Two roofing quotes can look very different even when both say “new metal roof”. Before deciding which is better value, put the descriptions beside each other. The first job is to find out whether they price the same work.
AI-generated illustration, not project documentation.
Compare the included work
Make a simple list: removal of the old roof, the proposed product and profile, associated roof details, access arrangements, waste removal and handover. Mark each item as included, excluded or unclear for each quotation. Leave a blank where an answer is missing rather than treating silence as inclusion.
Ask how existing gutters, roof penetrations and any damaged supporting material will be handled. You are not trying to design the roof yourself. You are making the boundaries of the price visible.
Separate a known price from an allowance
If a quote contains allowances or provisional items, ask what they cover and what happens when the actual work is known. Confirm whether GST is included and how an additional item would be approved. Avoid comparing a fully described scope with a brief estimate as though both offer the same certainty.
MBIE's guidance on tenders and quotes recommends asking for detail when a quote is unclear. That is a useful conversation to have before signing, not after work starts.
Close the gaps in writing
Send your questions in one email and request a revised scope where the answers change the work. Keep the accepted version with its date. A verbal explanation helps, but a document is easier to refer to later.
For residential building work costing $30,000 or more including GST, MBIE says a written contract is required. Get advice on contract terms you do not understand. For the project sequence, see our before-the-job guide.