How to Choose a Roofer: 7 Checks Before You Sign Anything

Choosing a roofer comes down to seven checks: a fixed written quote, proof of insurance, a trading history you can verify at Companies House, reviews on more than one platform, payment terms that never demand everything up front, a written guarantee, and whether anyone independent checks the finished work. Roofing attracts more rogue traders than almost any other trade, because the customer cannot easily see the work, and by the time a bad job shows itself the van is long gone.

This guide walks through each check, what to ask, and what a good answer looks like. None of it takes more than a few minutes, and together the seven checks filter out almost every cowboy before a ladder goes up.

1. A fixed written quote, not a number over the phone

A verbal price is not a quote, it is an opening bid. Insist on a fixed written quote that itemises the scope of work, the materials specified, scaffolding, waste removal, timescale and payment terms. Watch for the word “estimate”: an estimate can grow, a fixed quote cannot. And be suspicious of any price produced on the doorstep before the roof has been properly looked at.

Sense-check the numbers before you compare firms: our roof repair cost guide shows what the common jobs should cost in 2026. Arkenstone surveys free of charge and puts a fixed written quote in your hand, usually within 48 hours, with scaffolding and waste included.

2. Proof of insurance, not just a promise

Every genuine roofing firm carries public liability insurance and can show you the certificate the same day you ask. If a tile comes through a conservatory roof, or a scaffold pole meets a neighbour’s car, an uninsured roofer’s problem instantly becomes yours. Ask to see the certificate, check the cover dates and the company name on it, and walk away from anyone who takes offence at the question.

3. A real trading history you can check at Companies House

The Companies House register is free and takes two minutes to search. Check three things: the company on the quote actually exists, it is listed as active, and its age roughly matches the experience being claimed. A firm claiming “25 years in the trade” behind a company registered eight months ago deserves a follow-up question, and so does a director trailing a string of dissolved roofing companies, the classic pattern of a firm that folds whenever the complaints catch up.

Free survey, fixed written quote within 48 hours, no obligation.

6. A written guarantee, from a firm that will still exist

A guarantee is only as good as the company behind it, which is why this check belongs with check 3: a 25-year guarantee from a company that dissolves after 18 months is worth nothing. Ask for the guarantee in writing, read what it covers, workmanship, materials or both, and confirm who honours it. Every Arkenstone job carries a 20-year written workmanship guarantee, stated on the quote itself.

7. The check almost nobody makes: does anyone independent look at the work?

Here is the question that ends most doorstep sales pitches: “Who, other than you, checks your work?” For most roofing firms the honest answer is nobody. You cannot inspect your own roof, so a poor job can hide for years. Arkenstone’s answer is different: on every full roof replacement an independent building inspector checks and signs off the finished roof, and you keep the paperwork. Fewer than 1% of roofing firms offer third-party sign-off, and asking for it is the fastest way to separate a roofer who welcomes scrutiny from one who avoids it.

The same seven checks, wherever you live

These checks work anywhere in the country, and we would rather you ran them on every firm you speak to, including us. Whether you are comparing roofers in Wisbech and the Fenland towns or roofers in Keynsham and the villages around Bath, the seven checks above will filter your shortlist faster than any advert.

Choosing a roofer, your questions answered