A woman in Rathgar called me last year. She’d just paid £7,000 for a “complete roof overhaul.”
I asked what questions she’d asked before hiring.
“I asked how much it would cost,” she said. “That was about it.”
That was £7,000 on a question that costs nothing.
After 20 years watching customers get burned by poor-choice roofers—and occasionally being the roofer they chose after getting burned—I’ve compiled the questions that actually matter.
Ask all fifteen. The right roofer will answer them happily. The wrong roofer will get evasive, defensive, or suddenly have to go.
The Basics
1. “How long have you been in business?”
Why it matters: Longevity suggests reliability. A roofer who’s been trading for 15 years has weathered recessions, built a reputation, and isn’t about to disappear.
Good answer: Specific number of years, willingness to discuss their background.
Red flag: Vague (“a good while now”), brand new company with claimed decades of “experience,” or defensive about the question.
My take: I don’t think you necessarily need someone with 20 years. But be more cautious with new businesses—they haven’t proven themselves yet. Ask for extra references.
2. “Are you the company owner, or an employee?”
Why it matters: You want to know who’s accountable. If you’re talking to a salesman and the work is done by subcontractors you’ve never met, who’s responsible when something goes wrong?
Good answer: Clear structure explained. Either owner-operated, or named employees who’ll be on site, or transparent about their subcontracting model.
Red flag: Confusion about who does what, or unwillingness to identify who’ll actually be on your roof.
3. “Can I see your public liability insurance certificate?”
Why it matters: This is your protection if something goes wrong. Damage to your property. Injury on site. Third-party claims.
Minimum should be £2 million. Many reputable roofers carry £6.5 million.
Good answer: “Of course, I’ll email it to you” or produces it on the spot.
Red flag: “We’re fully insured, yeah” without producing evidence. Hesitation. “I’ll have to check with the office.”
My take: This is non-negotiable. No certificate, no work on your property. Period.
4. “What’s your company registration number?”
Why it matters: Registered businesses are traceable, accountable, and legitimate. You can verify them on the CRO website.
Good answer: Company number provided, easily verifiable.
Red flag: “We operate as a sole trader” (which is fine but ask for their tax reference instead), or inability to provide any registration information.
The Quote
5. “Can you provide an itemised written quote?”
Why it matters: You need to know what’s included. Materials, labour, access, waste disposal, VAT. Without itemisation, you don’t know what you’re comparing.
Good answer: Yes, detailed quote with breakdown following inspection.
Red flag: Lump sum only. Verbal quote. Reluctance to put anything in writing.
My take: If they won’t write it down, they don’t want to be held to it. Walk away.
6. “What’s included in the waste disposal?”
Why it matters: Someone has to pay for the skip. If it’s not in the quote, it’s either added later or—worse—they’re planning to fly-tip.
Good answer: Skip hire included, or clear statement about who arranges and pays.
Red flag: Not mentioned, or “we’ll sort that as we go.”
7. “What’s the payment schedule?”
Why it matters: Industry standard is small deposit (10-20%) and balance on completion. Large upfront payments are risky.
Good answer: Clear terms—e.g., “10% to book, 90% on satisfactory completion” or milestone payments for large jobs.
Red flag: 50% or more upfront. Cash only. “We need the money to buy materials.”
My take: Never pay large sums before work begins. A legitimate roofer can finance their own materials.
The Work
8. “What materials will you use, specifically?”
Why it matters: Not all tiles are equal. Not all felt is equal. You should know the brand, specification, and quality of what’s going on your roof.
Good answer: Specific brand names, product codes, willingness to explain why they’ve chosen those materials.
Red flag: Vague (“good quality tiles”), unable to specify, “we use whatever’s available.”
9. “How will you handle access and scaffolding?”
Why it matters: Scaffold is expensive, and cutting corners here creates safety and liability issues.
Good answer: Scaffold quote from a certified scaffolding company, or explanation of their own scaffold setup, compliant with HSA requirements.
Red flag: “We work off ladders” for significant jobs, or no clear scaffold plan.
10. “What’s your timeline, and what could delay it?”
Why it matters: Weather delays happen. Material shortages happen. But you should have a realistic expectation.
Good answer: Clear timeline with caveats. “Two weeks, weather permitting. If we hit bad weather, we’ll cover up and resume when clear.”
Red flag: Unrealistic promises (“done in three days”), or no timeline offered.
Accountability
11. “What warranty do you provide on workmanship?”
