Comparing re-roof quotes? Check every line.
Two quotes for the same roof can be thousands of dollars apart and still both look reasonable. Usually they aren't pricing the same job. Here's how to line them up.
A good re-roof quote is based on a measure, not a phone call. It names the steel (brand, grade, profile, colour and thickness), says what happens to the old roof, lists flashings and fixings, prices spouting separately, gives a start and finish date, states the warranty in writing, and tells you who will actually do the work.
The line-by-line checklist
Put your quotes side by side and go down this list. Anything missing is a question to ask, not something to assume is included.
| Line | What a good quote says | Ask if it's missing |
|---|---|---|
| Measure | Measured on site, with the roof area in m² | "Did you measure, or work from photos?" |
| Old roof | Stripped, removed and disposed of | "Who takes the old iron or tiles away, and is dumping included?" |
| Steel | Brand and product (e.g. COLORSTEEL MAXAM®), profile, colour, thickness (0.40 or 0.55 mm) | "Which exact product is this price for?" |
| Sheet length | Long-run, rolled to length | "Will there be any laps or joins down the slope?" |
| Underlay | Whether new roofing underlay is included | "Are you replacing the underlay?" |
| Timber | How rotten battens or purlins are handled and priced | "If you find rot, what's the rate and do I approve it first?" |
| Flashings | Ridge, barge, apron and valley flashings, made to fit | "Are all flashings new, or are any being reused?" |
| Fixings | Screws rated for your environment | "Are the fixings right for my distance from the coast?" |
| Penetrations | Chimneys, skylights and flues listed | "What happens around my chimney or skylight?" |
| Spouting | Its own line, so you can choose | "Is spouting in this price or not?" |
| Safety | Scaffold or edge protection included | "Is scaffolding priced in?" |
| Consent | Whether consent is needed and who handles it | "Does my job need a building consent?" |
| Dates | Start date and a realistic finish date | "When do you start, and when will you be done?" |
| Warranty | Workmanship warranty in years, in writing, plus the material warranty | "Can I have the warranty terms before I sign?" |
| Who does it | Own crew or subcontractors, and the Licensed Building Practitioner responsible | "Who will be on my roof?" |
Why two quotes can be thousands apart
The gap usually comes from what each quote covers, not from the margin:
- Strip-off and dumping left out, or priced later as an "extra".
- Different steel. A cheaper unbranded sheet or the wrong grade for your site.
- Spouting bundled in on one quote and missing on the other.
- No scaffolding on a two-storey house.
- A small timber allowance that runs out on day two.
- Old flashings reused instead of new ones made to fit.
Once both quotes cover the same job, the difference usually shrinks a lot. If you want a feel for typical prices first, see what a metal re-roof costs in the Waikato.
Red flags
- A price given over the phone with nobody getting on the roof.
- One lump sum with no breakdown.
- "Steel roof" with no brand, grade or colour named.
- No start date, or a start date that keeps moving.
- A warranty mentioned verbally but not written down.
- Pressure to sign today to "hold the price".
Quote questions
How many re-roof quotes should I get?
Two or three is plenty. More than that and it gets hard to compare them properly. What matters is that each one prices the same job.
Can I get a re-roof quote from photos or Google Maps?
You can get a rough idea, but not a price you can rely on. Pitch, access, what's under the old roof and the state of the flashings only show up on site. That's why a price you can rely on needs someone to measure the roof on site.
What's the difference between a workmanship and a material warranty?
The workmanship warranty covers how the roof was installed and comes from the roofer. The material warranty covers the steel itself and comes from the manufacturer. Its terms depend on things like how close you are to the coast and how you look after the roof, so ask for both in writing.
Should I just take the cheapest quote?
Only once you've checked it covers the same job as the others. A low price that leaves out strip-off, scaffolding or new flashings often ends up costing more.
Should the quote include a start date?
Yes. A start date in writing tells you when the job is booked in before you commit, and a finish date gives you something to check progress against.
Written by the CTR Roofing team, Hamilton. Updated October 2026.