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How to bid a commercial roofing job
What are the steps of a commercial roofing bid?
Screen the invitation for fit and bid date first. Then read the full plan set and the roofing spec, take off every quantity with its source sheet, and send questions before the RFI deadline. Price the takeoff with your own material, labor and markup, add the lines that aren't on the roof plan, and submit on the bid form with any alternates and exclusions.
Disclosure: Sharp Pencil sells commercial roofing takeoffs, so we have a stake in this topic.
This is a process outline, not legal, bonding, insurance or contract advice. Your bid documents and your own advisers decide those.
Short answer
Screen the invitation for fit and bid date first. Then read the full plan set and the roofing spec, take off every quantity with its source sheet, and send questions before the RFI deadline. Price the takeoff with your own material, labor and markup, add the lines that aren't on the roof plan, and submit on the bid form with any alternates and exclusions.
| Step | What you need | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Screen the invitation | Bid date, scope, roof system, what the invitation asks for | Your team |
| 2. Read the full set and the spec | Roof plan, details, trade sheets, Division 07 | Your team |
| 3. Take off every quantity | Every quantity with its source sheet | Your team, or your team with a takeoff from Sharp Pencil |
| 4. Send questions | The open items, before the RFI deadline | Your team |
| 5. Price it | Your material, labor, equipment and markup | Your team |
| 6. Alternates, unit prices and addenda | The bid form and every addendum | Your team |
| 7. Submit | The bid form and instructions to bidders | Your team |
Screen the invitation
Read the invitation before anyone opens the plans. Note the bid date, the scope, the roof system and anything the invitation asks you to provide, such as bonding or insurance forms. Decide bid or no bid there. See how commercial roofers stop no-bidding jobs they could win.
Read the full set and the spec
The roof plan is only the start. Read the details, the trade sheets and the roofing spec. See the sheets a roofing takeoff has to read and Division 07 for roofing takeoffs.
Take off every quantity
Field areas, linear items, penetrations, drains and taper each get their own line with the sheet they came from. See the commercial roofing takeoff checklist, penetration and curb takeoff, roof drainage takeoff and tapered insulation takeoff.
Send questions before the deadline
Anything the set leaves open goes on a list and out to the GC or design team before the RFI deadline. See the roofing RFI register and how to check roof plan counts against the trade sheets.
Price it with your own costs
Your material prices, labor, equipment and markup turn the quantities into a number. Add the lines that don't come from measuring the roof. See how to price a TPO roof and roofing bid items that are not on the roof plan.
Alternates, unit prices and addenda
Fill every alternate and unit price the bid form asks for, and check each addendum against the takeoff. See roofing bid alternates and unit prices and roofing takeoff addenda.
Submit on the bid form
Follow the bid form and the instructions to bidders, and list your exclusions and qualifications. See what a roofing proposal shows after the takeoff.
Where Sharp Pencil fits
We supply the takeoff for step 3. You do the rest.
Every quantity carries its source sheet and its basis.
Four files: START HERE, marked-up drawings PDF, Takeoff.xlsx with a Questions tab, and the material order list.
We take off steep slope (standing seam, shingle) and commercial low slope (TPO, EPDM, PVC, mod bit, BUR) from the full set.
FAQ
How long does it take to bid a commercial roofing job?
It depends on the set. The takeoff can be one of the longer steps. For the takeoff alone, our guide puts it at four to twelve hours of estimator time for a typical commercial job done by hand. Those are hours of focused work, which is not the same as elapsed time. See how long a commercial roof takeoff takes.
Can I bid a new construction commercial roof from a satellite report?
No. Aerial and satellite reports measure roofs that exist in the imagery. A new building, or a new addition, isn't in the imagery yet, so the takeoff has to come from the plan set. See satellite roof report vs plan set takeoff.
Is this for residential roofing bids?
No. Residential is not our focus today, but ask if you have a job in mind.
What does a takeoff from Sharp Pencil cost?
$395 per takeoff. $395 covers a new set of drawings, or a new address. Your first takeoff is free, one per contractor, on a job you're bidding or quoting.
What does Sharp Pencil send back?
Four files: START HERE, marked-up drawings PDF, Takeoff.xlsx with a Questions tab, and the material order list. Every quantity carries its source sheet and its basis. Usually within one business day. Delivered within 48 hours*.
*Clock starts once any questions we send you are answered.
Why send it to us
- We take off steep slope (standing seam, shingle) and commercial low slope (TPO, EPDM, PVC, mod bit, BUR) from the full set.
- Every quantity carries its source sheet and its basis.
- Four files: START HERE, marked-up drawings PDF, Takeoff.xlsx with a Questions tab, and the material order list.
- Usually within one business day. Delivered within 48 hours*.
- A plan set you send us will never be used to compete with you, and plan sets are deleted whenever you ask.
- First takeoff free, one per contractor, on a job you're bidding or quoting.
Residential is not our focus today, but ask if you have a job in mind.
*Clock starts once any questions we send you are answered.
Try it on a job you are bidding
Get your first takeoff free · $395 per takeoff · See a sample takeoff
The Sharp Pencil team