How to choose a roofer without getting stung
Roofing attracts doorstep selling because the customer can't see the work. These are the checks that actually reduce the risk.
Insist on a written scope
Not a total on a card. A scope that names the materials, the access method, waste removal, and what happens if hidden damage is found.
Check insurance and a real address
Public liability cover, a verifiable trading address and a landline or long-standing mobile. A contractor who is hard to find later is hard to hold to a warranty.
Ask for before-and-after photographs
Roofing is the trade where you cannot inspect the work. Photographic documentation at each stage is the standard you should expect as a default, not a favour.
Payment structure
Staged payments against milestones are normal on larger jobs. A large up-front deposit before any materials are ordered is not.
Walk away from pressure
Unsolicited calls claiming they spotted a problem from the road, today-only discounts, and urgency about work you didn't ask about are the classic signals. A genuine defect will still be a defect after a second opinion.
FAQs
Two or three is sensible, provided you give each of them the same brief so the quotes are comparable.
A deposit covering ordered materials is reasonable on larger jobs. A large deposit with no materials ordered is not.
Ask for photographs at each stage, and be present for the handover walk-round.
Related reading
More on process & paperwork and the jobs that usually come with it.
- Roof warranties and aftercare: what's actually coveredProcess & paperwork
- Party walls, shared roofs and semi-detached housesProcess & paperwork
- When roof work needs planning permissionProcess & paperwork
- Flats and blocks: managing a shared roofProperty types
Looking for something specific? See our roofing services, cost guides, common roof problems or the areas we cover.
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