That’s exactly what happened to us last fall—got a quote for a new roof, but by the time we’d lined up financing and double-checked with insurance, the price had jumped. The contractor said his hands were tied because shingle costs had gone up. I get that prices can change, but it’s tough when you’re trying to budget for a big project and the numbers keep moving.
I’ve wondered if it’s worth paying a little extra for a longer price lock, just for the peace of mind. But then, is that really fair to homeowners? Feels like we’re stuck either way—either rush a decision or risk paying more. Has anyone actually managed to get a contractor to honor the original quote past the deadline? Or is it just not realistic with how fast materials are changing these days?
I wish there was a standard, like 60 days minimum, but maybe that’s just not possible right now. It’s stressful trying to plan when you don’t know what you’ll end up paying.
I hear you—price jumps are rough, and honestly, it’s not just shingles. Underlayment, nails, even delivery fees have been all over the place lately. In my experience, most quotes are good for 30 days, but even that’s getting tricky. Sometimes I’ll try to eat a small increase if it’s just a week or two past, but if it’s months later, I just can’t swing it without losing money. I’ve seen a few folks pay a bit more upfront for a 60-day lock, but it’s rare. It’s not really fair to homeowners or contractors, but with how fast suppliers are changing prices, nobody wins. If you can get a written price lock, even for 30 days, grab it—just make sure it spells out what’s included and what could change.
If you can get a written price lock, even for 30 days, grab it—just make sure it spells out what’s included and what could change.
I tried to get a 30-day lock on my last roof repair and by week three, the price of nails had jumped. Who knew nails could be so precious? Is it just me or does it feel like we’re playing the stock market every time we buy building supplies?
I get where you’re coming from, but I think 30 days is actually pretty generous in this market. Material costs can swing wildly—nails, shingles, even underlayment. We’ve had quotes where suppliers changed prices overnight, and we had to eat the difference or go back to the customer. Maybe it makes more sense to have a clause that covers sudden increases for specific materials? Otherwise, contractors end up gambling on prices too. Anyone else run into suppliers refusing to hold pricing for more than a week lately?
Thirty days used to feel like plenty of time, but lately it’s almost risky. I’ve had suppliers pull the rug out from under me with shingle prices—one day it’s $110 a square, next day it’s $135. I agree, having a clause for specific materials makes sense, especially for stuff that’s known to fluctuate. I started adding a line in my quotes that says if material costs jump more than 5% before we order, we’ll have to adjust. Most folks understand once you explain how wild the market’s gotten.
I’ve also noticed some suppliers won’t even lock in pricing for a week anymore, especially after storms roll through. It’s frustrating, but I get it—they’re getting squeezed too. The only workaround I’ve found is ordering as soon as the job’s signed, but that doesn’t always fit the schedule. Anyone else tried pre-purchasing materials and storing them? I’ve done it a couple times, but storage is a pain unless you’ve got the space.
