Last month, I met a woman in Dun Laoghaire who’d paid £8,500 for a “complete roof restoration.”
What she got: pressure-washed tiles, some sealant squirted around, and a “protective coating” sprayed over everything.
Within three months, tiles were cracking (pressure washing + freezing weather = disaster), the sealant was peeling, and the “coating” was flaking onto her garden.
The lads who did it? Long gone. Different phone number. No come-back.
This happens every single week in UK. And it’s almost always preventable—if you know what to look for.
After 20 years of fixing cowboy work and taking calls from devastated homeowners, here are the warning signs I wish everyone knew.
Before They Even Start
Warning Sign #1: The Unsolicited Knock
A van pulls up. A friendly chap knocks on your door. “We’re working in the area and noticed your roof needs attention.”
This is the classic opener. And it’s almost never legitimate.
Real roofers don’t need to door-knock for work. We’re busy. We’ve got a waiting list. We get referrals from satisfied customers and organic enquiries.
The lads going door-to-door? They’re hunting for vulnerable targets—often elderly homeowners—who can be pressured into unnecessary or overpriced work.
What legitimate roofers do: We advertise, we get word-of-mouth referrals, we answer enquiries. We don’t cold-call on your doorstep.
Warning Sign #2: High-Pressure “Today Only” Deals
“We’ve got materials left over from a job down the road. If you book today, we can do it at half price.”
This is pure manipulation. Creating artificial urgency to prevent you from getting other quotes or thinking it through.
Roofing materials don’t work like that. We buy what we need for each job. There aren’t mysterious “leftovers” that need using up.
And any discount that only applies if you decide instantly isn’t a discount—it’s a pressure tactic.
What legitimate roofers do: We give you a quote. We give you time to consider it. We don’t care if you get other quotes—if our work and price are fair, we’ll get the job.
Warning Sign #3: No Fixed Business Address
Ask for their business address. Watch what happens.
Cowboys will give you:
- A vague area (“We’re based out in Tallaght”)
- A PO Box
- A residential address that’s probably not theirs
- Nothing at all (“We’re a mobile operation”)
Why this matters: If something goes wrong, you need to be able to find them. A roofer with no fixed premises can vanish overnight—and many do.
What legitimate roofers have: A real business address. A registered company. A presence you can verify.
Warning Sign #4: Cash Only, No Paperwork
“We can do it for £3,000 cash. No VAT. Sound?”
This might seem like a bargain. It isn’t.
If they’re not charging VAT, they’re either not registered (illegal) or not declaring the income (also illegal). Either way, you have no legal paperwork, no guarantee, no comeback.
When the roof leaks in six months, you’ve got nothing. No invoice to prove what was agreed. No warranty. No company to pursue.
What legitimate roofers provide: VAT invoices, written quotes, proper receipts, payment terms in writing.
During the Job
Warning Sign #5: No Skip, No Waste Management
Roof work generates waste. Old tiles, felt, timber, nails, debris. Where’s it going?
Cowboys often:
- Dump waste in a corner of your garden
- Load it in the van and fly-tip somewhere
- Leave it for you to deal with
None of these are acceptable or legal.
What legitimate roofers do: Order a skip or have a waste carrier license. Remove all debris as part of the job. Give you a waste transfer note if you ask.
Warning Sign #6: Working Without Scaffolding (When It’s Needed)
Some small repairs can be done from ladders. Many cannot.
If someone’s doing substantial roof work—replacing large sections, working near edges, spending hours up there—they need scaffolding. It’s a legal health and safety requirement.
Cowboys avoid scaffolding because it’s expensive (£800-2,000 for a typical job). They work from ladders, walk on tiles without proper access equipment, and create serious safety and insurance issues.
If they get hurt on your property working unsafely, guess who might be liable?
What legitimate roofers do: Price scaffolding into the job. Use tower scaffolds or proper edge protection. Follow health and safety law.
Warning Sign #7: Pressure Washing Old Tiles
This one drives me insane. I see it constantly.
Some cowboys pressure wash roofs as part of “restoration.” It looks dramatic. All that moss and dirt blasting away. Satisfying to watch.
It’s also often destructive.
Older tiles have a protective surface layer that’s developed over decades. Pressure washing strips this layer off, leaving the tile porous and vulnerable.
Combined with British freeze-thaw cycles, pressure-washed tiles often crack and deteriorate faster than they would have if left alone.
There are situations where gentle cleaning is appropriate. Aggressive pressure washing almost never is.
What legitimate roofers do: Advise against pressure washing old tiles. If cleaning is needed, use appropriate low-pressure methods. Explain the risks honestly.
Warning Sign #8: Spray-On “Protective Coatings”
After pressure washing, cowboys often sell a spray-on coating. “Seals the tiles,” they say. “Adds 20 years to your roof.”
Most of these coatings are garbage.
They might look good initially—everything shiny and fresh. But within 2-5 years, they peel, flake, crack, and trap moisture underneath.
Your roof doesn’t need a coating. If your tiles are sound, they’re fine as they are. If they’re deteriorating, coating them won’t fix that.
What legitimate roofers say: “Your tiles are okay, they just need moss removing gently” or “Your tiles are at end of life, you need new ones.” Not “We’ll spray-coat them and they’ll be grand.”
