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Why Your Roofing Company Needs a Contract Template (Examples Included!) 

The roofing industry is growing and competitive. As of 2023, there are 96,474 roofing contractors in the U.S. The sector grows by roughly 3.7% per year. It’s vital to cover the legal aspects as you compete for new clients. 

An accurate roofing contract template is essential for your business. It helps outline each project and provides payment details. A well-written agreement can give you legal options if a client does not pay or if there is a dispute. 

These benefits are only available if you have an accurate contract. It needs to have specific information to provide the expected protections. 

In this article, we’ll discuss why roofing contracts are important. You’ll read about the reasons for using standardized templates. Then, you will learn about the necessary elements every agreement should have. 

Our article will end with steps you can take right now to write the ideal roofing contract template. 

RELATED ARTICLE: 9 Essential Elements Every Roofing Contract Should Include 

The Importance of Contracts in Roofing Projects 

Formal agreements are necessary in every home services sector. They help ensure payment and define the project scope for each job. 

With this document, you don’t have to rely on blind trust. You can write a contract that protects you from typical problems in your industry. Customers will also appreciate detailed agreements. They will have clear payment expectations and guarantees about the scope, timeline, and quality of the work. 

What happens if you have a poorly written contract? Here are the most common problems you might encounter: 

  • Payment disputes: The contract might not have details about payment deadlines or prices. Or it could lack steps to address any money-related disputes. 
  • Lack of legal protection: The contract might not have clear steps to deal with non-payment. It might not include consequences for late payments. 
  • Unclear project expectations: Clients could be confused about your quality standards. Or they might not understand the choice of materials. These issues are often due to poor explanations in the contract. 
  • Increasing project scope: Some clients might expect more work for the agreed-upon price. This problem is possible if you fail to define deliverables. 
  • Undefined change processes: Changes are sometimes necessary. However, a poorly written contract can complicate contract modifications. Alternations could lead to disputes and non-payment. 

Finally, a lack of details can affect project timing. Any confusion or argument can cause delays. Also, there may be no clear timeline for completing the work. The project could drag on for a long time, disrupting other jobs. 

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Key Reasons for Having a Contract Template 

A well-written contract helps avoid common project misunderstandings or disputes. The document can define details for both you and your clients. 

You want to make sure that every single contract brings the same clarity. With a template, you can ensure that each contract has all the necessary information. 

The benefits of using pre-designed documents go beyond making details clear. Here are other advantages of using a roofing contract template: 

  • Accurate project expectations and scope: A good template will include all necessary details. The client will know what to expect in terms of quality, materials, and work methods. 
  • Legal protections for non-payment: The template will include payment amounts and deadlines. It will also have fields that discuss penalties and legal steps for non-payment. 
  • Framework for solving disagreements: The template should have steps for solving disputes. You and customers can use these steps rather than escalating quickly to a lawsuit. 
  • Well-defined payment schedules: A contract template should have sections for deposits and materials. It can also cover benchmark payments and overall deadlines for the final invoice. 
  • Clear project deadlines: The template can define the deadline for you to finish each step of the job. It can also include rules for changing deadlines. 

Most importantly, templates ensure consistent clarity and quality in every contract. 

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Essential Elements of a Roofing Contract Template (with Examples!) 

What elements can bring about clarity and legal protections? Your contract may have some unique information depending on your location and processes. However, all contracts have the same essential elements. Here is a look at the six fields every agreement should have: 

  • Identifying information for you and the client: This field is at the top of the contract. It includes names, addresses, and phone numbers for you and the client. It can also have your license number or other business identifiers. 
  • Basic information about the project: This section includes the address of the job site. It covers details such as the type of work and roof dimensions. You should also list materials and other project details, like techniques used. 
  • Timeline and deadlines: The template should have space for the project timeline. It should include the start date, date for benchmarks, and final deadline. You should also detail how to notify clients of delays. 
  • Payment terms: This section covers the payment amounts and when they are due. You typically have fields for deposits, benchmark payments, and final payments. You can also add details about payment types and penalties for non-payment. 
  • Warranties: This field details work guarantees. You’ll mention the quality of the work and any warranties on the products used. This section includes a timeframe for the guarantees. 

