HIRING &COSTS.
Choosing a contractor, reading the quote, and what the work costs.
- GUIDES
- 7
- GLOSSARY TERMS
- 12
The cheapest quote and the most expensive one are rarely pricing the same roof. The difference is almost always scope: what's being replaced, what's being reused, and what happens when the crew finds something under the old shingles.
This shelf teaches you to compare quotes line by line, check a contractor in ten minutes, and recognise the scripts that come to town after every major storm.
- How do I choose a roofing contractor?
- How do I compare two quotes fairly?
- What should the contract say?
- What does a roof actually cost in Calgary?
READ THEM IN THIS ORDER.
- 01How to Choose a Roofing Contractor in CalgaryTo choose a roofer in Calgary, check three things yourself before anyone gets on your roof: an Alberta prepaid contracting licence if they'll take money up front, a WCB Alberta clearance letter, and a certificate of liability insurance. Then compare written, itemized quotes line by line, and walk away from anyone who offers to cover your deductible.
- 02How to read a roofing quote, line by lineRead a roofing quote line by line, not by its total: each line should name the product, say where it goes, and say whether a part is new or reused. Two quotes on the same house can be thousands apart because one leaves out lines like decking, flashing or ice and water shield, so compare scope first and price second.
- 03Roof replacement cost in CalgaryA roof replacement in Calgary is priced from your own roof: its measured area, how steep it is, how many old layers come off, the condition of the wood underneath, and the shingle you pick. No web page can give you an honest number for that, so the fastest real answer is a written quote priced on your measured roof.
THE BASICS
Plain-language primers. Assume nothing.
What belongs in a roofing contract
A roofing contract should name the exact materials by brand, line and colour, the full scope, the price and payment schedule, both warranties stated separately, and how changes get approved in writing. In Alberta, a contract signed at your home also carries a 10-day cancellation right, and a contractor who takes money before the work is done needs a prepaid contracting licence.
How a roof is measured: squares, pitch, edges and waste
A roof is measured by its surface area, not your floor area: the footprint including overhangs, multiplied up for how steep it is, and counted in squares of 100 square feet. Edges like eaves, ridges and valleys are measured separately in linear feet, which is why two honest quotes can show slightly different numbers.
Roof replacement cost in Calgary
A roof replacement in Calgary is priced from your own roof: its measured area, how steep it is, how many old layers come off, the condition of the wood underneath, and the shingle you pick. No web page can give you an honest number for that, so the fastest real answer is a written quote priced on your measured roof.
Roof repair cost in Calgary
A roof repair in Calgary has no standard rate: the price depends on how hard the spot is to reach, how long the leak takes to find, what has to come apart to fix it, and whether the wood underneath is sound. The only honest price is one written after someone has been on your roof, as a single itemized number you approve before work starts.
DEEP DIVES
For when you're mid-decision, mid-claim or mid-argument.
How to read a roofing quote, line by line
Read a roofing quote line by line, not by its total: each line should name the product, say where it goes, and say whether a part is new or reused. Two quotes on the same house can be thousands apart because one leaves out lines like decking, flashing or ice and water shield, so compare scope first and price second.
How to Choose a Roofing Contractor in Calgary
To choose a roofer in Calgary, check three things yourself before anyone gets on your roof: an Alberta prepaid contracting licence if they'll take money up front, a WCB Alberta clearance letter, and a certificate of liability insurance. Then compare written, itemized quotes line by line, and walk away from anyone who offers to cover your deductible.
Storm Chasers After Calgary Hail
Not every out-of-town crew after a Calgary hailstorm is a problem. The ones to avoid say one of four things: your claim is already approved, they'll cover your deductible, you have to sign before they inspect, or the price is only good today. Check their Alberta licence, WCB clearance and insurance before you sign anything.
THE HIRING & COSTS GLOSSARY.
- Certificate of insurance
- A document from a contractor's insurer confirming their liability coverage and its limits. Ask for one instead of accepting a verbal yes.
- Change order
- A written, signed amendment to a contract that changes the scope or price, such as replacing rotten decking found after tear-off. It should be approved before the extra work is done.
- Decking allowance
- A set amount of replacement decking included in a roofing quote, with a stated per-sheet rate for anything beyond it.
- Deposit
- Money paid before work starts. In Alberta, a business that sells away from its own premises and takes payment before the work is finished needs a prepaid contracting licence.
- Itemized quote
- A quote that lists each part of the job separately instead of giving one lump sum.
- Liability insurance
- Insurance that covers a contractor's legal responsibility for damage to your property or injury to others caused by their work.
- Progress payment
- A payment made partway through a job when a stated stage is reached, as set out in the contract's payment schedule.
- Scope of work
- The detailed list of what a contractor will do and with which materials. It's the part of a quote or contract that makes two prices comparable.
- Square
- The roofing unit of area: 100 square feet of roof. Quotes and material orders are often worked out in squares.
- Storm chaser
- A contractor who follows major storms from town to town, often knocking on doors. Some do good work, but a contractor who has left town can be hard to reach if warranty problems show up later.
- Subcontractor
- A separate company or tradesperson hired by your contractor to do part of the job. A contract should say whether any work will be subcontracted.
- Workmanship warranty
- The contractor's warranty on the installation itself. It's separate from the manufacturer's warranty on the materials and covers different failures.
