What should be in a roofing quote, what shouldn't, and the specific things that make a cheap price expensive later. A checklist to compare quotes like for like.
Comparing roofing quotes is harder than it should be, because they're rarely written on the same basis. One firm quotes a repair, another quotes a replacement, and a third quotes something vague with a low number. Here's how to read them.
What A Proper Quote Contains
- The specific work — not "repair roof" but "replace 6 slipped tiles to front elevation, re-point 4m ridge"
- Access — scaffolding or towers, whether it's included, and where it will stand
- Waste removal — skips cost money and should be in the price
- A fixed total, not an estimate with "materials extra"
- The guarantee, in writing, with its duration
- The start date or at least the likely window
Warning Signs
- A price given without anyone going up to look
- "Plus scaffolding" or "plus materials" on a headline figure — that's not a quote, it's a starting point
- Pressure to decide today, or a discount that expires tomorrow
- Cash only, no written quote, no invoice
- Someone who won't tell you their company name or insurance details
The Questions Worth Asking
Ask each firm the same four things, so you're comparing like with like: is the price fixed and does it include scaffold and waste; who actually does the work (their own team or subcontractors); what guarantee do I get and is it written; and can I see your public liability insurance? An honest roofer has all four answers ready.
Why The Cheapest Is Often Not
A cheap quote usually means one of three things: the scaffolding isn't included, the repair is a patch that will need doing again, or the firm isn't insured. Any of those costs more than the difference. The useful comparison isn't the number at the bottom — it's whether the two quotes describe the same work.
Our surveys are free, and the quote is fixed, itemised and in writing before any work starts. If a repair will do the job, that's what we'll quote.
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Costs and timings in this article are guides for Medway and Kent properties. Every roof is different — a survey is the only way to get an accurate figure.