The time has come to get a new roof. Whether due to age or bad weather, eventually all roofs need to be replaced. Let’s face it, a roof is on your home to protect your house, your possessions, and your family. It takes the stress from the elements and keeps you and your loved ones safe and dry. So when the time comes to have your current roof removed and a new one put on, what should you look for in a roofing estimate? Let’s break it down.

What to Look for in a Roofing Estimate
You’ll want to start by searching for a professional roofer in Austin with years of experience and positive reviews. That roofer also should work with top quality roofing products, have a reliable, trustworthy team, and follow roofing best practices like removing old shingles and felt paper before putting on a new roof.
Next, you’ll want to look for certain items on your roofing estimate like these:
- Guarantees and Warranty Information – Guarantees and warranties can come from the roofing company and the roofing materials manufacturers, and will have certain timelines and protections for the customer attached to them. Also, some warranties may be transferable to a future homeowner of your house. Make sure you understand what the estimate is laying out and that it discusses workmanship, materials, and a cleanup procedure.
- Roofing Estimate Add-Ons – If your roofing project requires extra changes or additions, there will be a note in your estimate allowing for that. Sometimes projects will need adjustments after the old shingles and felt paper are removed, and the entire decking and flashings have been looked over.
- Job Description and Materials – These sections of the estimate will cover the work that will take place, with an estimated timeline on how long the roof replacement project will take and when it will get started, plus the materials to be used including your shingle choice, flashing, underlayment, and ventilation products. The materials area may also go into more detail on things like your sealants and fasteners, as necessary.
- Costs and Payment – Details about costs should include both materials and labor as well as the cost of any permits or additional fees like clean up or dumpster use. The payment section will detail who is responsible for what portions of the project and payment terms, as well as allowing for a review of the roof to confirm you are happy with the finished work before final payment is completed.
Questions to Ask when Getting Roofing Quotes
After your local roofer writes up an estimate for your new roof, you might want to ask and confirm a few extra questions:
-
Are you fully insured?
-
Are any applicable taxes included in the total on the estimate?
-
If damage is found after the removal of the existing shingles, what is the process before continuing the job?
-
Do you keep the extra shingles?
-
How long have you been in business?
-
How many nails are used per shingle?
-
Are you a Master Elite contractor?
-
Will you install drip edge?
-
Can you provide some referrals?
Replacing your Austin Home’s Roof
Replacing your roof can be a big job, but by making sure you have all the details established and your questions asked, the roofing job can actually go quite quickly. Make sure to ask your favorite local roofer any and all questions you have before you get started so you have a clear understanding of the materials you have chosen for your new roof and how the process will go.
Ask Your Favorite Austin, TX Roofing Experts
We strive to bring you the best in roofing for the Austin, Texas area. We deliver years of roofing experience, training, and knowledge in this area’s needs. We will not ask for a deposit on labor or materials as a dependable way to stand out from the competition while bringing you the best workmanship and customer service in Austin.
We are Master Elite Contractors and a member of our local, area Better Business Bureau, so you know we take pride in our work and our community. Contact us by phone or email to schedule your FREE roofing inspection and quote today!
Author: Driftwood Builders Roofing
Driftwood Builders Roofing is a family-owned residential roofing company headquartered in Manchaca, Texas, serving Austin and the surrounding Hill Country since 2005. The company has delivered 2,776 full roof replacements and 783 repairs across 3,559 different customers over 20 years in business, with 97 years of combined construction experience across the leadership team and 74 years specifically inside Driftwood Builders. The company holds the highest contractor certifications offered by the major shingle manufacturers, including GAF Master Elite Contractor (the top 2% of GAF contractors nationally), GAF Certified Green Roofer, Owens Corning certified, TAMKO Pro Certified Contractor, and a Berridge Roof Installation Seminar Certificate for standing-seam metal roofs. Driftwood is an NRCA member, holds an Angie's List Super Service Award, is BBB Accredited, and is a GuildQuality member for verified customer satisfaction data. James Hardie certification covers the siding side of the business. Services include residential roof replacement, leak and storm-damage repair, tile roof repair, metal roofing, TPO commercial roofing, roof inspections, hail and storm damage inspections with insurance claim assistance, gutter work, and James Hardie siding. The customer-protection policy is straightforward: Only Pay Upon Completion. The company serves 22 cities across the Hill Country and Greater Austin and holds a 5-star rating across Google, GuildQuality, Angi, Nextdoor, Facebook, Thumbtack, and Yelp.