Standard vs. budget — the real numbers, no guessing.
Real per-square pricing, by roof pitch, for both our standard roofing and our budget-friendly option — and exactly what changes between them.
Price per square
A "square" is 100 square feet of roof surface. Your rate depends on your roof's pitch — the steeper the roof, the more it costs to work on safely. Multiply the rate by your roof's actual square count for a full-job price.
| Roof pitch | Standard price | Budget option | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low pitch | $400/sq | $300/sq | $100/sq |
| Medium pitch | $450/sq | $350/sq | $100/sq |
| Steep pitch | $500/sq | $400/sq | $100/sq |
Rough guideline only — your final price depends on your roof's actual measured size and condition, confirmed with a free on-site inspection.
What actually changes with the budget option
Same crew, same installation — the difference is the shingles themselves and the warranty that comes with them.
Standard
- 10-year workmanship warranty
- Full manufacturer material warranty
- Shingles graded to the manufacturer's cosmetic standard
Budget option
- 2-year workmanship warranty
- No manufacturer material warranty
- Structurally sound "seconds" — cosmetic/color grading only, not damage
What happens if we find something unexpected
Sometimes when we tear off old roofing, we find things that weren't visible before — rotted decking, structural damage, or something that doesn't meet current code. That's a normal part of roofing, not a bait-and-switch — no inspection, however careful, can see through existing shingles.
A legitimate change-order process should be in writing, priced and explained before that work continues — never a verbal add-on, and never a surprise showing up on your final bill. Here's how we actually handle it:
Work stops on the affected area
The moment we find something, we stop and assess it — we don't work around a real problem to save time.
Priced in writing, before we continue
Any real additional cost is a written change order you approve first — never something we just add to the final bill.
Documented, not a handshake
Change orders are tracked in our client portal, so there's a clear record of what was agreed to and when.
Not everything we find rises to that level. A handful of extra fasteners, a small strip of flashing, a couple square feet of minor deck repair — if it's small enough that it's not really a change to your project, we'd rather just take care of it than make a big deal out of a few dollars. Change orders are for real, priced changes to the scope of work — not every small thing a crew runs into on a roof.
Pricing questions
How much does a new roof cost per square in mid-Michigan?+
Our standard pricing is $400–$500 per square, depending on your roof's pitch — $400/sq for a low-pitch roof, $450/sq for medium pitch, and $500/sq for a steep roof. A "square" is 100 square feet of roof surface. Your total price is this rate times your roof's actual square count, confirmed on site.
What is Walker's Quality Roofing's budget option?+
Our budget option uses "seconds" — shingles pulled aside for cosmetic or color grading defects, not damage. They're structurally sound, just not eligible for the manufacturer's own warranty because of how they're graded. It costs $100 less per square than our standard pricing: $300/sq low pitch, $350/sq medium pitch, $400/sq steep pitch.
Does the budget roofing option have a warranty?+
Yes, but a shorter one. Standard installations carry our 10-year workmanship warranty. The budget option carries a 2-year workmanship warranty instead, and — because the shingles are cosmetically graded — no manufacturer warranty at all. Walker's still backs the installation itself either way.
Is the budget option lower quality or damaged material?+
No. Budget-option shingles are structurally sound, standard-grade shingles pulled aside only for cosmetic or color inconsistencies — not water damage, not manufacturing defects that affect performance. The tradeoff is the shorter warranty and no manufacturer coverage, not the shingle's ability to protect your roof.
How do I know which pitch category my roof is?+
Most standard homes fall into low or medium pitch. Very steep or walkable-only roofs are the steep category. Our online estimator measures your actual roof from satellite imagery and tells you which category applies, or you can ask during a free on-site inspection.
Are these prices final?+
No — they're the same real per-square rates our crews quote from, but your final price depends on your roof's actual measured size, condition, and any job-specific factors found during a free on-site inspection. Use our online estimator for a price range specific to your home.
What is a change order in roofing?+
A change order is a written, signed agreement for work beyond your original scope — with its own price — that both you and the contractor agree to before that work happens. A legitimate contractor never charges for a scope change based on a verbal conversation alone.
What happens if a roofer finds rotted decking during tear-off?+
It's normal — roofs hide things until the old material comes off, and no inspection can see through existing shingles. At Walker's, work on the affected area stops the moment something's found, and any real additional cost is priced and explained in a written change order before we continue. Nothing gets added to your bill based on a verbal agreement.
How can I avoid unexpected costs from a roofing contractor?+
Ask upfront how they handle unforeseen issues like rotted decking or structural damage. A legitimate contractor puts any real additional work in writing, with its own price, before continuing — never charges based on a verbal conversation, and never adds a surprise cost to a final bill you didn't agree to in advance.
See your real price range
Our online estimator uses these same rates to give you a price range for your actual home in a couple of minutes — standard or budget, your choice.