REF · BUYER’S GUIDE · 7 QUESTIONS
How to choose a roofer in the UK — the 7 questions to ask
You’ve got three quotes. They’re £400 apart. Which is the right one? This is the playbook Sean uses when he advises friends who aren’t using us — the seven questions that separate proper trade from doorstep cowboys.
Why this matters more than the headline price
UK roofing is the most fraud-active trade in the country. Action Fraud took 15,400 reports of doorstep roofing fraud in 2024 alone, averaging £4,200 per case. The largest single loss was £58,000 from a single elderly homeowner in Leicestershire.
The reason cowboys win: their headline price is always cheaper, because they’re not buying any of the things you’re actually paying for in a real quote (insurance, warranty, named-material, Building Control compliance, waste paperwork, etc.).
The seven questions below force the cowboy mask to slip. If a roofer can’t answer any one of them properly, walk.
Question 1: “Can I see your Public Liability certificate?”
What you’re testing: whether they actually have insurance.
Right answer: “Yes — here it is, valid until DD-MM-YYYY, £5,000,000 cover with [insurer name].” Or “I’ll send you the PDF before we start.”
Wrong answer: “I’m fully insured” with no document. “I’ll bring it on the day.” “It’s at the office.”
If they damage your neighbour’s car or fall off your roof, you need to know whose insurance covers it. £5M Public Liability is the minimum credible cover for a domestic roofing contractor. Less than that is a red flag.
Question 2: “What manufacturer’s material are you fitting, and what’s the warranty period?”
What you’re testing: whether the spec is real or marketing.
Right answer: “Marley Eternit Modern in Anthracite, 50-year manufacturer warranty in your name, pass-through.” Or “Penrhyn Welsh slate, BBA-certified, 100-year service life. Firestone Elevate EPDM, 20-year material warranty.”
Wrong answer: “High-quality tile.” “Top-grade slate.” “Premium membrane.” (None of these are real material specs.)
Question 3: “How do you handle Building Control notification?”
What you’re testing: whether they know Part L and the Competent Person Scheme.
Right answer: “If we exceed 25% of the roof area we file via the Competent Person Scheme — I’m a member, certificate number [X].” Or “If you need standalone Building Control approval we coordinate the inspection with your council.”
Wrong answer: “Don’t worry about it.” “Building Control isn’t needed for re-roofs.” (Both are wrong on most replacements.)
Question 4: “Can I have your quote in writing before I commit?”
What you’re testing: whether they’ll actually put it in writing.
Right answer: “Yes — I’ll send a written fixed-price quote inside 24 hours of the survey, with every line item, the materials named, the warranty terms attached, and the payment schedule.”
Wrong answer: “I’ll just give you a verbal price now.” “Cash discount if we agree today.” Always walk.
Question 5: “What are your payment terms?”
What you’re testing: whether they’re a real business or a runner.
Right answer: “25% deposit on day one of the job, balance on completion when you’ve inspected and signed off.” Or “30% deposit, 30% mid-job, 40% on completion.” Both are reasonable.
Wrong answer: “100% upfront cash for materials.” “70% before we start.” Anything where the bulk is paid before the work is done. Trading Standards categorically advises against deposit-only arrangements.
Question 6: “What’s your written labour guarantee?”
What you’re testing: whether they’ll come back when something fails.
Right answer: “10-year written labour guarantee on the quote. If anything fails inside 10 years on the work we did, we’re back to fix it free, within the week.”
Wrong answer: “12-month warranty” (legal minimum for UK consumer goods; meaningless for a 50-year roof). No written warranty. A warranty contingent on annual paid inspections.
Question 7: “Who turns up on day one — you, or someone else?”
What you’re testing: whether the person quoting is the person working.
Right answer: “I do the survey, I quote the job, I’m on site every day, I sign off the finished work.” Or “I’m on site for the survey + first day + handover; my regular crew of 3 (names: X, Y, Z) do the daily install under my spec.”
Wrong answer: “I’ll send my team.” “I’m just the salesman — I don’t do the work.” This is the single biggest predictor of a poor job — disconnected sales from delivery.
The decision matrix
Score each quote 0-7 on the questions above:
- 6-7 / 7: Confident go. Pick the cheapest of the qualifying quotes if budget is tight; pick the one whose voice and approach you most trust if not.
- 4-5 / 7: Coachable. Push back on the missing answers in writing. If they fix them, they’re in. If they shrug, they’re out.
- 0-3 / 7: Walk. The cheapest quote is almost always the most expensive when you count the costs of getting it wrong.
Common questions
Should I get more than three quotes?
No — three is enough to spot outliers. More quotes means more time spent, not more information.
Should I go with a Checkatrade member?
Checkatrade membership means they passed a basic ID check and a credit check. It is NOT a quality assurance. Use the seven questions above on every quote, Checkatrade or not.
What about pay-monthly finance offers?
Often legitimate, often expensive. The APR is usually 9-19% over 3-7 years. If you can borrow at a lower rate elsewhere (e.g. an offset mortgage drawdown), do that instead.
Is a £4,500 re-roof too cheap to be real?
Not necessarily. A mid-terrace concrete-tile re-roof can genuinely cost £4,500. Use the seven questions above; if all are answered properly and the work fits the spec, the price is real.
