How to Compare Roof Replacement Quotes in Fort Wayne (Line by Line)
The short answer: Don't compare the totals first. Compare what each quote actually covers. Put the quotes side by side and check the same lines on each: how many squares, the exact shingle line, the tear-off, how decking is handled, the underlayment and ice barrier, the ventilation, flashing, the permit, cleanup, the payment schedule and the warranties. Quotes that seem far apart usually aren't quoting the same roof.
The short version:
- Make sure every quote is for the same size roof (in squares) and the same shingle line.
- Look for how decking is handled. A good quote says what happens if bad wood turns up under the old shingles.
- Check the underlayment, ice and water barrier, ventilation and flashing. These are the parts you can't see later.
- Confirm the permit, dumpster and cleanup are included in writing.
- Indiana's Attorney General says to get bids in writing and never pay for the whole project before work begins.
We're a family-owned roofing company and have been writing roof quotes around Fort Wayne since 2012. We know that by the time we arrive, a lot of homeowners already have one or two other quotes on the counter. Here's the checklist we'd use if we were shopping.
Why roof quotes in Fort Wayne can be so different
Locals ask about this all the time. In a Fort Wayne roofer thread on Reddit, homeowners advised getting several quotes and being careful with the lowest bid unless you can check the company's past work. That's fair advice. The Indiana Attorney General's office says much the same: "Be skeptical if the bid is too low. Cheaper is not necessarily better" (Indiana AG, storm chaser guide).
Most gaps between quotes come down to a few things:
- Different measurements. One company measured the roof, and another estimated it.
- Different products. One quote uses a premium shingle line and full underlayment, and another uses an entry-level line and the minimum.
- Different scope. One includes decking, gutters or new vents, and another leaves them out or lists them as "extra if needed."
- Different overhead. That includes sales commissions, marketing budgets and whether the company runs its own crews.
The line-by-line checklist
Lay your quotes next to each other and find each of these items. If a quote doesn't mention one, ask about it.
| Line item | What to look for | Questions to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Roof size | Total squares (1 square = 100 sq ft of roof), plus waste | "How did you measure? Can I see the measurement report?" |
| Shingle | Brand and line and color, e.g., Owens Corning Duration, Sandcastle | "Is this the exact line you'll install?" |
| Tear-off | Number of existing layers removed | "What if there's a second layer?" |
| Decking | How damaged or soft wood gets handled, and how it's priced | "What happens if you find bad decking?" |
| Underlayment | Synthetic underlayment over the whole deck | "Which product, and is it the full deck?" |
| Ice and water barrier | At the eaves, and in valleys where called for | "How far up the eaves does it go?" |
| Ventilation | Ridge vent and intake, or a plan for the existing vents | "Will my attic be vented properly?" |
| Flashing and drip edge | Chimney, walls, pipe boots, drip edge | "New, or are you reusing the old?" |
| Starter and ridge | The manufacturer's starter and hip/ridge shingles | "Are these the same brand as the shingles?" |
| Permit | Who pulls it | "Is the permit included?" |
| Cleanup | Dumpster, haul-away, magnet sweep | "Is the dumpster included?" |
| Payment | The deposit and when the rest is due | "When do I pay, and how much?" |
| Warranty | Manufacturer warranty plus the contractor's workmanship warranty, in writing | "Can I get both in writing?" |
Decking: the line that changes the price most
When a quote looks cheap, decking is usually the reason. Nobody knows exactly what's under old shingles until the tear-off. A good quote spells out what happens when bad wood turns up.
Owens Corning's roof deck bulletin sets minimums for the deck under its shingles, including at least 3/8-inch plywood or 7/16-inch OSB (Owens Corning technical bulletin). If the deck is rotted, delaminated or too thin, new shingles won't hold the way they should.
What we see on Fort Wayne-area jobs: Decking is one of the surprises we run into on older homes around here. On one 40-square Duration roof, we resheeted the whole deck with 122 sheets of new OSB and still finished the install in one day. On another job, the crew found two layers of old shingles to tear off before the new roof could go on. Whoever you hire, the quote should say up front how decking is handled and priced, so a surprise under the old shingles doesn't turn into a surprise on your bill.
The parts you'll never see again: underlayment, ice barrier and ventilation
Once the shingles are on, you'll never see these again, and they're easy to cut corners on.
- Ice and water barrier. Owens Corning's Duration instructions call for a self-adhered ice and water barrier at the eaves where roofs have a history of ice-dam water backup. It should extend at least 24 inches inside the interior wall line (Owens Corning Duration installation instructions). In northeast Indiana winters, that matters.
- Underlayment. Find out what product is used and whether it covers the whole deck.
- Ventilation. Owens Corning's instructions say ventilation must meet local building codes. An attic that can't breathe is hard on shingles. Ask how each roofer plans to vent yours.
