10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Roofer
Roofing is high-risk work that you cannot easily inspect. A roof failure causes catastrophic damage. These questions protect your home and your investment.
Our in-house team of qualified, insured roofers covers all of NW London.
Get a Quote1.Are you a member of the NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors)?
NFRC members are vetted, carry appropriate insurance, and adhere to industry standards. Membership gives you a complaints and arbitration service if something goes wrong.
Yes — I am NFRC registered. Here is my membership number and you can verify on their website.
No trade body membership, or dismissing it as unnecessary for a "small job".
2.Do you provide full scaffolding — not just a ladder?
Safe roofing work on anything more than a simple repair requires proper scaffolding. Cutting costs on scaffolding means cutting corners on safety — which also means cutting corners on workmanship.
Yes — full scaffold is included in my quote. I use a licensed scaffolding company and will confirm the permit if it needs to go on the road.
Offering to work from a ladder for a significant repair, or treating scaffolding as an optional extra.
3.What materials do you use — and can I see them specified in the quote?
Roofing materials vary enormously in quality and lifespan. Budget felt, cheap ridge tiles, and inferior lead flashing will fail within years. Quality materials last decades.
I use [specific brand] felt/membrane, lead code X for flashings, and [manufacturer] ridge tiles. All materials are specified in my written quote.
Vague about materials, or unable to specify brands and grades.
4.Do you guarantee your workmanship separately from the material warranty?
Material manufacturers warrant their products. The roofer should warrant the installation — that it was fitted correctly and will not leak. These are different guarantees.
My workmanship is guaranteed for 10 years. Materials carry the manufacturer warranty. Both are in writing.
No workmanship guarantee, or only pointing to the manufacturer warranty.
5.Will you inspect and report on the whole roof — not just the problem area?
A roofer who only fixes the visible problem is not giving you full value. A proper roof inspection identifies everything that needs attention, allowing you to prioritise and budget.
I will inspect the whole roof and provide a written condition report. Some things may be urgent; others can wait. You decide what to prioritise.
Only quoting for the specific repair requested without inspecting the rest of the roof.
6.What is your experience with period properties and conservation area requirements?
Many NW London properties are in conservation areas or are listed buildings. Replacing slates with concrete tiles, or using the wrong type of ridge, can trigger enforcement action.
I regularly work on Victorian and Edwardian properties in NW London. For conservation areas I use matching natural slate and traditional details. I advise on any planning implications.
Proposing modern concrete tiles for a period property without checking conservation requirements.
7.How will you handle waste and skip arrangements?
Roof waste is heavy and requires licensed disposal. Old asbestos-containing materials (pre-1990 roofs) need specialist removal. Confirm waste handling is included in the quote.
Waste removal is included. I check for asbestos before stripping old roofs — anything suspect goes to licensed disposal. The cost is in my quote.
Leaving waste for you to arrange, or not checking for asbestos in older properties.
8.Can you provide references from clients with the same type of roof?
A pitched slate roof is completely different from a flat EPDM roof, which is different from a lead valley repair. Experience with your specific roof type is essential.
Here are three references from clients with [pitched slate / flat rubber / GRP] roofs in the past 12 months.
Claiming to do all roof types but only showing examples of one, or no references at all.
9.What is your process if you find additional problems once the scaffold is up?
Roofs reveal more problems when properly accessible. How additional work is priced and agreed determines whether you get a surprise bill.
If I find additional problems, I photograph them and contact you before doing anything extra. All additional work is agreed in writing before proceeding.
Fixing everything they find and charging it later without your agreement.
10.Are you VAT registered — and does your quote include VAT?
VAT on roofing work can add 20% to the cost. Large roofers must be VAT registered; smaller sole traders may not be. Know the all-in cost before comparing quotes.
Yes/no I am VAT registered. My quote is [inclusive/exclusive] of VAT. The final price you pay is £X.
Adding VAT after you have accepted a quote that appeared lower than competitors.
Skip the research — our team is ready
Every roofer at Hampstead On Demand is qualified, insured, and experienced with NW London properties. We do the due diligence so you do not have to.
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