10 Questions to Ask a RooferBefore You Hire Them in Shropshire

Why Most People Don't Ask These Questions

Getting on a roof is inherently dangerous, the work is largely invisible once done, and most homeowners have no way to verify quality during or after the job. This information asymmetry tends to make homeowners deferential when dealing with contractors — they feel unable to ask tough questions for fear of appearing unknowledgeable.

The questions below are simple, direct and entirely reasonable to ask of any contractor. A legitimate, competent roofer will answer all of them without hesitation. An evasive or dismissive response to any of them is a significant warning sign.

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 protects credit card payments between £100 and £30,000 where goods or services were not provided as agreed — making credit card the safest payment method for roofing deposits. Debit card payments may be recoverable through the chargeback process in similar circumstances (Consumer Credit Act 1974, Section 75).

The 10 Questions

1. "Can I see a copy of your public liability insurance certificate?"

Non-negotiable. Any legitimate contractor carries this and will provide it without complaint. Check the expiry date, the coverage amount (£1m minimum), and that roofing is specifically covered in the scope.

2. "What underlay specification will you use?"

The correct answer is breathable underlay (also called vapour-permeable underlay) for any re-roof. Traditional bitumen felt (Type 1F or similar) is inferior and should not be specified on a new installation. If a contractor proposes felt underlay on a full re-roof, ask why.

3. "What happens if you find rotten timbers when the tiles are off?"

A legitimate contractor will either include a contingency allowance in the quote or specify clearly that timber replacement will be charged separately at a stated day rate. "We'll deal with it if we find it" without any indication of cost is an invitation to an inflated post-job invoice.

4. "What fixing specification will you use?"

For any re-roof or re-nail, the answer should be stainless steel ring shank nails. Galvanised nails are cheaper and will corrode within 40–60 years. On a job you expect to last 50+ years, stainless fixings are the only correct specification.

5. "Is scaffold included in your quote?"

On any two-storey property, scaffold is required by law for safe working at height. Some contractors quote a headline price without scaffold and add it later. Confirm specifically whether scaffold is included and, if so, how long it will be in place.

6. "What do you do with the waste materials?"

All roofing waste must be disposed of at a licensed facility. A contractor who loads old tiles onto a trailer and offers to "take them away for free" may be fly-tipping — which can result in the householder sharing liability. Confirm that waste disposal is included and that a licensed carrier is used.

7. "Can you provide references from recent local jobs?"

Any established contractor working in Shropshire will have recent customers willing to provide a reference. Ask specifically for jobs of a similar type and value to yours. An unwillingness to provide references is a warning sign.

8. "What guarantee does the work carry, and is it in writing?"

A verbal guarantee is worthless. The written guarantee should specify: the duration, what it covers (workmanship vs materials), how a claim is made, and whether it is backed by a scheme such as NFRC's. A 10-year workmanship guarantee issued in writing at job completion is the standard we offer on all re-roof work.

9. "What are your payment terms?"

No legitimate contractor requires full payment upfront. Normal terms are 10–25% deposit on larger jobs with the balance on satisfactory completion. Cash-only payment requests are a serious red flag — they may indicate a contractor not registered for VAT or not intending to declare the income.

10. "Are you VAT registered?"

For re-roofs and significant repairs, a contractor turning over enough to require VAT registration (currently £90,000 per year) should be registered. If a contractor is not registered and their turnover clearly exceeds this threshold, they may not be operating legitimately. Unregistered contractors cannot provide a valid VAT invoice — relevant if you want to reclaim VAT or use the invoice for insurance purposes.

Verifying Insurance: What to Actually Check

Asking for proof of insurance is necessary but not sufficient. The certificate must be checked against four specific criteria: the expiry date must be current; the activity description must include roofing as a covered activity (some policies exclude high-risk work); the coverage amount must be adequate for the job (minimum £1 million public liability); and the certificate must be a genuine document from a named insurer rather than a generic letter from the contractor.

A legitimate contractor will provide the certificate immediately on request, by email or photographed on their phone. A contractor who asks for time to locate or arrange the certificate, or who provides a letter from their company rather than a certificate from the insurer, should be treated with caution.

What a Written Quote Must Contain to Be Useful

A quote that consists of a single line — 'Re-roof the house in concrete tile — £6,500' — is not a specification. It is a price for an undefined scope of work. Without a written specification, the contractor can supply the cheapest available tile and the minimum acceptable standard of work. You have no basis for comparison with other quotes and no recourse if the completed work does not meet your expectations.

How to Get an Accurate Quote for This Type of Work

The most common source of post-job dissatisfaction in roofing is a mismatch between what the homeowner expected and what was actually agreed in the quote. The gap usually exists because the quote was not specific enough to define expectations on both sides. Getting an accurate, reliable quote requires the same steps regardless of the type of roofing work involved.

First, the contractor must physically access the roof before quoting. A quote based on a description of the problem, ground-level inspection or photographs is not a reliable fixed price — it is an estimate that will be revised once the work starts and the actual condition is visible. Insist on a physical survey as the basis for any written quote.

Second, the quote must specify materials. 'Quality materials' is not a specification. The tile manufacturer, profile, colour and product guarantee should be named. The underlay type should be specified as breathable, not generic felt. Lead work should specify the code weight for each application. Without this detail, the contractor can substitute cheaper alternatives without violating the terms of the quote.

Third, the quote should identify what is excluded as well as what is included. Access, waste disposal and VAT are the most frequent sources of unexpected additional cost at completion. A quote that includes scaffold erection and removal, waste disposal to a licensed tip, and shows VAT as a separate line item is transparent and trustworthy. A quote that omits these elements and adds them at invoice stage is not.