Guide
How to compare two roofing bids without guessing which scope is complete
Written by Ultra Power Construction. The credentials page states that this contractor is licensed and insured in New Jersey and lists GAF and Owens Corning programs. Updated 2026-09-28.
Two bids for the same Millburn, Summit, or Westfield house often look far apart because one scope names tear-off layers, flashing, and ventilation while the other collapses them into a lump sum. Compare the written lines, not the bottom number alone. The planning average for a full asphalt-shingle replacement in North Jersey is $9,000 to $22,000; HomeAdvisor publishes that New Jersey range at https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/roofing/replace-a-roof-in-new-jersey/. That average is not an Ultra Power bid for your roof.
- Match the tear-off before the shingle brand
- Count flashing, ice-and-water, and ventilation as separate lines
- Confirm what the planning average does and does not cover
Match the tear-off before the shingle brand
Ask whether the price removes one layer or every layer down to the deck. A Millburn or Summit bid that leaves an old layer in place is a different job from a full tear-off on the same Westfield colonial. If one estimate says “overlay” and the other says “tear-off,” they are not competing numbers.
Count flashing, ice-and-water, and ventilation as separate lines
Step flashing at sidewalls, valley metal, pipe boots, ridge vent or box vents, and ice-and-water at eaves should appear as counted work. A lump sum labeled “flashing” can hide missing pieces. Line those items up side by side before you decide which bid is lower.
Confirm what the planning average does and does not cover
Public averages help set a conversation range. They do not replace an on-roof measurement of squares, pitch, layers, and access. Use the average to ask better questions; use the written estimate after inspection to choose a contractor.