How Is Metal Roofing Sold?

Bid

• The bid is the simplest method for the consumer in terms of how metal roofing is sold. A roofer examines the roof that the metal roofing will be installed on and gives a bid for doing the roof. The bid price includes all the costs of purchasing the roofing materials and installation. In many cases, the price is set once the bid is made. Any issues, such as faulty materials or longer-than-expected installation time, usually are not going to increase the price of the roof.

Itemized Bid

• An itemized bid works similar to a regular bid, except the materials and labor costs of the metal roofing are included in the bid. In most cases, this is an estimate of the final cost of the roof, not the actual price. The homeowner usually assumes responsibility for any additional material costs or if installation takes longer than expected. It is the most common method of buying metal roofing for homeowners.

Contractor

• While not usually a method directly dealt with by a homeowner, another method of buying metal roofing is indirectly through a contractor. The metal roofing is included in the price of a larger construction project, such as a house. The main construction company does not do the roof itself, but hires a contractor to build the roof. The contractor provides a bid to the construction company for the cost to install the roof. The materials might be part of the bid from the contractor or purchased by the construction company through their own supplier. The homeowner is usually not involved with this method of buying metal roofing.

Materials

• The method mainly used by roofers is to buy the metal roofing materials from a manufacturer or building materials company. Homeowners intending to do installation themselves can also purchase metal roofing in this manner. Metal roofing materials purchased in this manner are delivered to the purchaser, but no installation is provided.