May 16, 2026 · 9 min read
What drives the price
Square footage of roof, not floor area. A 1,500 square foot bungalow with a simple gable has far less roof than a 1,500 square foot two-storey with three dormers.
Pitch, because steep roofs are slower and need more safety setup. The number of existing layers to tear off and haul away. Valleys, skylights, chimneys and vents, each of which is hand work. Access for the truck and the bin, which is why a tight infill lot costs more than a corner lot in a new subdivision.
Two houses on the same street can differ by thousands for those reasons alone, which is why a price quoted over the phone is a guess and why we start with a free estimate on site.
Material choices inside the quote
Most quotes here are for architectural laminate shingles, which cost more than three-tab and last meaningfully longer. Impact-resistant products cost more again and can lower your premium with some insurers. Ask, because it does not always pay off.
Underlay, ice and water membrane, starter strip and ridge cap are not optional extras, but the amount and quality varies. So does whether flashing is new or reused.
Colour does not change the price. Take a sample home and look at it against your siding in daylight before deciding.
Decking is the common surprise
Rotten sheathing only shows once the old shingles are off. A fair quote says up front what a sheet of replacement plywood costs installed, so if we find three, you already know the number.
On most sound roofs it is zero to a few sheets. On a roof that has leaked for years around a chimney it can be a lot more. Be careful with any quote that stays silent on this, because silence means the conversation happens on day two with the roof open and no leverage on your side.
What a written quote should list
The shingle product and colour. Underlay and ice-and-water coverage, and how far up the slope it runs. New flashing versus reused. Ventilation work. Tear-off and disposal. Cleanup, including a magnet sweep for nails.
Workmanship warranty in writing, separate from the manufacturer's material warranty. Those two are not the same thing and a manufacturer warranty does not cover a bad install.
Proof of liability insurance and WCB coverage, a payment schedule, and the permit if one is required. If any of that is missing, ask before you sign.
About the lowest bid
A price well under everyone else usually means fewer layers of protection, reused flashing, thinner membrane coverage, or no permit and no insurance behind the crew.
You will not see the difference on day one. Every new roof looks good from the driveway. You see it in five years at the valleys and the flashing.
Compare the scope line by line, not just the totals. If one quote is much cheaper, the useful question is what is in the others that is missing from it.
Timing and payment
Most Edmonton roof replacements happen between May and October, and the busiest stretch is right after a hailstorm. Booking in the shoulder season is often easier to schedule and less rushed.
A deposit is normal. Paying the full amount before work starts is not. Hold the final payment until the job is finished, cleaned up and you have walked it.