A roof estimate is an honest look at what we can see before the work starts. Some conditions only show up after tiles or shingles come off. The fair question is not whether that ever happens. The fair question is what should happen next.
Homeowners in Lee and Collier County have told us, in public reviews, about both sides of this. Some have been grateful when extra rot was repaired without a new charge. Others, especially on older reviews, have felt they did not learn the complete price until after they had already said yes. Both experiences are worth answering with a clear standard, not with a shrug.
This article explains how a fair change order should work at Kelly Roofing.
What an estimate can reasonably see
At the estimate, we can walk the roof when it is safe, look in the attic when it is accessible, and photograph the conditions that support the recommendation. We can often see cracked tiles, worn underlayment at the edges, stained decking from below, or soft spots that give underfoot.
What we cannot always see is the full extent of decay under a covering that is still in place. A small soft area can be a small repair. It can also be the edge of a larger one. A good estimate says what we know, and it should not pretend to know the rest.
That is why a thorough inspection matters before anyone talks about price. A. B., in a Google review dated May 4, 2026, wrote: “One of the competitors did not even walk the roof. One walked the roof but missed several sections of obvious rot. Greg found every section I knew about and a few more.” An estimate built on a driveway look is not a fair starting point for later changes.
What should happen when we find more
If we find something that was not visible at the estimate — for example, more deck rot once the covering is lifted — this is the sequence we believe is fair:
- Stop and document it, usually with photographs.
- Show you what we found, in plain language, before any extra work goes ahead.
- Explain the options and the cost, in writing.
- Wait for your decision. The extra work should not start on a nod from the yard, and it should not appear for the first time on a final invoice.
You should have time to ask questions. If you are out of town, the same photos that protect the job also let you make that decision at a distance. Our process, including a dedicated project manager, is described at https://www.kellyroofing.com/why-kelly/.
Sometimes the added work is absorbed. Sometimes it is not.
There is no honest way to say that every surprise is free, or that every surprise is a new bill. The fair standard is that you hear about it before we proceed, and that the explanation matches the photographs.
A. B., in that same May 4, 2026 Google review, described a case that went the first way: “The quote was higher than any other company but they came out and replaced every section and did a nice job and took their time. In one section there was more rot than expected but they repaired it without increasing the price. I believe better quality is worth a slightly higher cost.”
That review is not a promise that every added board is included. It is an example of the judgment we try to use: if the added work is modest and clearly part of making the original repair right, we should say so and handle it. If the added work is a different scope — a larger area of deck, a hidden structural issue, a wall or fascia condition that was not in the agreement — you should see a written change, with a price, before we continue.
W. and A. R., in a Google review dated May 11, 2026, put the value of that up-front conversation well, even though they were writing about the estimate itself: the price “was not cheap but competitive,” and they chose the work after a clear recommendation, not after a surprise.
What you can do before the crew arrives
You can make a change order less likely, and less stressful, by asking a few direct questions at the estimate:
- What did you actually see, and what could still be hidden?
- If you find more rot, how will you show me, and will I approve the extra work in writing before it starts?
- Who is my point of contact that day?
If you have a history of leaks, a prior repair, or a section of the roof you already worry about, tell us. The more we can see in the attic and on the roof before we start, the fewer mid-job questions you will have to answer at the last minute. For repairs, see https://www.kellyroofing.com/services/repair/. For replacements, see https://www.kellyroofing.com/services/replacement/.
If a later quote does not match the conversation
Call us. Ask your project manager, or the office, to walk through the original agreement, the photos, and the change. The public number is (239) 435-0014. You should not have to reconstruct the job from memory.
Kelly Roofing is a family company in Southwest Florida since 1972. We serve Lee and Collier counties only. We work on existing homes and buildings. We do not do new construction. Approximate published ranges for a replacement, when that is the right path, are about $5 per square foot for shingle and $10–$15 per square foot for tile, metal, and flat roofs. Your free estimate is where we price your home. See https://www.kellyroofing.com/roof-replacement-cost-naples-fl/.
Talk with us before the work starts
If you are planning a repair or a replacement, call (239) 435-0014 for a free estimate, or request one at https://www.kellyroofing.com/request-estimate/. Hablamos español. We will inspect the roof, show you what we see, and tell you how we will handle anything we cannot see yet.
