How Roof Pricing & Warranties Work

What goes into a roof quote

A roof replacement quote isn’t one number. It’s a list of decisions, and every one of them moves the price. When you’re comparing quotes, these are the lines to look for:

• Size and pitch. Bigger and steeper roofs take more material, more labor and more safety setup.
• Tear-off and disposal. Removing the old roof — and how many layers are up there — plus hauling it away.
• Deck repairs. Plywood or boards under the shingles that turn out to be soft or rotted. Nobody can see these until the old roof is off, so a good quote tells you how they’re priced.
• Underlayment and ice-and-water barrier. The water-shedding layers under the shingles, especially at eaves, valleys and around penetrations.
• Flashing. New metal at chimneys, walls, pipes and skylights. Reusing old flashing is a common way to make a quote cheaper and a roof worse.
• Ventilation. Ridge vents, soffit vents and attic airflow. Poor ventilation shortens the life of the shingles and can void the warranty.
• The shingle you choose. See below.
• Complexity. Valleys, dormers, multiple gables and hard-to-reach sections take more time to do right.
• Permits, where your township requires them.

Two quotes for the “same roof” can be hundreds of decisions apart. Compare them line by line, not total to total.

Three kinds of shingles

3-tab shingles are the simplest and least expensive. They’re flat, uniform strips that give a roof a plain, even look. They’re a fair choice when budget comes first or the house is a rental, but they’re generally thinner and don’t last as long as the other options.

Architectural shingles (also called dimensional or laminate) are the most common choice on homes around Conshohocken, Blue Bell, Malvern and Paoli. They’re thicker, layered for a textured, wood-shake-like look, and typically carry a longer manufacturer warranty. For most houses, this is the sweet spot.

Designer or luxury shingles are the heaviest and cost the most. They mimic slate or cedar and suit larger homes and historic looks where the roof is a big part of the curb appeal.

We’ll show you samples at your inspection. Our job is to tell you honestly which one fits your house and your budget, not to push you up a tier.

How we quote

1. A free inspection with photos. We get on the roof, photograph what we find, and walk you through it.
2. One written, itemized price. Everything above is spelled out. If it’s not on the paper, you’re not paying for it.
3. No “sign today” pricing. The price is the price. Take your time and compare.
4. Hidden damage, handled in the open. If we find rotted decking after tear-off, we show you before we fix it.
5. Repair or replace, straight. If a repair will do the job, we’ll say so. A new roof you don’t need isn’t a good deal at any price.

Two warranties, not one

Every new roof comes with two separate warranties, and it pays to know which is which.

The manufacturer’s warranty covers the shingles and other roofing products themselves — defects in the material. It’s issued by the shingle maker, it usually has to be registered after installation to get the fuller coverage, and the best coverage often requires that the whole roof system (underlayment, starter, ridge, vents) be installed to the manufacturer’s specifications.

The workmanship warranty covers how the roof was installed: the flashing, the nailing pattern, the ventilation, the details. It comes from the contractor, not the manufacturer. This is the one that matters most, because most leaks are installation problems, not shingle problems — and it’s only as good as the company standing behind it. We’re local, and we plan to be here.

Things that commonly void a warranty: installing over old shingles, poor attic ventilation, mixing products from different manufacturers, unregistered warranties, and other trades (satellite installers, solar crews, chimney work) cutting into or walking the roof. We’ll tell you what to watch out for.

You get our specific warranty terms in writing with your quote.

How much is a new roof in PA?

It depends on everything above, which is why we don’t put one number on this page. We do publish typical ranges by home type for our part of Montgomery and Chester County: see what a new roof costs. Then book a free inspection and we’ll turn the range into one written price.

Paying for it

A roof is one of the bigger bills a house sends you. We offer financing through our partner so you can spread it out, and the price is the same whether you finance or pay up front. When you’re ready, book a free inspection — and if you want to know how install day goes, read what to expect.