Your questions, answered honestly.

No. Site visits and written quotes are free, no matter how complex the roof or how far away the job is within our coverage area. The only exception is condition surveys intended as formal written reports for pre-purchase or insurance purposes — those start from £350 because they involve a detailed written deliverable rather than a contractor's quote.

Our quotes itemise materials by brand and specification (e.g. "Klober Permo Air breathable membrane, 1m × 50m roll, 4 rolls required"), scaffold by duration and type, labour by day rate and crew size, and waste removal by skip size. We don't quote lump sums. You should always be able to see what every line item on a quote represents.

We're rarely the cheapest quote and we're almost never the most expensive. On a typical three-bed Victorian re-roof we'd expect to be between 5 and 15 per cent above the cheapest quote, and 10 to 20 per cent below the most expensive. If you're seeing wildly different numbers across three quotes, the cheapest is usually missing scope, using inferior materials, or planning to sub the work out — ask for itemisation and the differences usually become obvious.

For jobs under £3,000, no deposit is needed — you pay on completion. For larger jobs we usually take 30 per cent on materials order, 40 per cent at scaffold up, and the final 30 per cent within seven days of practical completion and sign-off. We'll happily adjust that structure for commercial clients or management companies.

Emergency repairs: same day. Small non-urgent repairs: usually within one to two weeks. Full re-roofs and heritage work: usually three to six weeks from quote acceptance, because we're normally booked up around a month ahead for scaffold-requiring jobs. Commercial work with specific mobilisation requirements is arranged as agreed.

Small repairs: half a day to two days. Chimney work: two to four days. Guttering replacement: one to three days. Flat roof (garage-sized): two to three days. Full re-roof on a three-bed semi: five to eight days. Larger detached properties: ten to fifteen days. Commercial single-ply: two to four weeks depending on size.

We only strip as much roof as we can get covered the same day — typically one elevation at a time, with breathable membrane going down the afternoon of the strip. If heavy rain threatens, we tarp the exposed area and down tools until it passes. The inside of your house should never get wet during a job we're running.

No — we plan re-roofs to be liveable. There will be noise during working hours (8am to 5pm), scaffold at the windows, and dust in the loft, but the house remains fully functional and secure. If you work from home there are a few noisy days we can warn you about in advance so you can plan around them.

Natural Welsh slate lasts 80–100 years. Clay plain tiles: 60 years plus. Concrete interlocking tiles: 50 years plus. Synthetic slate: 50–60 years. EPDM rubber flat roof: 25–50 years. GRP fibreglass: 25–30 years. SBS torch-on felt: 20–25 years. All lifespans assume proper fitting and basic maintenance.

Tiles: Marley, Redland, Sandtoft. Slate: Welsh (Penrhyn, Cwt-y-Bugail) and Spanish (CUPA, SSQ). Membranes: Klober and Marley Eternit. Flat roof: Firestone, Classicbond, IKO, Sika, Kemperol. Velux, Fakro and Keylite roof windows. Lead: rolled lead to BS EN 12588. We stick to established brands because replacement parts and warranty support stay available for decades.

Always breathable membrane on new and replacement roofs. Old-style bitumen felt traps moisture and is a major cause of rafter rot in post-war houses. Modern breathable membrane lets vapour out while keeping rain and wind in. It's a significantly better roof for a few pounds more per square metre.

Yes — and we usually recommend it, because the scaffold is already up and access is ideal. Current Building Regulations require U-value 0.15 W/m²K for replacement roofs (typically 270mm mineral wool at ceiling level, or 150mm PIR at rafter level for warm-roof loft conversions). We'll specify the right approach for your house and include it in the quote.

Active leaks into habitable rooms, storm damage exposing felt or boards, fallen chimney masonry, detached flashings after heavy rain, and damage making the property unsafe or insecure. Tiles slipping in a garden that's been like that for weeks isn't an emergency — it's still worth fixing, but it doesn't warrant a weekend callout.

Put a bucket under the drip. If water is pooling in a ceiling and bulging, consider putting a small hole in to drain it rather than let it collapse. Don't try to climb up in wet weather — it's genuinely dangerous. Then ring us on 0330 223 7665 and we'll triage over the phone. We can often be on site within 60 to 90 minutes locally.

Yes — we'll provide a written report with photographs suitable for submission, and liaise with loss adjusters where that helps move things along. We don't charge extra for this; it's part of how we run emergency and storm-damage work.

Like-for-like replacement is permitted development and doesn't need planning permission. Conservation area properties, listed buildings, or any change of roof shape or pitch will need permission. Adding dormers or Velux windows may need permission in conservation areas. Building Regulations (Approved Document L) apply to every re-roof regardless of permission status.

Yes — we can put you in touch with customers who've had similar work done recently, usually within the same street or village if you want to see how the job looks in person. Just ask at quote stage.

No — we're a fitting firm, not a merchant. If you need materials only (e.g. you're doing your own DIY job), we'll happily suggest reliable local trade counters.

Ten years in writing for larger works — full re-roofs, flat roof replacement, full chimney repointing, full guttering systems, full leadwork replacement, dry-ridge retrofits, and commercial installs. Smaller repair jobs carry a one- to two-year workmanship warranty. See our guarantees page for the full detail.