What is on a complete materials list for a new shingle roof?
Short answer. A complete shingle roof uses far more than shingles: replacement decking as needed, drip edge, underlayment, leak barrier for valleys and penetrations, starter strips, field shingles, hip and ridge cap, flashing for walls and chimneys, pipe boots, ventilation products and nails. A good quote or invoice names each of these so you can see nothing was skipped or reused.
The list, from the deck up
- Decking, plywood or OSB, to replace rotted or damaged sheets, usually priced per sheet.
- Drip edge along every eave and rake.
- Leak barrier, the self-adhered membrane often called ice and water shield, in valleys, around chimneys, skylights and pipes, at roof-to-wall joints and on low-slope sections.
- Underlayment over the rest of the deck, usually synthetic today.
- Starter strips at the eaves and usually the rakes.
- Field shingles, plus a waste allowance for cuts.
- Hip and ridge cap shingles made for the shingle line.
- Flashing: step flashing at sidewalls, headwall or apron flashing, counterflashing and chimney flashing, and valley metal if the valleys are open.
- Pipe boots for plumbing vents, and flashing for exhaust fans and other penetrations.
- Ventilation: ridge vent or box vents, and intake vents if the soffits need more.
- Fasteners and sealant: roofing nails long enough to penetrate the deck, cap nails or staples for the underlayment, and sealant for exposed nail heads at the ridge and flashing.
How to use the list
Compare bids item by item. Watch for phrases like "reuse existing flashing," or no mention of drip edge, starter or ridge cap, which usually means cheaper substitutes. Ask which items come from the shingle manufacturer, since system warranties often require it. See roof anatomy explained and synthetic underlayment vs felt.