Use seven sections every time
A strong roofing proposal includes: project summary, measured scope, system or material selection, line-item quantities or clear assemblies, assumptions and exclusions, schedule and access notes, and warranty or workmanship terms. Residential proposals can be shorter than commercial proposals, but the same structure still applies.
The working formula is: bid-ready proposal = scope + quantities + assumptions + options + schedule + terms + review. If one part is missing, the customer may still sign, but production inherits the ambiguity.
Assumptions and exclusions protect trust
Assumptions are not legal filler. They tell the customer what the price depends on: deck condition, number of layers, insulation reuse, hidden damage, access, permits, disposal, work hours, and owner-provided information. Exclusions should be plain enough that a non-roofer understands them.
Good proposals also separate base scope from alternates. If the owner may choose upgraded membrane, thicker insulation, gutter work, skylight replacement, or added warranty coverage, show those as decisions instead of burying them in one opaque total.
Speed matters, but review comes first
Fast turnaround helps because roofing buyers often compare multiple contractors while the problem is urgent. But speed should not mean sending an unreviewed estimate. Use a pre-send check: customer name, address, scope, quantities, price, assumptions, exclusions, photos, options, and next step.
MyRoofGenius supports that workflow by helping create a fast first-pass roof analysis and estimate context. The contractor still owns the final proposal, review, and customer communication.
Questions commercial estimators ask
What happens to the numbers after the site visit, and which of them are yours.
I still walk the roof. What does this change?
The site visit still confirms the roof. What changes is what happens to the numbers after it.
The takeoff you trace becomes a priced estimate carrying the same line quantities. Your customer reviews the scope, line items and price on a link you share. Once the customer signs a contract, or you record their acceptance, the estimate converts to a job that keeps the sold line quantities and their measurement source.
You do not type the quantities again between those steps, and every number stays yours to edit before it goes to the customer.
On a flat roof, which quantities are measured and which do I enter?
Each priced line in a traced takeoff says where its quantity came from. Lines taken from your calibrated trace, such as field membrane, tapered insulation, cover board, fasteners and edge metal, read Measured, with the source named and a confidence where one was recorded.
Drain and pitch-pocket counts are not measured by the trace. Each reads Default, or Suggested when a source proposed a count, marked confirm before sending, until you enter or confirm the count. Then it reads Estimator entered.
Change any quantity on the estimate and that line reads Estimator entered. Each line also names whose rate priced it: your account rate, your catalog, or the MRG national default, which is marked confirm before sending.
What happens when the scope changes on the job?
A change order can carry a price only when it names what produced that price: measured quantity change, unit price times quantity, draw against an allowance, or supplier quote. A priced change order without one of those is refused.
A schedule-only change order carries no price and needs no basis.
Frequently asked questions
What should a roofing proposal include?
Include project summary, scope, measured quantities or assemblies, selected materials, assumptions, exclusions, schedule, access notes, warranty terms, price, and next steps. For commercial work, include alternates and unit-price items when unknown conditions may affect cost.
How fast should I send a roofing quote?
Send it as quickly as you can while still reviewing the scope and assumptions. A fast quote can help, but an inaccurate or unclear quote creates callbacks, disputes, and production risk.
Should roofing bids be itemized or lump-sum?
Use the format that fits the customer and job. Many customers want a clear total, but your internal estimate should still be itemized. For larger or commercial jobs, itemized sections and alternates usually make the scope easier to compare and approve.
What makes a roofing bid look professional?
A professional bid is specific, organized, and easy to review. It names the roof areas, materials, quantities, assumptions, exclusions, warranty terms, schedule, and next step without relying on vague filler.
Start a free address takeoff for your next bid
Enter a property address for the aerial measurement first. A Professional plan can then attach photos to deepen the estimate before estimator review.