What this video covers
A homeowner got two quotes for the same roof. Ours was $17,000. The other was $11,000. He sent us the cheaper quote so we could go through it line by line — and the $6,000 gap turns out to have almost nothing to do with profit margin. It is the material list.
- 1:56 Not all 30-year shingles are the same: Owens Corning prices several different shingles as “30-year”. Oakridge is the cheapest of them. Duration is not the same product, and the word on the quote does not tell you which one you are getting.
- 3:20 Hips and ridges: the cheaper quote used a 25-year three-tab shingle on the hips and ridges. That shingle is made to lie flat. Cutting it into three and bending it over a corner cracks the asphalt that holds the granules on, and those caps fade years before the rest of the roof. See what that looks like eight years on.
- 4:33 Permits and engineering: the other company moved the permit fee and the engineering cost off their quote entirely, telling the homeowner to pay those directly. The total looks smaller. The cost is not.
- 5:08 Pipe boots: reusing the existing rubber gasket boots versus installing lead. Lead does not corrode; the cheap one-size-fits-all rubber ones are what we find rotted out with wood damage underneath.
- 6:39 The same line items, priced straight: we put the competitor’s exact line items into our own standardised pricing, with no discount. The difference came to $275.
What to actually compare
- The shingle by name, not by year. “30-year” is a category, not a product. Ask which one.
- What goes on the hips and ridges. A purpose-made hip-and-ridge cap, or a field shingle cut up and bent over the corner?
- Whether the permit and engineering fees are in the number or billed to you separately afterwards.
- Whether penetrations are replaced or reused. Pipe boots, vents and flashing are where roofs actually leak.
- Underlayment, starter strip, drip edge. The parts you never see are the parts that decide how long it lasts.
Frequently asked questions
Is the cheapest roofing quote always bad?
No. But a quote that is thousands cheaper for the same stated scope is usually cheaper because something in the material list is different, or because costs have been moved off the quote. It is worth finding out which before you sign.
What is the difference between Oakridge and Duration?
Both are Owens Corning architectural shingles sold as 30-year products, but they are different specifications at different prices. If a quote just says “30 year shingle”, ask for the product name in writing.
Why does a three-tab shingle on the ridge matter?
It is designed to lie flat. Bending it over a hip or ridge damages the asphalt binding the granules, so those caps weather faster than the rest of the roof. On a dark roof you can often see the faded ridge line from the street after a few years.
Should the permit be included in my roofing quote?
It should at least be clearly stated either way. A quote that omits the permit and engineering costs is not comparable to one that includes them.
Do you charge for an estimate?
No. A roof inspection in McAllen is free, and you get photos of whatever we find.
Get a second opinion
Bring us the other quote. We will go through it with you line by line and tell you plainly where the difference is, even if the answer is that theirs is fine. Call (956) 586-5711 or book a free roof inspection. See also roof replacement and soffit and fascia repair.
Frontline Roofing — 601 N Main Street, Suite 102, McAllen, TX 78501. Serving McAllen, Mission, Edinburg and the Rio Grande Valley.