Division 07 · New construction roofing
New roofing estimates built from the deck up
On a new build the roof is the one envelope system where quantities can be measured exactly, because the framing plan tells you every plane, pitch and penetration before a single truss is set. We take new roofing off the roof framing and roof plans together: sheathing by sheet, underlayment and ice and water shield by roll, the roof system in squares with waste set by roof complexity, flashing and drip edge by the linear foot, and ventilation sized to the attic. Labor is built by pitch, so a 10:12 cut-up roof carries the hours it deserves.
- 5.0 Google
- 4.9 Trustpilot
- 4.9 Clutch
pitch factor applied to every 6:12 plane before we count a square
Projects estimated
Typical turnaround
Trade categories
Takeoff accuracy
Part of Roofing Estimating
Back to roofing estimatingScope of takeoff
New roofing quantities we take off
From the roof framing plan, roof plan, elevations and wall sections, with every plane tagged by pitch.
- 01Roof sheathing7/16 OSB or 5/8 plywood by sheet, H-clips, ring-shank nails and edge blocking7/16 OSB or 5/8 plywood by sheet, H-clips, ring-shank nails and edge blockingSF / EATrue roof area divided by 32 SF per sheet plus 5 percent cuts
- 02Synthetic or felt underlaymentSynthetic rolls at 10 SQ or ASTM D226 felt at 4 SQ per roll, with cap nailsSynthetic rolls at 10 SQ or ASTM D226 felt at 4 SQ per roll, with cap nailsSQTrue roof area with laps per manufacturer
- 03Ice and water shieldSelf-adhered membrane at eaves to 24 inches inside the warm wall, valleys and penetrationsSelf-adhered membrane at eaves to 24 inches inside the warm wall, valleys and penetrationsLF / SQEave and valley lengths times required width
- 04Field roof systemArchitectural shingles by bundle, standing seam panels by LF, tile and slate by pieceArchitectural shingles by bundle, standing seam panels by LF, tile and slate by pieceSQPlane area times pitch factor plus complexity waste
- 05Starter stripStarter shingles or starter roll at all eaves and rakesStarter shingles or starter roll at all eaves and rakesLFEave and rake lengths from the roof plan
- 06Ridge and hip capCap shingles, metal ridge and hip caps, closures and sealantCap shingles, metal ridge and hip caps, closures and sealantLFRidge and hip lines measured in true length
- 07Drip edge and gable trimPre-finished aluminum or galvanized drip edge, rake trim and gable flashing by profilePre-finished aluminum or galvanized drip edge, rake trim and gable flashing by profileLFPerimeter lengths with laps
- 08Valley metal and wall flashingW-valley or closed-cut valleys, step flashing, kick-out and headwall apronW-valley or closed-cut valleys, step flashing, kick-out and headwall apronLFValley and roof-to-wall intersections
- 09Penetrations and bootsPipe boots by diameter, bath and range exhaust caps, chimney crickets and saddlesPipe boots by diameter, bath and range exhaust caps, chimney crickets and saddlesEAPlumbing and mechanical roof penetrations counted
- 10Attic ventilationRidge vent, soffit vent, baffles and static or powered vents sized to net free areaRidge vent, soffit vent, baffles and static or powered vents sized to net free areaLF / EAAttic SF per IRC 1:150 or 1:300 balanced intake and exhaust
- 11Fasteners and accessoriesRoofing nails by box, cap nails, panel clips and screws, sealant and pipe collarsRoofing nails by box, cap nails, panel clips and screws, sealant and pipe collarsEA / LBSPer square by system and nailing pattern
- 12Installation labor by pitchCrew hours per square by pitch band, staging and fall protection setupCrew hours per square by pitch band, staging and fall protection setupHRSProductivity by pitch band and eave height
Overview
What a new roofing estimate includes
A new roofing estimate covers everything above the trusses or rafters: the structural deck, the water-shedding layers, the finished roof system and the metal and accessories that make it watertight at every edge and penetration. The deck is quantified in sheets of 7/16 OSB or 5/8 plywood from the true roof area, with H-clips, ring-shank nails and any blocking or crickets the framing plan calls for. Underlayment follows as rolls of synthetic or ASTM D226 felt, and ice and water shield is measured along eaves, valleys and around penetrations to the width the IRC and the local climate zone require.