If one quote names these products and another says "as needed," they aren't quoting the same roof.
Paperwork: permit, contract, payment and warranty
Permit. Allen County's building department lists re-roofing as a project that needs a permit (Allen County, Introduction to Home Projects). The Indiana AG says, "A contractor should not start work until the permit is issued." Ask who pulls it. Outside Allen County, check with your county or city building office.
Written contract. The Indiana Attorney General's home improvement fact sheet says to get bids in writing. It says Indiana law requires home improvement contracts to be in writing. It also lists what the contract should include: the price, the payment schedule, a detailed description of the work and materials (including colors, brand names and patterns), the estimated start and completion dates, the contractor's name and address, a contact person and the contractor's signature.
Payment. The same fact sheet advises: "Never pay for the entire project before the work begins," and it recommends tying payments to completed work. A big deposit before any material arrives is a reason to ask more questions.
Warranty. There are two: the manufacturer's warranty on the materials and the contractor's workmanship warranty on the installation. Get both in writing. The same Reddit thread pointed out that many roofers only warranty their workmanship on a complete tear-off, so ask how the job is being done and what the warranty covers.
Credentials. Ask for a certificate of insurance, and look up the company's reviews and Better Business Bureau profile. The Attorney General also suggests checking with your city or county building department about local contractor licensing requirements.
Extras that should be on the quote, not a surprise
These belong on the quote as separate lines so you can decide:
- Gutters. If your gutters are tired, replacing them together with the roof saves a second setup. Several of our recent jobs included seamless gutters, downspouts and guards in the same project.
- Soffit and fascia. These often get done alongside the roof and gutters on older homes.
How we write our quotes
We list the shingle line and color, the tear-off, the decking plan, underlayment, ice and water barrier, ventilation, flashing, the permit and the dumpster, so you can lay ours next to anyone else's. We don't ask for money down. If you're comparing ours with another quote, we're happy to go through both with you line by line.
See finished jobs on our projects page, learn how a Fort Wayne roof replacement runs, check the shingle lines on our asphalt shingle roofing page, and read Owens Corning Duration vs Oakridge if your quotes list different lines.
Frequently asked questions
How many roof quotes should I get?
Most homeowners get two or three. It's more important that every quote covers the same scope: the same size roof, shingle line, tear-off, decking plan, underlayment, ventilation, permit and cleanup. Two quotes written to the same checklist tell you more than three that aren't.
Why is one roof quote so much lower than the others?
Usually the quotes are for different scopes. The low one might leave out decking, use a lower shingle line, skip the ice and water barrier, or leave the permit and dumpster out. Ask each company to list those items. The Indiana Attorney General warns to be skeptical of very low bids.
What should a roof replacement quote include?
It should include the roof size in squares, the exact shingle brand, line and color, the tear-off, the decking plan, underlayment, ice and water barrier, ventilation, flashing, starter and ridge shingles, the permit, cleanup, the payment schedule and the warranties. Indiana's Attorney General also lists start and completion dates and a contact person.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Allen County?
Allen County's building department lists re-roofing among the projects that need a permit. Your roofer should pull it, and the Indiana Attorney General says work shouldn't start until it's issued. If you live outside Allen County, check with your local building department.
How much should I pay up front for a new roof?
The Indiana Attorney General advises never paying for the entire project before work begins and tying payments to completed work. We don't ask for money down. Whoever you hire, make sure the payment schedule is written into the contract.
Got a quote on the counter already? We'll write ours to the same checklist so you can compare them fairly. Book your free estimate, call (260) 402-3549 or (260) 299-ROOF, or see our financing options.
Sources
- Indiana Attorney General, Home Improvement Scams fact sheet: https://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer-protection-division/files/CPD_Fact_Sheet-Home_improv_Scams.pdf
- Indiana Attorney General, "Before You Write a Check, Double Check" (storm chasers): https://secure.in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer-protection-division/files/Storm-Chasers-webversion_4_24.pdf
- Allen County Building Department, Introduction to Home Projects (re-roofing permit): https://www.allencounty.in.gov/241/Introduction-to-Home-Projects
- Owens Corning, Roof Deck Requirements technical bulletin (TB-10022499): https://dcpd6wotaa0mb.cloudfront.net/mdms/dms/Roofing/10022499/10022499-Roof-Deck-Requirements-for-Installation-of-Asphalt-Shingles-Technical-Bulletin.pdf
- Owens Corning, Duration Series installation instructions: https://dcpd6wotaa0mb.cloudfront.net/mdms/dms/Roofing/10014283/10014283-Duration-Series-Shingles-Installation-Instructions.pdf
- r/fortwayne, "Roofer recommendations": https://www.reddit.com/r/fortwayne/comments/1lcco3l/roofer_recommendations/
