In short
Get at least three written quotes and check each one lists the same things: scaffold, materials by name, skip and waste, Building Control, VAT, and what happens if hidden rot is found. Citizens Advice says a quote should give a fixed total and a breakdown of the work and materials. If a quote leaves something out, ask, because that is often where the price difference hides.
This is a job for our Roof Replacement service.
Quote or estimate?
Citizens Advice puts it simply: "A quote is a fixed price" while an estimate "is just a rough guess, so you might end up paying more." Which? notes that roofing is a trade where an estimate can be reasonable, because a roofer may not see the condition of the timbers until the tiles are off. A good quote deals with that openly, by saying how any hidden repairs will be priced.
What a good roofing quote lists
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Scaffold | Is it included, and for how long? Which? warns scaffolding can add a lot to the cost. |
| Materials | Named tiles or slates, membrane, battens, lead code, ridge and verge system. |
| Skip and waste | Who removes the old roof and where it goes. |
| Welfare | On a longer job, a site toilet for the workers, so they are not using your house. |
| Building Control | Who notifies it, and whether you get a certificate at the end. |
| Insulation | Whether the loft insulation is being upgraded, which re-roofing usually requires. |
| Hidden repairs | How rotten timber or boards will be priced if found. |
| VAT | Citizens Advice says a quote should state whether VAT is included. |
| Guarantee | That there is one, in writing, and what it covers. |
Compare like with like
Citizens Advice suggests written quotes from at least three traders, and warns that a quote far lower than the rest can be a sign of inexperience or worse. Which? says "cheapest is not always best". Lay the quotes side by side against the table above. A low price that leaves out scaffold, Building Control or the skip is not a low price.
Get it in writing before work starts
Citizens Advice advises getting a contract in writing before you tell a trader to go ahead, covering timings, tidying up, materials, subcontractors and payment. A detailed written quote covers most of that.
How we write ours
Our customers often mention how detailed our quotes are. One said ours was by far the most detailed of the three they got. Every re-roof quote lists the scaffold, the materials, the skip, a site toilet where the job needs one, and Building Control, so you know exactly what you are paying for. We do not publish prices, because every roof is different, but once you have our quote you will be able to compare it line by line with anyone else's.