck are the rest.
A roof bid that only prices the field loses money on the tear-off, the flashing, and the rot nobody saw. Here is how to bid the whole roof.
Where the margin leaks
The pricing traps that quietly cost contractors money.
Forgetting tear-off and disposal
Stripping the old roof and the dumpster is real labor and real fees. The new shingles are only half the job.
Pricing the field, forgetting the details
Flashing, valleys, ridge vent, drip edge. The slow detail work is where roofs lose time and money.
No decking contingency
You do not know about the rotted sheathing until you are up there. Price the unknown.
Where the money is
The levers that actually move your take-home.
Sell the system, warranty included
Underlayment, ventilation, and flashing as a system commands more than a shingle price war.
Crew efficiency per square
Squares per day is the margin. A tight crew on a clean tear-off is the win.
Upsell ventilation and gutters
High-value add-ons on a roof you are already on.
What to track
The few numbers worth watching.
Squares per day
Your production rate; it makes or breaks the bid.
Tear-off and disposal hours
The hidden labor and the dumpster. Track it.
Decking surprises
How often the bad sheathing hits, so your contingency is right.
Set Anvil up for it
How to make Anvil price your trade the honest way.
Bid by the square
Tear-off plus install plus details, with a decking contingency.
Save your rates, permit, and dumpster
On Business, so the general conditions are always in the number.
Send a proposal with the system
Sell the whole roof, not the cheapest shingle.
Know your trade.
The cost engine is free. Put your real numbers in and see what to charge.