The Quote and Communication
Warning Sign #9: Quote Without Inspection
“Based on what you’ve described, I can do it for £2,500.”
A quote without physically inspecting the roof is worthless. Every roof is different. Problems hide. Access varies.
Anyone quoting significant work over the phone or based on photos alone doesn’t know what they’re getting into—and neither do you.
What legitimate roofers do: Come out, look at the roof (ideally get up there), assess the actual condition, then provide a quote based on reality.
Warning Sign #10: Vague Quote With No Breakdown
“Full roof restoration: £6,000”
What does that include? What materials? How many days? What’s covered under warranty?
A vague lump-sum quote gives the roofer room to cut corners. If you don’t know what was supposed to be done, you can’t tell if it was done properly.
What legitimate roofers provide:
- Itemised breakdown (materials, labour, access equipment)
- Scope of work clearly described
- What’s included and what’s excluded
- Timescale
- Payment terms
- Warranty information
Warning Sign #11: Huge Deposit Demanded Upfront
“We’ll need 50% upfront before we can start.”
This is a massive red flag.
Standard industry practice is a small deposit to secure the booking (10-20% for large jobs), then payment on completion. Some roofers work on milestone payments for big projects—fine.
But half the money upfront before any work begins? That’s either a cowboy operation that might vanish with your money, or a business so poorly run they can’t fund their own materials.
Either way, you don’t want to be their customer.
What legitimate roofers ask for: 10-20% deposit, balance on satisfactory completion. Or no deposit at all for smaller jobs.
Warning Sign #12: They Won’t Put Anything in Writing
“Ah sure, we’ll sort all that out as we go.”
Get everything in writing. The quote. The scope. The warranty. The payment terms.
If a roofer won’t provide written documentation, they’re either incompetent (can’t be bothered) or dodgy (don’t want evidence). Either way, walk away.
What legitimate roofers do: Written quotes, written contracts for larger jobs, written warranties, proper invoices.
The Credentials
Warning Sign #13: No Public Liability Insurance
“We’re covered, yeah. Fully insured.”
Ask to see the certificate. Watch what happens.
Every legitimate roofer carries public liability insurance (minimum £2m, often more). It protects you if something goes wrong—damage to property, injury to workers, third-party claims.
Cowboys either have no insurance or have it but won’t show you.
What legitimate roofers do: Show you their insurance certificate without hesitation. It’s a normal request.
Warning Sign #14: No Verifiable References
“We’ve done loads of jobs around here. Great feedback.”
Where? For whom? Can you give me names and numbers?
Legitimate roofers have a trail of satisfied customers. We can provide references. We have Google reviews, Facebook reviews, testimonials on our website.
Cowboys don’t have verifiable references because their past customers aren’t satisfied—or don’t exist.
What legitimate roofers have: Online reviews you can verify, references who’ll take your call, photos of previous work.
Warning Sign #15: Defensive or Aggressive When Questioned
This is the tell that combines everything.
When you ask a legitimate roofer questions—about insurance, about materials, about references—we’re happy to answer. Good questions mean an informed customer, which makes our job easier.
When you ask a cowboy questions, they get defensive. “Don’t you trust us?” Aggressive. “We don’t normally have to prove ourselves.” Evasive. “Let me get back to you on that” (they never do).
Trust your instincts. If they’re making you uncomfortable, there’s a reason.
What to Do Instead
Take Your Time
No legitimate roof problem needs to be decided in 30 minutes on your doorstep. Sleep on it. Get other quotes. Do research.
Get Three Quotes
The old rule exists for a reason. Three quotes shows you the price range and lets you compare approaches.
Be suspicious of quotes that are far cheaper than the others—why can they do it so cheaply?
Check Credentials
Before you book:
- Google the company name
- Check Google Maps for a real address
- Look for reviews on Google, Facebook, Trustpilot
- Ask to see insurance
- Check if they’re members of any trade bodies (not essential but reassuring)
Pay Attention to the Process
A good roofer will:
- Inspect before quoting
- Explain what’s wrong and what’s needed
- Provide a detailed written quote
- Not pressure you
- Have proper insurance and references
If any of that’s missing, keep looking.
If You’ve Been Caught
It happens. Cowboys are good at what they do.
If you’ve paid for work that wasn’t done properly:
- Document everything: Photos, videos, receipts, messages
- Contact them in writing: Give them a chance to fix it (they probably won’t, but you need to show you tried)
- Get an independent assessment: Another roofer’s written report on what’s wrong
- Report them: Trading Standards, Gardaí if it’s outright fraud, Consumer Rights
- Consider legal action: Small claims court for amounts up to £2,000
It’s stressful and often you won’t recover the money. But reporting them might stop them doing it to the next person.
Final Thought
The cowboys exist because roofing is invisible to most people. You can’t tell good work from bad until something goes wrong. They exploit that knowledge gap.
But armed with these warning signs, you’re much harder to con.
Take your time. Check credentials. Trust your gut.
And if someone knocks on your door offering to “take a quick look at your roof”? Close the door.
Want a roofer you can actually trust?
We’re fully insured, happy to provide references, and we’ll never pressure you.
Or call: +44 89 981 9675
Seamus O’Brien has spent 20 years fixing what cowboys break—and wishing he’d gotten there first.
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