And What Happens If You Miss Something?
That’s one of the most common questions we hear—and we get it. If you’ve ever had work done on your home before, you’re used to people coming out, climbing up on the roof, measuring everything, maybe showing you a shingle sample at the kitchen table. That’s how it’s “always been done.”
At Roofs Made Easy, we take a different approach. We believe that getting a roof shouldn’t mean taking a day off work, sitting through a sales pitch, or wondering how much the “real” price will be after someone adds on half a dozen extras.
So yes—we give you a quote without coming to your property. And believe it or not, we can do it accurately.
How We Give Accurate Quotes Remotely
Roofs may be different in shape and size, but they’re built using the same fundamental components. Asphalt shingle roofs (which are what most homes in our markets have) follow a predictable structure: valleys, ridges, hips, pipe boots, vents, maybe a skylight or two. With the right tools, we can capture that detail from the ground—or rather, from the sky.
We use high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery tools like Nearmap, Google Earth, and measurement platforms to get down-to-the-inch measurements of your roof. These tools give us a bird’s-eye view that’s often more comprehensive than what someone might see walking around on-site for five minutes.
From there, we cross-check publicly available home listing sites like Zillow or Realtor.com for exterior photos. If your home was recently bought or listed, these photos often show details like roof penetrations, skylights, dormers, or chimney flashing.
We also use professional roofing calculators to determine whether you have enough ridge line for ridge venting, or if you’d benefit from other exhaust ventilation like box vents or power vents.
All of that comes together into a quote that’s surprisingly precise—and fast.
“But What If You Miss Something?”
Let’s address the elephant in the room: yes, there are things we could miss by doing it this way.
But here’s what’s important: even when a contractor comes out in person, they miss things too. In fact, a lot of hidden issues can’t be known until the roof is removed—whether someone walked on it beforehand or not.
Let’s break it down:
Second Layers
Some homes have two layers of shingles, one installed over the other. When this is the case, the roof must be completely stripped—both layers—and the disposal fees and labor costs go up. But here’s the trick: it’s often not visible from the edge.
Many roofers who install second layers intentionally trim the outer edges to hide the layer underneath. So even if a contractor walks your roof, they can miss it. We’ve seen it happen a lot.
Decking Issues
Sometimes, roof decking (the wood layer beneath the shingles) has damage. Maybe there was an old leak, rot, or delamination. That damage is typically isolated to a few sheets and might not be visible or even feel “soft” when walking on the roof—especially on steep or cut-up roofs.
So again, a physical inspection doesn’t guarantee anything.
The Real Question: How Do You Handle Surprises?
This is where Roofs Made Easy shines.
Other roofers often build high markups into these “change orders.” If they discover a second layer, you could be charged hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars more, often with 30%, 40%, or even 50% markup baked in. They might even bury those costs in the fine print of the contract.
We don’t do that.
If we find something unexpected during your install—like a second layer, damaged decking, or a structural issue—we show it to you, explain it, and fix it at our cost. No markup. No profit. Just the actual added labor and material.
Yes, that might hurt our margin a little. But that’s the risk we’re willing to take to make roofing easier and more transparent for you.
So… Wouldn’t a Roofer On Site Catch It?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Let’s say a local roofer does a site visit and happens to notice a second layer before quoting. That’s great—but they’re still going to charge you for it, and they’re going to make a profit on it.
Now compare that to us: we might miss it upfront, but if it comes up, you’re only charged our cost to remove and dispose of it. That could save you hundreds.
And if both contractors miss it? You still come out ahead with us.
That’s the difference. That’s the value.
Why We Do It This Way
We believe the old-school sales process in roofing is outdated. Homeowners shouldn’t have to:
- Take off work to meet with someone
- Sit through a 90-minute kitchen-table pitch
- Get hit with vague language and hidden upcharges
We believe you should be able to:
- Get a quote online, quickly
- Know exactly what you’re paying for
- Be informed if anything changes—before you’re billed for it
You shouldn’t feel “stuck” mid-project because you’re halfway into a tear-off and the roofer is suddenly telling you it’s going to cost $1,200 more.
If something comes up, we tell you. And we charge you what it costs us. That’s it.
The Kinds of Hidden Issues We Might Encounter
Just to be clear—not every roof has hidden issues. In fact, most don’t. But when they do, here’s what it usually is:
- Second Layer of Shingles: Extra tear-off labor and dumpster weight.
- Rotted or Delaminated Decking: Needs to be replaced for code compliance and shingle performance.
- Structural Issues: Rare, but sometimes fascia, rafters, or sheathing need repair.
We don’t expect you to know these are there. That’s our job. But when we find them, we treat it fairly and openly.
What About Plywood Costs?
Some companies charge $100+ per sheet of plywood. We’ve seen contracts with line items for “decking replacement” that have steep upcharges built in—even when the contractor hasn’t verified how much needs to be replaced.
At Roofs Made Easy, we charge for the actual material and a small labor adjustment—again, at cost.
We’re not looking to nickel-and-dime you for something you didn’t know was even a possibility.
The Bottom Line
Could something be missed in a remote quote? Sure.
But even if it is, you still come out better off. Because we’re not looking to capitalize on surprises—we’re trying to remove them.
No games. No last-minute pressure. No ballooning budgets halfway through the job.
We keep things simple, honest, and easy. And in the rare case that something unexpected comes up, we handle it the way we’d want it handled if it were our own house.
That’s just how we do business.
Roofs Made Easy
Cut the sales pitch. Keep the savings.
