Roofing Scope of Work Template
Download a roofing scope of work template to define roof removal, deck preparation, materials, installation, flashing, drainage, safety, testing, cleanup, warranties, exclusions, and closeout requirements.
Define Roofing Responsibilities Before Work Begins
A roofing scope of work gives contractors, subcontractors, owners, and project teams a clear written description of the roofing work to be performed. It helps define the roof system, work areas, materials, removal requirements, installation methods, temporary protection, flashing, drainage, equipment, testing, cleanup, warranty obligations, exclusions, and work by others.
This Roofing Scope of Work Template is designed for roofing subcontractors, residential and commercial roofing contractors, general contractors, estimators, project managers, superintendents, restoration contractors, waterproofing contractors, sheet-metal contractors, and property owners preparing or reviewing roofing agreements.
What Is a Roofing Scope of Work?
A roofing scope of work is a detailed description of the labor, materials, equipment, services, responsibilities, and deliverables required for a roofing project. It establishes the boundaries of the roofing contractor’s work and identifies the documents, assumptions, exclusions, quantities, standards, schedule conditions, and closeout requirements used to perform and price the job.
A complete scope should describe the roofing assembly from the existing deck or substrate through the finished roofing surface. It should also address interfaces with walls, parapets, curbs, drains, penetrations, sheet metal, mechanical equipment, electrical work, fall-protection systems, and other trades.
When to Use This Template
- Preparing a roofing subcontract or purchase agreement
- Defining scope for residential roof replacement
- Writing commercial reroofing requirements
- Documenting new-construction roofing work
- Defining service, repair, restoration, or coating work
- Clarifying scope after bid negotiations
- Coordinating roofing work with other trades
- Separating base scope from alternates and allowances
- Documenting owner-furnished or contractor-furnished items
- Preparing change orders for added roofing work
Who Should Use This Template?
This template is suitable for roofing subcontractors, residential roofing contractors, commercial roofing contractors, general contractors, construction managers, estimators, project managers, superintendents, restoration contractors, waterproofing contractors, sheet-metal contractors, consultants, owners, and property managers.
It can be adapted for asphalt shingles, standing-seam metal, exposed-fastener metal, TPO, PVC, EPDM, modified bitumen, built-up roofing, tile, slate, cedar shake, coatings, waterproofing, gutters, downspouts, edge metal, flashings, and related accessories.
What a Roofing Scope of Work Should Include
| Scope Section | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Project and Roof Areas | Identifies the project, buildings, roof levels, roof sections, dimensions, slopes, and limits of work. |
| Existing Conditions | Documents the existing roofing system, deck, insulation, drainage, penetrations, access, and known deficiencies. |
| Removal and Disposal | Defines tear-off limits, materials to remain, selective demolition, loading, hauling, and disposal requirements. |
| Deck and Substrate Preparation | Explains cleaning, repair, fastening, priming, drying, leveling, testing, and acceptance requirements. |
| Roofing Assembly | Describes vapor retarders, air barriers, insulation, tapered systems, cover boards, underlayment, membranes, shingles, panels, and coatings. |
| Flashing and Sheet Metal | Defines base flashing, counterflashing, coping, edge metal, gutters, downspouts, penetrations, curbs, drains, and expansion joints. |
| Equipment and Logistics | Assigns responsibility for access, hoisting, crane use, lifts, staging, temporary protection, traffic control, and storage. |
| Testing and Quality Control | Lists required inspections, moisture surveys, adhesion tests, pull tests, flood tests, leak detection, and manufacturer reviews. |
| Safety and Protection | Addresses site-specific planning, fall protection, barricades, weather protection, occupied areas, and protection of adjacent work. |
| Closeout and Warranty | Defines punch-list completion, cleanup, record documents, warranty certificates, maintenance instructions, and final acceptance. |
| Exclusions and Work by Others | Clarifies structural repairs, hazardous materials, interior work, mechanical work, electrical work, permits, and other responsibilities not included. |
How to Use the Template
- Enter the project, roofing contractor, customer, contract, roof areas, and governing documents.
- Describe the existing roof system, deck, insulation, drainage, access, and known conditions.
- Define demolition, tear-off, salvage, protection, hauling, and disposal responsibilities.
