Domestic vs commercial roofing work
Most roofers who work on homes also cover garages, outbuildings and small extensions, but larger commercial flat-roof work (warehouses, larger extensions) sometimes needs a roofer with specific experience in bigger membrane systems. Worth asking directly if your job is unusually large or non-standard.
Understanding the labour vs materials split
Materials (tiles, felt, leadwork, scaffolding hire) are often a smaller share of a re-roof quote than labour, particularly given the time and access involved. A cheap quote is worth checking for the same tile/material spec as competing quotes, not just a lower labour day rate.
Roof orientation and solar suitability
A south-facing roof slope generally gets the most useful sun for solar panels, though east/west-facing roofs can still work reasonably well. A roofer or solar installer assessing suitability will look at pitch, orientation, shading from nearby trees or buildings, and roof structural capacity together.
Background checks and identity verification
Roofing has a higher-than-average rate of doorstep cold-calling scams (particularly after storms), so checking a roofer's trading history, a verifiable business address, and reviews referencing specific local jobs matters more here than for some other trades.
What affects the cost
Cost depends on roof size and pitch (steeper roofs need more scaffolding and take longer), the material (slate costs more than concrete tile), access, and whether the existing roof structure (timbers, felt) needs work too, not just the visible covering. A straightforward repair is quick; a full re-roof including scaffolding commonly takes 1-3 weeks.
Roofing regulations, FAQ
Do I need planning permission for a new roof? Usually not for like-for-like replacement, but altering the roofline, adding a dormer, or working on a listed building often does. Do I need Building Regulations sign-off? Yes for most re-roofing work involving insulation changes — a competent roofer will handle or advise on this.
Insurance-backed guarantees, explained
An insurance-backed guarantee protects you if the roofing company goes out of business during the guarantee period — a separate product from the roofer's own workmanship guarantee. Not every roofer offers this; worth asking specifically for larger jobs like a full re-roof.
Common roofing jobs
Roofers handle full re-roofs, repairs to individual slipped or cracked tiles, flat roof replacement, guttering, fascias and soffits, and leadwork around chimneys and roof valleys. Emergency work — storm damage, a leak during heavy rain — is usually handled separately from planned re-roofing.