Why it matters: A warranty means they stand behind their work. If it fails within the warranty period, they fix it at no cost.
Good answer: Written warranty, typically 10-20 years for new roofing. Should cover both materials and workmanship.
Red flag: Verbal only. Short warranty (under 5 years). Warranty with so many exclusions it’s meaningless.
My take: Get the warranty in writing before any money changes hands. And check that the company is likely to still exist when you might need to claim.
12. “Can you provide references from recent jobs?”
Why it matters: Satisfied customers are happy to vouch for good work. If they can’t produce anyone willing to speak for them, ask yourself why.
Good answer: Names and phone numbers of recent customers, or direction to verified online reviews.
Red flag: “Customer confidentiality” (no such thing for a reference), can’t think of anyone, or becomes defensive.
13. “Do you carry employer’s liability insurance?”
Why it matters: If they have employees, they legally need employer’s liability insurance. If someone gets hurt on your property and they’re not properly insured, complications ensue.
Good answer: “Yes, here’s the certificate” or “I’m a sole trader with no employees, but I have personal accident cover.”
Red flag: Unsure, can’t produce documentation.
The Extras
14. “What happens if you find hidden damage during the job?”
Why it matters: Roof work often reveals surprises—rotten timbers, previous bodge repairs, issues not visible before stripping.
Good answer: Clear process. “We’ll stop, document it, show you, and provide a price for additional work before proceeding.”
Red flag: “We’ll sort it out” (how?), or insistence that there won’t be any surprises (there might be).
My take: Any roofer who guarantees no hidden issues hasn’t done enough roof work. A good one plans for the possibility.
15. “What do I do if there’s a problem after you’re finished?”
Why it matters: Even good work occasionally develops issues. You need to know how to get support after the invoice is paid.
Good answer: Contact details, process for reporting problems, assurance that warranty claims are honoured.
Red flag: Vague. “Just give us a ring” with no specifics. Or worse—defensiveness suggesting they don’t want to hear from you again.
The Questions Behind the Questions
These fifteen questions aren’t just about gathering information. They’re about watching how the roofer responds.
A good roofer:
- Answers promptly and clearly
- Welcomes the questions (we know informed customers are better customers)
- Produces documentation willingly
- Explains things in plain language
- Isn’t threatened by scrutiny
A problematic roofer:
- Gets defensive (“don’t you trust me?”)
- Becomes vague or evasive
- Can’t produce documentation
- Rushes you past the questions
- Makes you feel awkward for asking
Trust your instincts. If the answers feel wrong, or the roofer makes you uncomfortable, keep looking.
What Good Looks Like
Let me describe a roofer you should hire:
They turn up to the inspection on time. They get on the roof (or use a drone if safer). They explain what they found in language you understand.
The quote arrives within a few days. It’s itemised. Materials are specified by brand. The timeline is realistic. The warranty is clear.
When you ask about insurance, they email certificates within an hour. References? Here are three phone numbers.
The payment terms are fair. The scaffold is from a certified company. They’re not the cheapest quote—but they’re not the most expensive either.
That’s the roofer who gets my recommendation. Not because they’re perfect, but because they’re professional, accountable, and not hiding anything.
One Final Question: Why Should I Choose You?
I tell customers to ask this. The answer tells you a lot.
A good roofer can articulate what makes them worth hiring. Experience. Specialist skills. Quality standards. Customer service approach.
A bad roofer will stumble, or give you generic nonsense, or just talk about price.
The question isn’t unfair. You’re about to spend thousands of pounds on a roof that should protect your family for decades. You deserve to know why this particular person, this particular company.
Summary Checklist
Before you sign anything:
✅ How long in business? ✅ Owner or employee? ✅ Public liability insurance certificate (seen) ✅ Company registration number (verified) ✅ Itemised written quote ✅ Waste disposal included ✅ Payment schedule (small deposit, balance on completion) ✅ Specific materials named ✅ Scaffold/access plan ✅ Realistic timeline ✅ Written workmanship warranty ✅ References (contacted) ✅ Employer’s liability insurance (if applicable) ✅ Process for hidden damage ✅ Post-completion support process
If you can tick all fifteen, you’ve found someone worth hiring.
If several boxes are empty, keep looking.
Ready to ask the questions?
We’re happy to answer all fifteen—and any others you think of.
Or call: +44 89 981 9675
Seamus O’Brien has been answering customers’ questions for 20 years. He prefers the ones who ask lots.
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