- Describe the complete proposed roofing assembly in installation order.
- List flashing, sheet-metal, drainage, penetration, curb, and equipment-interface requirements.
- Assign responsibility for access, staging, power, water, crane service, lifts, dumpsters, interior protection, and temporary dry-in.
- Identify testing, inspections, manufacturer participation, quality-control documentation, and acceptance criteria.
- State the expected sequence, work hours, weather limitations, milestones, and coordination requirements.
- Document exclusions, allowances, unit prices, owner-furnished items, and work by others.
- Review the scope against the estimate, drawings, specifications, and final agreement before execution.
A roofing subcontractor is hired to replace 28,000 square feet of an existing EPDM roof on an occupied office building. The scope defines selective removal to the metal deck, replacement of wet insulation under an allowance, installation of a vapor retarder, tapered polyisocyanurate insulation, gypsum cover board, fully adhered 60-mil TPO membrane, new perimeter edge metal, drain and curb flashing, temporary interior protection, daily dry-in, manufacturer inspection, final cleanup, and a specified system warranty. Structural deck replacement and hazardous-material abatement are listed as excluded unless added by written change order.
Best Practices for Roofing Scopes of Work
- Describe the complete roof assembly instead of naming only the finished roofing material.
- Identify every roof area and limit of work.
- State what existing materials are removed, retained, protected, or reused.
- Define concealed-condition procedures and unit prices.
- Assign responsibility for access, hoisting, storage, power, water, and interior protection.
- Coordinate roofing interfaces with mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, and sheet-metal work.
- Reference approved drawings, specifications, addenda, and submittals.
- Document warranty requirements and manufacturer inspections.
- Separate included scope, allowances, alternates, exclusions, and work by others.
- Preserve revisions and written approvals when the scope changes.
Common Roofing Scope of Work Mistakes
- Using a broad phrase such as “complete roof replacement” without assembly details
- Failing to identify roof areas, levels, or limits of work
- Leaving tear-off layers and disposal responsibilities unclear
- Omitting deck preparation and concealed-condition procedures
- Failing to define flashing, drainage, and penetration work
- Not assigning interior protection or temporary dry-in responsibilities
- Leaving access, crane, lift, staging, and storage responsibilities undefined
- Including a warranty without confirming system eligibility and required inspections
- Failing to identify work by other trades
- Changing the scope without a documented revision or change order
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of a roofing scope of work?
It defines the roofing contractor’s responsibilities, materials, work limits, methods, deliverables, exclusions, and coordination requirements so the parties understand what is included before work begins.
Should the scope identify the entire roofing assembly?
Yes. Describe the assembly from the deck or substrate through vapor retarders, insulation, cover boards, underlayment, roofing membrane or finish material, flashings, sheet metal, and accessories.
How should deck repairs be addressed?
State whether any quantity is included, define the deck types covered, provide unit prices where appropriate, and explain the approval and measurement process for additional repairs.
Should disposal be listed separately?
Yes. Clarify who provides dumpsters, hauling, landfill fees, loading, protection, daily cleanup, and final disposal documentation.
What should be listed as work by others?
Common examples include structural repairs, hazardous-material abatement, mechanical equipment removal, electrical disconnection, plumbing relocation, masonry repair, interior ceiling replacement, and work outside the roofing contractor’s defined scope.
How should warranties be described?
Identify the contractor workmanship warranty, manufacturer material or system warranty, term, coverage, inspection requirements, exclusions, registration, and maintenance obligations.
Can one scope cover multiple roof systems?
Yes, but separate each roof area and assembly clearly. Identify the system, quantities, details, accessories, and responsibilities for every area.
When should the scope of work be revised?
Revise it when drawings, specifications, field conditions, quantities, roofing systems, access, schedule, warranty requirements, or responsibilities change. Preserve the prior version and document approval.
Create a Clear Roofing Work Plan and Contract Record
A structured roofing scope of work helps contractors define the full roof assembly, assign responsibilities, coordinate interfaces, identify exclusions, and reduce uncertainty before installation begins.
SimplySub can help roofing subcontractors organize estimates, jobs, documents, change orders, purchase orders, schedules, photos, invoices, and job-cost information within one workflow.