Roofing costs guide

Because a real price depends on things they can't see down a phone line: access, the roof's pitch and condition, the materials to match, and what's hiding under the tiles. A roofer who commits to a fixed figure sight-unseen is either padding it heavily or about to add 'unforeseen' extras later. Insist on a proper survey.

Two or three is sensible. Roofing quotes for the same job can vary by thousands of pounds, and comparing itemised quotes side by side tells you far more than any single number. It also flags the outlier — the suspiciously cheap quote that skips scaffolding, or the inflated one.

A modest deposit for materials on a large job (say re-roofing) can be reasonable, but never pay a large sum up front, and never pay in full before the work is done. Large up-front deposits are the single most common way homeowners lose money to rogue traders.

Not necessarily — but understand why it's cheaper. Is it a leaner overhead, or is it leaving out scaffolding, skimping on membrane, or using a cheaper tile? Ask each roofer to itemise, then you're comparing like with like rather than headline prices.

Storm damage is usually covered; wear-and-tear generally is not. Insurers typically want photos and a written report from a roofer stating the cause. Keep everything documented — it makes a claim far smoother.