Compare roofing quotes, line by line

A roof quote can describe a repair, a replacement covering or a more extensive rebuild. Those are different jobs, even when every trader promises to stop the same leak. Before comparing totals, establish which roof slopes, flat roofs, chimneys and junctions each roofer has inspected and intends to work on.

“Complete re-roof” can still leave important boundaries unstated. One roofer may replace all underlay and battens; another may retain sound sections. Leadwork, gutters and scaffolding can sit outside the headline total. Ask for the same written work list and keep optional upgrades separate from necessary repairs.

Access and concealed condition matter as much as the covering you can see. Photos help explain the project, but cannot replace an inspection. Ask what has been inspected, what is assumed and how opening up could change the price. A lower total is not automatically a better offer if it covers less work.

What a complete roofing quote should include

• Roof area — Identify every slope, extension roof and flat-roof section included. Ask for a marked photograph or drawing if “main roof” could mean different things.
• Strip-out — State which tiles, slates, battens and underlay will be removed, what will remain and how reusable materials will be assessed.
• New covering — Name the tile, slate or waterproofing system, manufacturer and finish. Record substitutions as alternatives rather than silently changing the agreed specification.
• Underlay and battens — Confirm replacement across the agreed area, the proposed products and who deals with defects exposed underneath the existing covering.
• Timber and decking — Separate included repairs from concealed damage. Agree photographs, written pricing and approval before additional repairs proceed.
• Scaffolding — Include erection, hire, adaptations and removal. Clarify pavement arrangements, difficult access and who pays if the programme extends.
• Weather protection — Ask how the open roof will be protected overnight and during interruptions, and who is responsible for any protective measures.
• Leadwork and junctions — List chimneys, valleys, abutments and roof windows individually. “Make good” is less useful than a clear description of repair or replacement.
• Insulation and ventilation — Identify proposed changes and who checks whether the roof build-up and any relevant approvals need specialist assessment.
• Rainwater goods — Distinguish cleaning and reconnection from new gutters and downpipes. Treat optional fascia or soffit upgrades as choices, not missing necessities.
• Waste and protection — Include disposal, site clean-up and protection for paths, gardens and neighbouring property, without assuming strip-out also means waste removal.
• Handover — Set out snagging, photographs of concealed work, product details and guarantee terms, including whether any insurance-backed cover is actually offered.

What's often left out — and what it can cost

Access is easily overlooked when a roofer gives a short estimate. The scaffolding reference below is for a two-storey house when priced separately. Do not add it again when a quote already includes suitable access; unusual sites may need a different written price.

The covering references describe whole-job categories, not a price for isolated missing leadwork, damaged timber or a skip. There are no separate benchmark rows for those repairs. Ask the roofer to price them for your property rather than dividing a roof range into invented extras.

A quoted repair and a full re-roof should remain separate alternatives. Likewise, tile, slate and flat-roof references are different systems, not items to stack onto one roof. Confirm size and specification before using a guide range.

An illustrative roofing comparison

Quote B needs written answers about access and waste. That does not prove the roofer intends to leave either out. Quote C’s partial timber coverage needs a precise limit. Ask every roofer to resolve those points before ranking totals.

Questions to ask each trader

• Which roof areas and junctions have you priced, and which covering, underlay and battens will you install?
• How will you evidence, price and obtain approval for damaged timber once the roof is open?
• Does your scaffolding price cover all required access, hire time and removal?
• Is VAT included in the final total, and what VAT basis applies to any day rates or extras?
• What deposit is needed, what does it fund and which completed stages trigger later payments?
• What inspections, guarantee documents and photographs will I receive at handover?

Your roofing questions

Send the same final job list to each roofer and keep their revised answers with the quote. Resolve significant exclusions before paying a deposit, while there is time to choose a different proposal.