Roofing is one of those trades where a bad choice costs you twice. Once for the original job, and again for whoever has to put it right. The work happens above head height and out of sight, so it’s also one of the easiest trades to cut corners on without you noticing. Here’s what’s actually worth checking before you hire.
Ask for a proper written quote, not a verbal figure
A trustworthy roofer puts a price in writing. It lists labour, materials, and any scaffolding or skip hire — not one lump verbal figure on the doorstep. If a quote can’t explain where the money goes, it’s hard to compare fairly against a rival price. It’s harder still to know what you’re paying for if the job hits a snag. We give every roof repair quote in writing for exactly this reason. It protects the customer as much as it protects us.
Check insurance and accreditation
Public liability insurance should be standard, not optional, for anyone working at height on your property. Ask to see the certificate rather than taking it on trust. Trade body membership is a useful extra signal. Registration with the NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) or a similar body usually means the firm has been checked over. It also carries ongoing accountability if a job goes wrong. Neither trade membership nor insurance guarantees good work on its own. But their absence is a clear warning sign.
Be wary of pressure and upfront cash demands
A cold-call roofer who claims to have “spotted a problem” while working nearby is one of the oldest patterns in the trade. If they also want cash before starting, that’s one of the most common sources of complaints to trading standards. Legitimate roofers don’t need to manufacture urgency. If someone pushes you to decide on the spot, that pressure alone is a reason to say no and get a second opinion.
Ask what happens if something’s found underneath
Roofs regularly reveal problems only once the old covering comes off. Rotten timber, historic patch repairs, or damage that wasn’t visible from ground level are all common finds. A trustworthy roofer flags this possibility upfront, as a potential variation. They won’t ignore it, and they won’t quietly pad every quote to cover a problem that might not exist. Ask directly how they handle unexpected findings, and get the answer before you sign anything.
Ask for local examples, not just reviews
Online reviews are easy to game and hard to verify. A roofer who’s genuinely active in Putney should be able to point to recent jobs nearby. At the very least, they should describe similar properties they’ve worked on. A Victorian terrace roof behaves differently to a 1930s semi, and a roofer who knows the difference is worth more than one with a generic five-star page. We work across Putney, Wandsworth and Hammersmith regularly, and we’re always happy to talk through similar jobs nearby.
What a guarantee should actually cover
A written workmanship guarantee is standard practice for any reputable roofer. But check what it actually covers, and for how long. A guarantee against workmanship defects is different from a manufacturer’s guarantee on materials, and marketing copy sometimes blurs the two. Ask for the guarantee in writing as part of the quote, not as an afterthought once the job is booked.
Comparing roofers in Putney for a repair or replacement? Get in touch and we’ll give you a clear, itemised quote with no pressure to decide on the spot.