Email template to request roofing quotes
Your roof is leaking, shedding shingles, or simply old enough that you want to replace it before it fails. Roofing is one of the most expensive single repairs a house gets, and roofing quotes are notoriously hard to compare because companies describe the same job in different ways. One quotes a "tear-off" (removing the old shingles down to the wood) while another quotes an "overlay" (laying new shingles on top of the old ones, which is cheaper and shorter-lived). One includes replacing rotten decking, the plywood under the shingles; another charges for it later per sheet. Sending the same written request to three or four roofers, asking for the same items, is the only way to line the numbers up.
Before you send
- What you know about the roof: its approximate age, the material (asphalt shingle is the most common), how many stories, and how steep it is. If you don't know the age, say so.
- What you've noticed: leaks and where, missing or curling shingles, granules in the gutters, or nothing, just age. Photos from the ground or a window help.
- Whether an insurance claim is involved. Storm damage is often covered, and if so, the roofer needs to know because the paperwork is different.
- The kind of shingle or material you're interested in, if you have a preference. Architectural shingles (thicker, layered) cost more than three-tab (flat, single-layer) and last longer.
- A list of three or four roofing companies. Check that each holds a roofing license where your state requires one and has a physical address, not just a phone number.
Hi [company name], I'm looking for a quote to [replace / repair] the roof on my [number]-story home at [your address] and would like to see if you can take a look. What I know so far: - Roof: [material, e.g. asphalt shingle], about [age] years old, [rough pitch, e.g. moderate slope, walkable] - Problems: [what you've noticed, e.g. a leak over the back bedroom after heavy rain, several missing shingles on the south side] - Insurance: [not involved / I've filed a claim, number if you have it] I've attached a few photos. I'm available for an inspection [days and times]. Could your written quote include the following so I can compare it with others: whether it's a full tear-off or an overlay, the shingle brand and product line, the price per sheet to replace any rotten decking, underlayment and flashing details, gutter and vent work if any, cleanup and haul-away, and both the manufacturer warranty and your workmanship warranty? I'm planning to decide by [date]. Thanks, [Your name] [Your phone number]
Everything in brackets is yours to fill in. Keep the rest as it is or change the tone to match how you write.
After you send
- Roofers are busy after storms, so replies can take a few days. Most will want to get on the roof or fly a drone before quoting; a quote with no inspection is a guess.
- The two warranties are different things. The manufacturer's warranty covers the shingles; the workmanship warranty covers the installation, and it's only as good as the company's chances of still being in business. Look for at least five years on workmanship.
- Be wary of a roofer who shows up unasked after a storm, offers to "waive your deductible," or wants you to sign anything before the insurance adjuster comes out. Those are common signs of trouble.
- If the quotes differ by a lot, check whether one is an overlay and the others are tear-offs. That alone can be a third of the price.
Or don't send it yourself
Forward the job to myagent@standinfor.me and let StandIn run the whole thread.
StandIn is an email assistant that handles conversations with businesses for you. You write it one email saying what you need. It writes to the business, waits for the answer, follows up when they go quiet, pushes back on the number when it should, and brings the results back to your inbox for you to decide. You don't need to install an app or sign up. The first email you send is already the start of the task.
Hand this to StandIn opens an email to myagent@standinfor.me with the job already written out
Hi StandIn, I'd like you to get quotes from several roofing companies for my house. My address: [street address]. The roof: [material, approximate age, number of stories, how steep]. What I've noticed: [leaks, missing shingles, or just age]. Insurance: [not involved, or claim details]. Material preference: [shingle type or brand, or no preference]. Availability for inspections: [days and times]. Decision date: [date]. Please contact three or four licensed roofers in my area, describe the roof the same way to each, ask every one for the same list of details, including tear-off versus overlay, decking replacement cost, and both warranties, coordinate inspection times with me, and bring the quotes back side by side. Thanks, [Your name]