What should I ask a roofer before hiring them?
Ask who will carry out the work, what materials are proposed, how the roof will be accessed, whether insurance is in place, what is included in the quotation, payment terms, expected timescale, waste removal and what workmanship or product guarantees apply.
Questions that reveal the most
Ask what exactly is being done and why, how access will be arranged, what happens if further defects are found once work starts, and who will actually carry out the work.
Ask for the scope in writing. A contractor who can describe the job clearly in conversation should have no difficulty putting it on paper.
- What is the cause, not just the symptom?
- What is included, and what is excluded?
- How is access being arranged and priced?
- What guarantee applies, and what does it cover?
Signs worth paying attention to
Pressure to decide immediately, reluctance to put anything in writing, and large cash payments requested before work starts are all reasons to pause.
So is a diagnosis given without anyone having looked properly at the roof or the roof space.