Been looking into getting my roof redone and I'm seeing quotes listed either by the "square" (which apparently means per 100 sq ft? who knew, right?) or just a flat price for the whole job. Seems like pricing by square might be clearer, but then again, maybe a flat rate is simpler and less likely to surprise me later on. Curious what others prefer and why...
"Seems like pricing by square might be clearer, but then again, maybe a flat rate is simpler and less likely to surprise me later on."
Pricing per square can indeed offer transparency, especially if you anticipate potential changes mid-project. However, from my experience, a flat rate usually provides better peace of mind—no unexpected costs sneaking up later...
I went through a similar decision last summer when we replaced our roof. Initially, I leaned toward pricing by square because it seemed more transparent—especially since I had a detailed idea of the roof size and materials. But midway through, we found some unexpected water damage underneath the shingles. Thankfully, we'd opted for a flat-rate contract, so the contractor handled the extra repairs without additional charges. Had we gone with pricing per square, those hidden issues would've definitely added up and blown our budget.
I think pricing per square makes sense if you're absolutely certain about the condition of your roof structure. But realistically, how often does that happen? For me, the flat rate was worth it just to avoid the stress of potential surprises...
I totally get your reasoning here. We went with pricing per square when we redid our roof a couple of years ago because, like you, I thought it would be more transparent and easier to budget. Luckily, we didn't run into major surprises, but there were definitely a few anxious moments when the contractor pulled off the old shingles—I was holding my breath hoping they wouldn't find anything serious underneath.
In hindsight, your flat-rate approach seems like the safer bet, especially if you're dealing with an older home or haven't had a good look under the shingles in a while. Even with careful inspections, it's almost impossible to know exactly what's hiding below until you start tearing things apart. Roofing projects have enough stress as it is without worrying about hidden costs popping up mid-job.
Glad yours worked out in the end though—sounds like you made a smart call!
Yeah, flat rate definitely feels safer to me too. When we did ours, the contractor quoted per square, and I thought I was being smart until they found some rotten plywood underneath. Suddenly, my neat little budget went out the window...lesson learned. Roofing is basically gambling—you never know what's under there till you rip it open, lol.