5 questions to ask your roofing contractors when hiring

It happens to us all from time to time – we notice the odd drip and a few leaks before deciding that the only thing to do to save our roof is hire a professional to see to the growing problems. However, it is easy to underestimate how important your choice of roofer is. To help you avoid the cowboys and rogues, we’ve put together five things you should definitely ask a roofing professional before hiring them. “What is the full name and address of the company?” This may seem like an obvious one – probably so obvious that you hadn’t even thought about it. If the roofing company doesn’t have a physical address, that is a huge red flag. It can imply that the roofer is not running a legitimate business – or, at least, a prosperous one – and you should put the phone down right away. “How experienced are you?” The subject of their experience, too, could seem so obvious that you wouldn’t even consider asking about it. You may feel rude or patronising asking a qualified professional for their experience – but, if they are a trustworthy contractor, they will have no qualms about reassuring you by discussing their hard-earned qualifications and instilling you with confidence by reporting about their experience. “Do you have insurance?” One of the most important things you can ask your potential roofing contractor about is insurance. Due to the hazardous nature of the work they are trained to carry out, all roofing contractors should hold public liability insurance. Any self-respecting roofer will no doubt hold this insurance, simply because the risk is too high if they don’t. A good driver wouldn’t drive without insurance, so a good roofer shouldn’t trade without it either. At this point, you could also ask to see proof of their insurance and ask if they are associated with the NFRC (the National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited), the UK’s largest union for roofing contractors. As they represent over 70% of the UK’s roofing industry, it would be comforting for you to know that your chosen roofer is part of that association. “What is the price of the deposit?” If you request the price of the deposit straight away, you will get an idea of the overall cost without appearing too demanding. Never pay a roofer the full cost upfront; too many times, this has resulted in a total lack of service and loss of money. The roofer should, at an early stage, give you an idea of the expenses that need to be covered throughout the work. It would also be useful to buy an insurance-backed warranty or guarantee, should it be available – but, first, check what it will cover, Citizens Advice recommends. You want a warranty or guarantee that will cover the expense of having the work finished or rectified should the contractor go out of business mid-job or simply provide poor work. “How long will the work take?” Asking this question will help you to understand how long parts of your home will be out of action and whether you should or can commit to such a length of time. After all, the work will be in your home, so you should take the temporary disruption into account.