How to Quote Roofing Jobs

Why roofing quotes demand more detail than most trades

Roofing is one of the highest-cost trades per job, and the quoting is proportionally complex. A re-roof involves materials priced by the square metre, guttering priced by the linear metre, scaffolding priced by the week, disposal charged by the skip bin, and labour charged by the day. Miss one category and you absorb it.

The margin on a roofing job is made or lost in the quote. Underquote scaffolding by $1,500 and that comes straight off your profit. Forget to account for steep pitch, difficult access, or the extra valley irons on a hip roof and you are working for less than you planned. Overquote without justification and the customer takes the cheaper number from someone who priced it tighter.

This guide covers each part of the roofing quote with 2026 Australian benchmarks so you can price accurately, protect your margin, and present a quote that wins the job.

Step 1: Calculate your true cost per day

Roofing businesses typically price labour by the day rather than the hour, because most jobs span full days and the work is physically demanding enough that an eight-hour day is a real eight hours. Start by working out what a day of one tradesperson on site actually costs the business.

For a sole-trader roofer, total annual costs typically land between $105,000 and $178,000. At around 220 billable days per year (allowing for weather days, admin, quoting, and holidays), your loaded cost per day sits between $480 and $810.

Your charge-out rate covers this cost plus your profit margin. A healthy margin for residential roofing is 25-40% on labour. That puts day rates for most roofing businesses in the $600-$1,000 range per tradesperson per day. Roofers in Sydney and Perth regularly charge at the higher end of that range.

If you employ staff, add workers compensation insurance (roofing carries one of the highest WHS risk categories and premiums reflect it), redundancy contributions, and any allowances for heights work under your enterprise agreement or the Building and Construction General On-site Award.

Step 2: Choose the right pricing model

Roofing uses three main pricing models. The right one depends on the job.

Per square metre (re-roofs and new builds)

Best for: complete re-roofs, new-build roof installation, and any job where the scope is primarily measured in roof area.

You measure or calculate the roof area, apply a per-square-metre rate that covers materials and installation labour, then add scaffolding, removal, guttering, and flashings as separate line items. This model scales naturally with the size of the roof and is easy for customers to compare.

Typical installed rates for Colorbond roofing in 2026 sit between $65 and $130 per square metre depending on the profile, pitch, access, and location. Tile installation on new builds runs $50-$90/m2 for concrete tiles and $80-$140/m2 for terracotta. These rates cover supply and install of the sheeting or tiles, sarking, and battens.

The trap: quoting a flat per-m2 rate across every job. A 15-degree pitch gable roof with clear access is a fundamentally different job from a 35-degree hip roof with multiple valleys and a two-storey section. Adjust your rate for complexity or you will underquote the hard jobs and only win the ones that take longer than you planned.

Fixed price (restorations and repairs)

Best for: tile roof restorations, leak repairs, ridge capping replacement, and any job where you can define the full scope from an inspection.

You inspect the roof, assess the condition, determine exactly what work is needed, and give the customer one number. Tile restorations (repoint ridges, reseal, and repaint) are the classic fixed-price roofing job because the scope is predictable once you have inspected the roof from the ridge.

The risk: quoting from the ground. A tile roof that looks sound from the gutter line can have cracked tiles, perished sarking, and soft battens that you only find once you are on the roof. Always inspect from the roof before locking a fixed price.

Per linear metre (guttering, fascia, downpipes)

Best for: gutter replacements, fascia board renewals, and downpipe work where the scope is measured in length.

You measure the total run of guttering or fascia, apply a per-linear-metre rate, add downpipes per unit, and include any scaffolding or access requirements. This model is transparent, easy to compare, and scales linearly with the job.

Typical installed rates in 2026: quad gutter $25-$45/lm, half-round gutter $30-$50/lm, Colorbond fascia $30-$55/lm, downpipes $80-$120 each installed. These include supply, installation, and standard brackets and fixings.

Step 3: Benchmark your rates against the market

Labour day rates by city (2026)

Regional roofers often add a travel allowance ($1-$2 per kilometre or a flat travel fee) for jobs outside their normal service area. Day rates are for standard hours; weekend and public holiday work attracts penalty rates per your award or agreement.

Common job pricing benchmarks (2026)

All prices include GST for a GST-registered business. These ranges cover materials, labour, and standard access. Scaffolding is often additional and should be quoted as a separate line item so the customer can see it. Steep pitch (over 25 degrees), difficult access, multi-storey, and heritage roofs push prices toward the upper end.

Step 4: Quote scaffolding and safety costs properly

Scaffolding is often the single largest non-material cost on a roofing job, and it is the line item roofers most often underquote or absorb. Treat it as a visible, standalone line item in every quote where it applies.

