Roofing has a trust problem, and it is earned. The work is out of sight, most customers cannot assess it, and the people who do it badly rely on both facts. You do not need technical knowledge to protect yourself, you need to ask a handful of specific questions and pay attention to how they are answered.
Questions worth asking
These are not trick questions. A competent roofer will answer all of them without hesitation, and the answers tell you more than any review page.
- Can I have the quotation in writing with the scope itemised?
- Is scaffolding and waste disposal included in that figure?
- What happens if the timbers are worse than expected, and at what rate?
- What underlay, fixings and flashing materials are you specifying?
- Are you insured, and can I see the certificate?
- Where have you worked locally that I could look at from the road?
Doorstep warning signs
Anyone who knocks unprompted saying they noticed your roof from a nearby job, offers a discount valid only today, wants cash up front, gives a price with no written scope, or produces a photograph of unspecified damage on a phone should be declined politely. None of that is how legitimate roofing work is sold.
Vulnerable and elderly homeowners are targeted specifically. If a relative has been approached this way, encourage them to get a second, independent quote before agreeing to anything.
What a good quotation contains
Not just a total. It should identify the roof and slopes covered, the materials by type, the access arrangements, the disposal, the treatment of unforeseen timber work, the expected duration, the payment terms and the guarantee position. If any of those is missing you cannot compare it fairly with another quote, which is often the point.
During and after the work
Ask for photographs of the parts you will never see again, the membrane, the battens, the timber repairs, the flashings before the tiles go back. Any roofer confident in their work will provide them. Afterwards, keep the quotation, the invoice and the guarantee paperwork together; it matters at resale and for any future claim.
Common questions
Should I always get three quotes?
Two or three is sensible for a re-roof. For a small repair the value of a third quote is usually less than the delay. What matters more is that the quotes cover the same scope.
Is the cheapest quote always a bad idea?
No. Sometimes a firm is simply more efficient or already has scaffold nearby. Compare the scopes first, if it is genuinely like-for-like and the firm checks out, cheaper is just cheaper.
Should I pay a deposit?
Deposits for materials on larger jobs are normal. Large up-front payments for the whole job before work starts are not. Terms should be written on the quotation.
What are your own credentials?
We are an independent roofing firm based at 41 The Street, Costessey, Norwich, fully insured, working across Norfolk and East Anglia Monday to Saturday with an emergency service advertised 24/7. Insurance details are available on request.