Two quotes for the same roof can differ substantially and both can be honest. The price of a re-roof is built from a small number of variables, and once you can see them you can tell the difference between a quote that is cheap because it is efficient and one that is cheap because something has been left out. We give written quotes with the scope set out, and we would encourage you to make every roofer you speak to do the same.
The variables that move the number most
Roof area and complexity come first, a simple gable roof costs less per square metre than one with three dormers, two valleys and a chimney, because the labour sits in the details rather than the field.
Access is next, and it is the one most often underestimated. A detached bungalow with clear ground on all sides is a different job from a terraced house with a narrow alley, a conservatory in the way and a public pavement to protect.
- Roof area, pitch and number of slopes
- Number of valleys, dormers, chimneys and abutments
- Scaffolding requirements, including pavement licences where needed
- Choice of covering, reclaimed clay, natural slate, concrete tile
- Condition of battens, timbers and rafter feet once stripped
- Skips and disposal, including any asbestos-containing materials
Why timber is quoted as a provisional item
Nobody can see the state of the battens and rafter feet until the covering is off. An honest quote handles this with a clear provisional allowance and a stated rate for additional work, so if we find rot at the wall plate you know in advance what it will cost. A quote that ignores timber entirely is not cheaper, it is just less complete.
Comparing quotes fairly
Line the quotes up and check they cover the same scope before you compare totals. The differences usually hide in the same few places: whether scaffolding is included, whether the underlay is a breather membrane or basic felt, whether ridge and verge are dry-fix or mortar, whether flashings are being renewed in lead or left, and whether disposal is in the price.
If one price is dramatically lower, the useful question is not 'why are you cheaper' but 'what is in the others that is not in yours'.
Where money is well spent and where it is not
Spending more on lead detailing, ventilation and a proper breather membrane buys you decades. Spending more on a premium tile that looks similar from the ground often does not. We will tell you which parts of a specification are worth the upgrade on your particular roof and which are not.
Common questions
Can you quote from photographs?
We can give a rough indication, but not a price we would stand behind. Access, timber condition and details need seeing. The inspection and written quotation are free either way.
Do I have to pay for scaffolding separately?
It should be stated in the quote one way or the other. We include it as an identified item so you can see what it costs rather than finding it added later.
Will you price more than one option?
Yes. It is common for us to price a repair alongside a replacement, or two different coverings, so you can decide with real figures instead of a single take-it-or-leave-it number.
Do you ask for money up front?
Payment arrangements are agreed in writing before work starts and set out on the quotation. Nothing changes without your agreement.