Cambridge Roofers installs new roofs in Little Shelford, and this page helps you choose the right contractor and know what to ask before you sign anything.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
A new roof is one of the most significant single investments a homeowner makes. Unlike repainting a room or fitting a new kitchen, you cannot easily see most of the work once it is finished. That is what makes the choice of contractor so important. A poor installation can be hidden under tiles for years before the damage it causes becomes visible, and by then the repair bill often dwarfs what you would have saved by going with a cheaper quote at the start.
The good news is that asking the right questions upfront, before you agree to anything, gives you a solid basis for comparing contractors on substance rather than just price. Here is what to ask and why each question matters.
A contractor who quotes a new roof without physically inspecting it is guessing. They cannot know the true condition of the timber structure, whether the existing battens are adequate, what flashings are present or whether there is any hidden rot or damage until they get up there and look. A survey does not have to take long, but it needs to happen. If a roofer quotes by email from a few photos or from ground level only, that is a warning sign.
Ask for the specific product, not just the category. "Natural slate" covers everything from premium Welsh slate with a lifespan that can exceed a century to lower-grade imported material that may not perform as well. "Concrete tile" covers dozens of profiles and weights. You want to know the brand, origin and grade so you can compare like with like between quotes. If the contractor cannot or will not tell you this, that is worth noting.
For flat roofs, ask specifically whether they are proposing felt, EPDM rubber or another system. EPDM generally outperforms traditional felt in longevity and resistance to splitting. The material choice affects both the upfront cost and how long the roof will last before it needs attention.
Scaffolding is the most common source of surprise costs on a new roof job. Ask whether the quote includes erection, hire for the duration of the job and dismantling. Ask whether VAT is included. Ask what happens if the timber structure beneath is found to be damaged once stripping starts - is there an agreed rate for additional structural work, or will that come as a separate surprise invoice?
A quote that breaks down the cost of materials, labour, scaffolding and disposal separately is much easier to compare against another contractor's quote than a single lump sum figure.
Some contractors offer to lay new tiles over the existing ones, or to add a new felt layer over old materials without stripping. This is almost always a false economy. It adds weight to the roof structure, traps moisture, and hides problems that will get worse. A proper new roof means stripping everything back to the rafters, inspecting the timber, replacing anything that is not sound, and starting fresh with new underlay and battens. Ask this question directly and be cautious of any answer that involves leaving old materials in place.
Flashings are the metal sections that seal the roof at junctions - around chimney stacks, along walls where a lean-to meets the main building, and in valleys where two roof slopes meet. They are the most common source of leaks on an otherwise sound roof, and getting them right takes skill and time. Ask what material they will use (lead is the traditional choice and lasts well; there are also quality lead alternatives) and how the flashings will be fixed and weatherproofed. A roofer who cannot explain their approach to flashings clearly has not thought it through.
Stripping a pitched roof generates a significant volume of broken tiles, old felt and timber offcuts. Ask whether skip hire and waste disposal are included in the price, or whether you will be billed separately. Also check whether the contractor will tidy and clear the site at the end of each working day. Broken tiles left around a property are a safety hazard and a nuisance.
When you have two or three quotes in hand, resist the temptation to simply pick the cheapest. Instead, check that each quote is specifying the same materials, the same scope of work and the same inclusions. If one quote is significantly lower than the others, ask the contractor specifically what they have included and what they have left out. Sometimes the answer is a legitimate efficiency; more often it reflects a difference in materials, depth of work or what happens when problems are found.
Anyone who asks for a large cash deposit upfront before work has started, particularly if they are pressing you to decide quickly, deserves caution. A reasonable deposit to cover materials is normal; being asked for 50% or more of the total before a single tile has been lifted is not. Equally, be wary of anyone who turns up unsolicited claiming to have spotted problems with your roof from the road. Legitimate roofers do not work this way.
A contractor who cannot or will not provide references from previous jobs, or who becomes vague when you ask specific questions about materials or process, is one to avoid regardless of their price.
When the job is finished, you should be able to see straight, consistent courses of tile or slate from ground level, with no lifted or displaced pieces. Ridge and hip tiles should sit cleanly, with dry-fix fittings or freshly pointed mortar depending on what was specified. Flashings should be neat, fully dressed into the masonry and showing no gaps. The site should be cleared of all debris and waste, and any plant or garden areas disturbed by the scaffold should be left in reasonable condition.
Ask for a written description of what materials were used and who supplied them. That record is useful if you ever need to source matching tiles for a repair in years to come.
We install new roofs in Little Shelford and across the Cambridge area, including work in neighbouring villages and towns such as Royston, Saffron Walden and Newmarket. If you are ready to get the process started, call us to arrange a roof survey at your property. We will tell you what we find, what the work involves and what it will cost, in plain terms with no pressure to decide on the day.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