System selection drives the rest. Architectural asphalt shingles are priced per bundle at three bundles to the square; standing seam metal is priced per panel by width, gauge and finish with clips, closures and Z-flashing; concrete and clay tile carry battens, bird stops and a heavier deck load; slate carries copper nails and a stocked allowance for breakage. Each system has its own starter, ridge, hip and valley details, and we quantify them from the NRCA and manufacturer details referenced in the specification so the material list matches the warranty the owner expects to receive.
Pitch and complexity set both waste and labor. We assign a waste factor per plane group, from 10 percent on a plain gable to 20 percent where valleys, dormers and turrets stack up, and we convert the result to purchasable bundles, rolls and sheets. Labor is built as crew hours per square at each pitch band, with a separate line for roofs over 8:12 where staging, roof jacks and fall protection slow production, and another for two-story or higher eave heights where loading the roof takes longer. The deliverable is a material list the lumberyard or roofing distributor can quote directly, and hours your crew can check.
What type of new roofing estimating can you get?
Match the estimate to where your project is. Every option is priced as a flat fee before work begins.
Production builder roof package
±3%24 hours per plan
Per-plan roofing material lists and labor for repeated floor plans, with elevation options priced as adds so each lot can be quoted from the base plan.
Best for: Production and tract home builders
Custom home roofing estimate
±4%24–48 hours
Plane-by-plane takeoff of a cut-up custom roof with mixed pitches, dormers and multiple systems, with waste and labor by plane group.
Best for: Custom builders and roofing subs
Commercial new roof bid
±5%48 hours
Steep or low-slope roofing for new commercial buildings from construction documents, including deck, insulation, system and accessories per the specified assembly.
Best for: Commercial roofing contractors
Roof system alternates
±6%24–48 hours
Side-by-side pricing of shingle, metal, tile or membrane options on the same roof geometry so owners can decide on system before documents are finished.
Best for: Design-build and owner decisions
Roofing material list only
24 hours
Bundles, rolls, sheets, linear feet and counts rounded to purchasable quantities for roofers who apply their own labor and supplier pricing.
Best for: Roofers pricing in-house
Process
How our estimating process works
Four steps from upload to a bid-ready estimate, with a senior estimator signing off before anything leaves our desk.
- 1
Upload plans and scope
Send your drawings, specifications and bid invitation through the secure upload form. We confirm scope, deadline and a fixed price within two business hours.
Then step 2
- 2
Digital quantity takeoff
Estimators measure every item from calibrated plans in Bluebeam and PlanSwift, color-coding each layer so quantities can be traced back to the drawing.
Then step 3
- 3
Pricing and labor
Quantities are priced with location-adjusted material costs, crew productivity rates and equipment, then marked up to your overhead and profit targets.
Then step 4
- 4
Senior review and delivery
A second estimator audits quantities and pricing, documents assumptions and exclusions, and delivers your Excel workbook, PDF summary and marked-up plans.
Bid-ready
Deliverables
What's included in your estimate package
Every deliverable is formatted so it can go straight into a proposal, a purchase order or an owner report.
Estimate workbookXLSX
Quantities, unit costs, labor hours and totals organized by CSI division, with subtotals, markups and a bid summary tab.
Marked-up plansPDF
Color-coded takeoff drawings showing exactly where every measured quantity came from.
Material procurement listXLSX
Consolidated material quantities with waste factors applied, ready to send to suppliers for quotes.
Labor hours by taskXLSX
Crew-based labor hours and productivity rates so you can check the schedule against the estimate.
Assumptions and exclusions logPDF
Every clarification, allowance and exclusion documented so your proposal scope is defensible.
Bid summary sheetPDF
A proposal-ready one-page summary with overhead, profit, bonds and contingency applied.
Why LEEDS
Why contractors switch to LEEDS
An estimating desk that behaves like an extension of your team, not a software subscription.