Scaffolding cost benchmarks (2026)

Scaffold pricing typically includes erection, weekly hire, and dismantling. The erect-and-dismantle fee makes up the bulk of the cost; the weekly hire is relatively small. If your job runs longer than planned, the extra hire weeks are manageable, but the up-front cost is fixed regardless of job duration.

When scaffolding is required

Under work health and safety regulations in every state, scaffolding or equivalent edge protection is required for any work at height where there is a risk of falling. For roofing, this means almost every job. Scaffolding over 4 metres must be erected by a licensed scaffolder (high-risk work licence class SB for basic scaffolding, SA for advanced).

Some roofers use alternative fall-prevention systems (temporary roof anchors with harness systems, safety mesh, or edge protection rails) as a lower-cost alternative on simpler jobs. These systems have their own costs ($500-$2,000 depending on the system and roof configuration) and must comply with AS/NZS 1891 for fall-arrest harnesses or AS 4994.1 for safety mesh. Whatever system you use, the cost belongs in the quote.

Other safety costs to include

• Traffic management: if the property fronts a busy road and scaffold extends near the footpath, you may need a traffic management plan and signage ($300-$800).
• Temporary roof protection: on re-roofs where the old roof comes off before the new one goes on, temporary weatherproofing (tarps, temporary sheeting) protects the house if rain hits mid-job. Factor in the materials and the labour to deploy them.
• Crane hire: for heavy materials (tile pallets, long-length Colorbond sheets) that cannot be carried up by hand. A small crane for a half-day delivery typically runs $600-$1,500.

Step 5: Price materials with a consistent markup

Roofing materials are a significant portion of the total job cost. Your markup covers sourcing, delivery, cutting waste, handling, warranty risk, and defect returns. Set a consistent markup by category and apply it across every job.

Steel prices move with commodity markets. Colorbond pricing adjusts periodically, and your supplier's price list from six months ago may be outdated. Always quote from current supplier pricing, and consider including a clause in your terms that material prices are valid for 14-30 days.

Waste factor: sheet metal roofing typically has 5-10% waste from cuts and offcuts. Hip roofs with multiple valleys generate more waste than simple gable roofs. Build the waste into your material quantities rather than absorbing it after the fact.

For large jobs ($10,000+ in materials), request a deposit covering the full material cost before ordering. Roofing materials are custom-cut to length and cannot be returned.

Step 6: Factor in licensing and compliance

Roofing is regulated construction work in every state and territory. Licensing requirements, insurance minimums, and warranty obligations vary, but the common thread is that compliance costs are real and belong in the quote.

Working at Heights (WAH)

Every person working on a roof must hold a current Working at Heights ticket (or equivalent competency under their state's WHS Act). This is a mandatory minimum. Refresher training is required periodically (typically every two years, varies by state). Build training costs into your annual overheads.

Home warranty insurance

Most states require home warranty insurance (also called domestic building insurance or home building compensation fund cover) for residential building work above a threshold. In NSW, the threshold is $20,000. In Victoria, it is $16,000. In Queensland, the QBCC's insurance scheme covers all licensable work. Check your state's threshold and factor the premium into jobs that trigger it.

Asbestos considerations

Any roof built before 1990 may contain asbestos cement sheeting. If asbestos is suspected, a licensed asbestos assessor should confirm before work begins. Removal of bonded (non-friable) asbestos roofing requires a Class B asbestos removal licence. Friable asbestos (rare in roofing) requires Class A. Never quote asbestos removal unless you hold the appropriate licence. Instead, quote it as a separate line item using a licensed removalist's price, or exclude it from your scope with a clear note directing the customer to engage a removalist before your work begins.

Step 7: Build a clear line-item breakdown

An itemised quote converts better than a lump sum. It shows the customer what each component costs, makes variations easy to price, and reduces disputes. Roofing quotes benefit from itemisation more than most trades because of the number of distinct cost categories.

Worked example: Colorbond re-roof on a 180m2 single-storey home

Tile-to-metal conversion, replacing old concrete tiles with Colorbond Trimdek in Monument. Standard pitch (22 degrees), good access on three sides, scaffold required on the street-facing elevation.

Each line carries its own cost, so the customer sees where the money goes. If the inspection reveals the battens need full replacement rather than 40%, you adjust one line and send a variation. If the customer wants to add whirlybirds or a skylight, they are new lines rather than a renegotiation of the whole price.

Note: GST applies only if your business is GST-registered (required once turnover exceeds $75,000). If you are below the threshold, your quotes show totals without GST.

