Knowing how to choose a roofing company can be difficult, particularly if you’ve never needed significant roofing work before. Most homeowners aren’t roofing experts, which means you’re often relying on the contractor to tell you what’s wrong, what needs fixing and how much the work should cost.
Whether you’re dealing with a leak, replacing an ageing roof or planning roofing work as part of a renovation, choosing the right company can make a significant difference to both the quality of the work and your experience along the way.
Before agreeing to anything, here are 10 questions worth asking.
1. Are You a Member of a Recognised Roofing Trade Body?
One of the first things to check is whether the roofing company belongs to a recognised industry organisation.
For example, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has requirements its members must meet and provides homeowners with another way to identify established roofing contractors.
Elite Roofing Industries is an NFRC member, but whoever you’re considering, don’t be afraid to ask about their credentials and check them yourself.
2. Are You Properly Insured?
Roofing involves working at height and carries risks that many other home improvement projects don’t.
Ask the contractor what insurance they hold and make sure it’s appropriate for the work they’re proposing to carry out.
A professional roofing company should be perfectly comfortable answering questions about its insurance rather than treating it as something you shouldn’t need to know.
3. What Guarantee Will I Receive?
Don’t assume every roofing guarantee provides the same protection.
Ask:
- What exactly is guaranteed?
- How long does the guarantee last?
- Does it cover materials, workmanship or both?
- Is the guarantee provided by the contractor or independently backed?
An insurance-backed guarantee can provide an additional layer of protection because it isn’t solely reliant on the roofing contractor continuing to trade.
Eligible projects carried out by Elite Roofing Industries can benefit from insurance-backed guarantees, with the applicable cover explained before work begins.
4. Have You Worked on This Type of Roof Before?
Roofing isn’t one single skill.
Repairing traditional slate requires different experience from installing a GRP flat roof, while working on a commercial building presents different challenges again.
Tell the roofer about your property and ask whether they regularly work with that type of roofing system.
This becomes particularly important for older and character properties, where matching existing materials and understanding traditional construction methods may affect how the work should be approached.
5. How Will You Work Out What’s Actually Wrong?
A damp patch on your ceiling tells you that water is getting into the property. It doesn’t necessarily tell you where it’s getting in.
Water can travel beneath roofing materials before becoming visible internally, so simply repairing the section directly above a leak may not solve the underlying problem.
Ask how the roofer intends to inspect the roof and diagnose the cause.
Depending on the property, this could involve a physical inspection or, for areas that are difficult to access safely, a drone survey. Elite Roofing Industries is Drone Safe accredited and can use drone inspections where appropriate.
The important thing is that the contractor investigates the cause rather than simply treating the most obvious symptom.
6. Can My Roof Be Repaired, or Does It Need Replacing?
This is one of the most important questions you can ask.
Not every leaking or damaged roof needs to be replaced.
If the majority of the roof is in good condition and the problem is limited to a few tiles, flashing or another isolated area, a professional roof repair may be all that’s required.
A replacement becomes more likely when deterioration is widespread, leaks repeatedly return or the existing roofing system is reaching the end of its useful lifespan.
If you’re being advised to replace an entire roof, ask why. A good roofer should be able to explain what they’ve found and why replacement makes more sense than repair.
7. Will I Receive a Written Quote?
Avoid relying on a vague verbal estimate for substantial roofing work.
A written quotation gives you something concrete to review and makes comparing different contractors much easier.
Depending on the project, it should make clear:
- The work being proposed
- The roofing materials being used
- What’s included in the price
- Any relevant guarantees
- How additional or unexpected work will be handled
When comparing quotations, make sure you’re actually comparing like for like.
One contractor may appear considerably cheaper because they’ve quoted for different materials or excluded something another company has included.
8. Can I See Reviews and Previous Work?
Reviews can give you a useful indication of what a roofing company is like to deal with once the project actually begins.
Don’t focus solely on the overall star rating. Read individual reviews and look for recurring comments about things such as:
- Quality of workmanship
- Communication
- Tidiness
- Punctuality
- Whether the final price matched expectations
- How problems were handled
Photos of previous projects can also help, particularly if you’re planning a larger replacement or installation.
9. Are You Actually Local?
Searching for a roofer online can bring up companies from much further away than you might expect.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with using a contractor from outside your immediate area, but there are advantages to choosing a company that genuinely works locally.
A local roofing company is more likely to be familiar with the property styles found in the area and can be easier to contact if you need advice after the project.
Elite Roofing Industries is based in Guildford and provides roofing services across Surrey, including Guildford, Woking, Weybridge and surrounding areas.
If you’re comparing contractors locally, you can find out more about our:
- Roofing Company Guildford services
- Roofing Company Surrey services
- Roofing Company Woking services
- Roofing Company Weybridge services
10. Is the Cheapest Roofing Quote Really the Best?
Not necessarily.
Nobody wants to pay more than they need to, and getting several quotations for a significant roofing project is sensible. But choosing purely on price can be a mistake.
If one quote is dramatically cheaper than the others, find out why.
Differences may come down to the materials being specified, how much preparation is included, the scope of the work or the guarantees being provided.
The better question isn’t simply:
“Which roofer is cheapest?”
It’s:
“Which quotation offers the best long-term value?”
Paying less initially isn’t much of a saving if you’re paying someone else to correct the work a year later.
Warning Signs to Look Out for When Choosing a Roofer
As well as knowing what to look for, it helps to recognise some potential warning signs.
Be cautious if a contractor:
- Pressures you into making an immediate decision
- Won’t provide a written quotation
- Can’t clearly explain what work is required
- Recommends extensive work without properly inspecting the roof
- Is unwilling to discuss insurance or guarantees
- Wants to replace the whole roof without explaining why repair isn’t suitable
- Provides a quote significantly below everyone else without a clear reason
None of these automatically proves that a contractor will carry out poor work, but they’re good reasons to ask more questions before proceeding.
What Should You Do Before Hiring a Roofing Company?
Before making your final decision, take a few minutes to run through a simple checklist.
Do you know exactly what work is being proposed? Have you received a written quotation? Have you checked the company’s credentials, insurance and reviews? Do you understand the guarantee? Has the roofer explained why they’re recommending repair or replacement?
Most importantly, do you feel that your questions have been answered properly?
You don’t need to become a roofing expert to choose a good contractor. You simply need enough information to make an informed comparison.
Looking for a Roofing Company?
If you’re currently choosing a roofing contractor, Elite Roofing Industries provides residential and commercial roofing services across Guildford and Surrey.
We’re an NFRC member, Trading Standards approved and Drone Safe accredited, with insurance-backed guarantees available on eligible projects.
Whether you need a roof inspection, repair or complete replacement, we’ll assess the roof first and explain the options available.
Call 07555 100 700 or contact Elite Roofing Industries to arrange a free site visit and no-obligation quotation.