Every roof plane is tagged with its pitch, and pitch-factored before a single square is counted.
Waste factors set per plane group by complexity and shingle type, not a blanket 10 percent on the whole roof.
Sheathing, underlayment and ice and water, shield quantified in sheets and rolls so the lumberyard quote matches the list.
Ventilation sized to net free area from the, attic footprint with balanced intake and exhaust per the IRC.
Starter, drip edge, ridge cap and valley, metal measured along actual edge lengths rather than percentaged from field squares.
Labor hours split by pitch band and eave height, with staging and fall protection carried as their own line.
Metal, tile and slate systems quantified, to the manufacturer and NRCA details called out in the specification.
Per-plan pricing for production builders, with elevation options as adds, so lot quotes take minutes instead of hours.
CSI divisions
CSI MasterFormat divisions we cover
Estimates are organized by division so they drop straight into your cost codes and schedule of values.
Highlighted divisions are the primary scope on this page.
Reviews
What contractors say after their first bid with us
What general contractors, subcontractors and developers say after bidding with our numbers.
“Squares, underlayment, flashing lengths, fastener counts, even the ridge vent. The waste factors were right for the roof pitch. Bid-ready out of the box.”
Greg Lindqvist
Estimator, Summit Roofing Co. · Kansas City, MO
“Lumber lists, finish schedules and allowances in a format our clients actually understand. The assumptions log alone has saved us from two scope disputes.”
Luis Herrera
Project Manager, Sierra Ridge Homes · Phoenix, AZ
“Washington energy code and seismic detailing were reflected in the pricing without us having to explain anything. That is rare for an out-of-state estimator.”
Kim Nakamura
Co-founder, Pacific Build Collective · Seattle, WA
FAQ
New Roofing Estimating FAQs
Do you take new roofing off the framing plan or the roof plan?
Both. The roof framing plan gives us plane geometry, pitches, overhangs and the deck area; the roof plan and elevations give us edge types, ridge and hip lines, valleys, penetrations and ventilation. We reconcile the two so the sheathing, underlayment and roof system are measured from the same true area and no plane is dropped between sheets.
How many squares is a typical new roof, and how do you convert to bundles?
A 2,400 square foot two-story home on a 6:12 roof typically runs 18 to 22 squares once overhangs and pitch are included. Architectural shingles ship at three bundles per square, so after adding waste we round up to whole bundles, then round starter, ridge cap and underlayment to whole rolls or boxes so the order matches what the distributor sells.
How is ice and water shield quantified on a new roof?
We measure the eave length and apply the width needed to reach at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line per IRC R905.1.2, which usually means one or two 36-inch courses depending on overhang and pitch. Valleys are measured in true length at a 36-inch width, and penetrations, skylights and roof-to-wall lines receive membrane per the detail. The result is converted to rolls.
Can you price standing seam metal and tile as alternates to shingles?
Yes. The roof geometry is measured once and each system is priced against it with its own waste, accessories, deck requirements and labor. Standing seam is quantified by panel length and width with clips and trim, tile by piece with battens and a heavier deck check, and slate with breakage allowance, so the owner sees a true like-for-like comparison.
How do you size attic ventilation in the estimate?
We take the attic floor area from the plan and apply the IRC ratio, 1:150 of net free area or 1:300 when a vapor retarder and balanced intake and exhaust are provided. Exhaust is split between ridge vent by linear foot and static or powered vents by count, intake is soffit vent by linear foot, and baffles are counted per rafter bay at the eave.
What is the turnaround for a new roofing estimate?
Single-family plans are returned within 24 hours and production builders with repeated plans usually get the whole plan library back in a few days. Multifamily buildings and commercial new roofs with mixed steep and low-slope areas take 48 hours. We confirm the delivery date when we receive the drawings, and rush service is available for bid deadlines.
Related
Related estimating services
Most projects need more than one trade. Bundle them into a single upload and we price the whole scope together.
Ready for a new roofing estimating quote?
Upload your plans and get a fixed quote within 2 business hours. Most estimates are delivered in 24–48 hours.