How to Choose a Roofer (and Spot a Rogue Trader)
By Leonard Walton, owner & lead roofer3 min read
Most roofers are honest grafters — but roofing also attracts a share of rogue traders, and a bad one can cost you thousands for work you didn't need. The good news is that the difference shows up in a handful of simple checks: insurance, qualifications, a proper written quote, sensible payment terms, and how they came to be at your door. Get those right and you'll almost always be dealing with someone who'll do the job properly.
The five checks that matter
- Insurance — a real roofer carries public liability cover. Ask to see it. We hold £5 million public liability.
- Qualifications — roofing is a skilled trade; ask what they hold. Our lead roofer holds an NVQ Level 3 in Roofing.
- A written, fixed quote — clear, described, access included. If the price moves once work begins, walk away.
- Sensible payment — no big up-front deposit; you pay against a full written invoice.
- How they found you — recommendation and enquiry, not a knock at the door.
The rogue-trader playbook
The classic con is the cold-caller: "we were working on a roof nearby and noticed some tiles slipping on yours." It plays on worry, invents urgency, and ends with a large cash figure for work that often didn't need doing — or wasn't done at all. A genuine local firm doesn't tout for work door to door; it's kept busy by reviews and word of mouth. If someone pressures you to decide on the spot or pay cash up front, that pressure is the red flag.
Why "own team, never subcontractors" matters
Plenty of outfits win the job then send whoever's available. We don't — every job is carried out by our own directly employed team, so the person who quotes your roof is responsible for the people who fix it. It means the standard you're sold is the standard you get.
Proof you can actually see
Ask how you'll know the finished job is sound — most of a roof is somewhere you can't see. We photograph completed work, including by drone where useful, and back our workmanship with a written guarantee of up to 15 years. A roofer confident in their work is happy to show it to you.
Frequently asked questions
Should I ever pay a roofer a big deposit up front?
Be very wary of large up-front deposits. A settled roofer doesn't need your money to buy materials for a normal domestic job. We don't take a deposit at all — you pay against a full written invoice.
Is a cold-caller at the door a red flag?
Usually, yes. "We were working nearby and noticed your roof" is the classic opener for overpriced, unnecessary work. A genuine local roofer is booked from recommendations and enquiries, not door-knocking.
What should a proper quote look like?
Clear, fixed, and in writing, with the work described and access included — not a vague figure scribbled on the spot. If a price changes once work starts, that's a warning sign.
How do I check a roofer is really insured and qualified?
Ask to see public liability cover and any qualifications, and check they're an established business you can look up. We carry £5m public liability and hold an NVQ Level 3 in Roofing.
Want a roofer you can check out before you commit? We're an NVQ-qualified, £5m-insured, family-run team across Hull, Beverley, Hessle and the East Riding — free fixed written quotes, real reviews, no cold-calling. Call 07447 352091.