Your contract should also list the jurisdiction. This is the city, county, and state whose laws will apply to the contract. 

Example of Contract Template 

Here is a look at how each of the sections we mentioned might look in your template: 

Identifying Information 

This contract is agreed upon on [date] by 

The “contractor” 

[Your business name] 

[Your business address and phone number] 

[Your company identifiers, such as license number] 

and 

The “client” 

[Client’s name] 

[Their address and phone number] 

Basic Project Information 

[Your company name] agrees to complete the following work at [project address]: 

[Type of work, such as replacement, repair, or new roof] using [list of materials] 

The work will cover [description of areas included and dimensions]. 

[Include any additional info about techniques, processes, or special considerations]. 

Timeline 

The work will start on [start date]. 

The project will be completed on [deadline]. 

[List any benchmarks and their deadline dates here]. 

The contractor will notify the client about delays due to unforeseen circumstances. The written notice will include an amended schedule for completion. 

Payment Terms 

A deposit of [amount] is due upon signing of the contract. 

[Amount] is due upon completion of [description of benchmark]. 

[Final amount] is due upon completion of the project, inspection, and approval. 

Payment will be made with [cash, check, credit card, or other acceptable payment methods]. 

Payment must be made by [due date]. 

A penalty of [percentage or amount] will apply for any balance remaining after [due date]. 

Warranties 

The contractor guarantees the quality of the work. They will repair defects caused by improper [repair or installation]. Such repairs are covered up to [number of months or years] after project approval. 

The products and materials used are covered by the manufacturers’ warranties. 

[List each product used and its warranty period]. 

Jurisdiction 

This contract will be governed by the laws of [city, county, state]. 

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Customizing Contract Templates for Your Roofing Business 

Our template ideas and examples can serve as a starting point. You will need to customize your template based on your business processes. Consider taking the following steps to personalize your agreement framework: 

  • Consider the unique offerings of your company. Change the template so that it includes your company’s services. Make sure descriptions accurately show what your company does. 
  • Confirm details with legal experts. The template will affect every contract you get. Confirm the language and details with a legal expert upfront. They can help you correct problems at the start to avoid complications later on. 
  • Add your warranty details. Add your guarantees to the template. Make sure you link the warranties for each service you offer. Carefully explain the services so customers understand which guarantees apply to them. 
  • Standardize payment terms. Add your preferred details for initial deposits and final payments. You can add the number of days from project approval (30 days, for instance). This allows you to apply the same payment timeline to each project without entering a different due date each time. 
  • Ensure compliance with local regulations. Include your license number, insurance, or bonding information to comply with state or city rules. 

Need a simpler way to manage your roofing contracts? Sign up for a free trial of RoofSnap and use the roofing contract template in our software as a starting point. It’s designed to save you time and help you streamline your process. 

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Top Tips for Using a Roofing Contract Template 

It can take time to build the ideal roofing contract template. Luckily, there are steps you can take right now to create a framework. These first efforts can build a solid base that you can add details to over time. 

Here are four tips to get started: 

  • Review past contracts. Look at past agreements. What details were they missing? What problems arose from this omission? Make sure your template keeps these issues from happening again. 
  • Define your work processes. Consider the steps you take in each job. These insights can help you define timelines and payment expectations for your contracts. 
  • See what payments you can accept. You should always include acceptable payment methods in your contracts. List all payments you can accept. You can also consider adding new payment processing capabilities if needed. 
  • Collect licensing and insurance information. Insurance and license details are important for compliance. They also make sure your contract is legally binding. Add this info to the template to avoid leaving it out of contracts by accident.