Step 8: Present the quote so it converts

A roofing job is a significant purchase for a homeowner. The way you present the quote matters as much as the number on it.

What to include

• Clear scope description in plain language. "Remove existing concrete tile roof, supply and install Colorbond Trimdek in Monument including sarking, battens, ridge capping, valley irons, flashings, gutters, and downpipes" tells the customer exactly what they are getting.
• Itemised pricing so the customer can see the cost of each component. This builds trust and reduces the "your quote is higher than the other guy" conversation because the customer can see what they are comparing.
• Inclusions and exclusions. State what is covered and what triggers a variation. Common exclusions: structural timber repairs (found after old roof is removed), asbestos removal, electrical relocation (TV antennas, solar panels), painting of exposed eaves or fascia. If you exclude something, say so clearly.
• Scaffold details. Specify which elevations are scaffolded, the hire period, and what happens if the job runs longer (additional hire charged at $X/week).
• Material specifications. Name the profile (Trimdek, Corrugated, Klip-Lok), the colour (Monument, Surfmist, Basalt), and the gauge. This prevents substitution disputes and shows the customer you have specified the job properly.
• Warranty information. Colorbond carries a manufacturer warranty (typically 36 years on BlueScope steel). State your workmanship warranty separately (commonly 10 years for roofing). Warranty is a differentiator against cheaper quotes that may use off-brand steel.
• Validity period of 14-30 days. Steel and scaffold prices move.
• Payment terms. A deposit (typically 10-20% of the total, or the material cost) before materials are ordered, a progress payment when the old roof is off and new sheeting begins, and the balance on completion. Large jobs may have additional progress claims.
• Your licence number and insurance details. A trust signal for homeowners comparing multiple quotes.

Timing

Send the quote within 24-48 hours of the roof inspection. Roofing quotes involve more detail than a tap repair, so customers expect a day's turnaround, but anything beyond 48 hours and the customer starts calling the next roofer on their list.

Follow up within three days if you have not heard back. Homeowners getting re-roof quotes often collect three to five quotes and take a week to decide. A follow-up call or text keeps you in the conversation. Most roofers never follow up, so the ones who do stand out.

Quoting mistakes that cost roofers money

• Absorbing scaffold costs. Some roofers bury scaffold in their overall price to make the quote look lower. This hides a real cost and makes it harder to compare quotes fairly. Quote scaffold as a line item. Customers understand that working at height requires scaffolding.
• Quoting from the ground. A roof that looks sound from the gutter can have cracked tiles, perished sarking, and rotten battens once you are up there. Always inspect from the roof before quoting a fixed price on a restoration or re-roof.
• Forgetting waste. Sheet metal cutting generates 5-10% waste on a gable roof and up to 15% on complex hip roofs with multiple valleys. Build waste into your material quantities.
• Underquoting steep pitch. Anything over 25 degrees is slower to work on, requires more safety equipment, and generates more material waste from angled cuts. Adjust your rate for pitch.
• No variation clause. A re-roof often reveals hidden problems (rotten battens, termite damage, structural timber that needs sistering). If your quote has no variation clause, you either absorb the extra cost or have a difficult conversation mid-job. State clearly that hidden damage discovered during removal will be quoted as a variation before proceeding.
• Using old steel prices. Colorbond pricing adjusts with the steel commodity market. A quote based on last quarter's prices can cost you 5-8% of your material margin. Always use current supplier pricing.
• Ignoring the weather window. Roofing is weather-dependent. If you quote a tight schedule and lose two days to rain, you are paying a crew to stand down and the scaffold hire ticks over. Build a weather buffer into your timeline and be transparent with the customer about it.

For more on common quoting errors across all trades, see 7 Quoting Mistakes That Cost Tradesmen Money.

How to quote faster without cutting corners

The biggest bottleneck in roofing quoting is the gap between the roof inspection and the customer receiving a number. You climb down, drive to the next inspection, and by the time you sit down at the laptop you have three quotes to build, measurements to look up, and scaffold pricing to chase. By then the customer has called someone else.

FlowSpec cuts that loop. You speak your line items into your phone while you are still on site (or in the truck between jobs): "180 square metres Colorbond Trimdek Monument, 22 metres ridge capping, 36 metres quad gutter Monument, 6 downpipes, scaffold 3 days, remove old tiles two skip bins, 3 roofers 4 days labour, for Dave Mitchell at 15 Banksia Crescent." Your Xero price list fills in the numbers, and the quote lands in Xero as a draft ready to send. A job that used to take 45 minutes at the desk takes 30 seconds on site.

See how it works for roofers at Roofer Quoting Software, or check pricing ($50/month for your first quoting seat).