Before hiring a roofer, ask whether they are fully insured, what trade accreditations they hold, whether you can see references and recent work, and whether they will survey the roof and give a written, itemised quote with a workmanship guarantee. Be wary of anyone who cold-calls, wants cash only, or pressures you to decide on the spot.
At Edinburgh Borders Roofing, we quote and complete jobs across Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Scottish Borders every week, so the questions below come from knowing exactly what separates a reputable roofer from a risky one.
The Most Important Questions To Ask A Roofer
These are the core questions to work through before you agree to anything. Each one is explained in detail further down.
- Are you fully insured, and can I see proof?
- Do roofers need a licence, and what accreditations do you hold?
- Can I see references, reviews and examples of recent local work?
- Will you survey the roof before quoting?
- Will I get a written, itemised quote?
- What guarantee or warranty do you offer, and is it in writing?
- Do you use subcontractors, and who is my point of contact?
- What materials will you use, and will the old roof be removed?
- What happens if you find hidden damage?
- How will you protect my property and clean up afterwards?
- What are the payment terms?
- Do you have experience with roofs like mine (slate, tenement, listed)?
Do Roofers Need A Licence In The Uk?
No. Roofers in the UK are not legally required to hold a licence, which is exactly why accreditation, insurance and proof of past work matter more, not less. Anyone can call themselves a roofer and start trading, so the responsibility falls on you to check credentials properly.
This is the single most important thing to understand before you hire. Because there is no legal licence to fall back on, the reassurance comes from other signals: valid insurance, membership of a recognised trade body, genuine reviews, and a track record you can actually verify. The rest of this guide is built around those checks.
Are You Fully Insured, And Can I See Proof?
A roofer should carry both public liability and employers’ liability insurance, and should have no problem showing you the documents. This is not optional, it protects you directly.
Public liability insurance covers damage to your property, or injury to others, caused during the work. If a tile falls through your conservatory or damages a neighbour’s car, this is what covers it. Employers’ liability insurance covers the roofer’s own workers if one is injured on your property. Without it, an injured worker could potentially look to the homeowner. If a roofer is vague about insurance or cannot provide proof, treat that as a serious warning sign and walk away.
What Accreditations Or Trade Memberships Do You Hold?
Membership of a recognised trade body is a strong trust marker, even though it is not legally required. Reputable roofers usually belong to one or more industry organisations that set standards and vet their members.
Look for names such as the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), CompetentRoofer, TrustMark, or Which? Trusted Trader. Each signals that the roofer has met certain standards and agreed to a code of conduct, and some offer access to insurance-backed guarantees. Membership is not a guarantee of perfection, but a roofer who holds recognised accreditations has more to lose by doing a poor job.
Can I See References, Reviews And Recent Work?
A confident roofer will happily point you to independent reviews and examples of recent jobs, ideally local ones. If someone is reluctant to show any evidence of past work, ask yourself why.
Check independent review platforms rather than relying only on testimonials chosen by the company. Better still, ask for recent work in your area that you could see for yourself, since a genuinely local roofer will usually have plenty nearby. Photographs of completed jobs, and a willingness to discuss them, are a good sign of a roofer who stands behind their work.
Will You Survey The Roof And Give A Written, Itemised Quote?
A proper roofer inspects the roof before quoting and puts the quote in writing, broken down into labour and materials. A price offered sight-unseen, or only ever given verbally, is a warning sign.
Roofs hide their problems, so an accurate quote depends on someone actually getting up and looking. When we quote a roof in Edinburgh, we carry out a free photographic roof survey first, so you can see the condition for yourself and understand exactly what you are paying for. Insist on a written, itemised quote, because it protects both sides and makes comparing roofers fair.
What Guarantee Or Warranty Do You Offer?
Ask for a workmanship guarantee in writing, and understand how it differs from a materials warranty. The two are separate and both matter.
A workmanship guarantee covers the quality of the roofer’s own installation, so if something they fitted fails, they put it right. A manufacturer’s warranty covers defects in the materials themselves. Some accredited roofers can also offer an insurance-backed guarantee, which protects you if the company were to cease trading. Whatever is offered, get the length and terms in writing rather than relying on a verbal promise.
Do You Use Subcontractors, And Who Is My Point Of Contact?
Using subcontractors is fine, provided the work is properly managed and everyone on your roof is insured, but you should know who will actually be doing the job. Ask who your day-to-day point of contact is if a question or problem comes up.
Knowing who is on your property, and who is accountable for the finished work, avoids confusion later. A clear answer here is reassuring; a vague one is not.
Questions About The Work Itself
Ask what will actually be done, in what materials, and over what timeframe. A good roofer explains their choices in plain terms.
Key questions include what materials will be used and why, whether the old roof covering will be stripped off or covered over (stripping is usually the sounder option), how long the job will take, and how much disruption to expect. Also ask about access: whether the job needs a scaffold or can be done with rope access, which is often faster and less intrusive on awkward or tall roofs.
What Happens If You Find Hidden Damage?
Ask how the roofer handles hidden problems, such as rotten timber or failed felt found once work begins. This is where unexpected issues, and disputes, usually arise.
A trustworthy roofer will explain upfront how they deal with hidden damage: that they will show you the problem, explain it, and agree any additional work with you before proceeding, rather than simply adding it to the final bill. Getting this understanding in advance, ideally in writing, prevents nasty surprises. If you need roof repairs after a survey reveals more than expected, you should always be consulted first.
How will you protect my property and clean up?
A professional roofer protects your home during the work and leaves the site clean at the end. Ask specifically how they will do both.
Good questions include how they will protect gutters, the garden, paths and windows from falling debris, whether the site is left safe and tidy each day, and how old materials and stray nails are cleared away at the end. Many homeowners only think of this after the event, when they are left picking nails out of the lawn.
Payment: what is reasonable to ask?
Ask for clear, written payment terms, and be cautious about anything that feels off. Reasonable practice protects you as much as the roofer.
Be wary of demands for large cash sums upfront or cash-only deals with no paperwork. For larger jobs, staged payments tied to milestones are more normal than paying everything in advance. A roofer confident in their work does not need most of the money before they have done it. Always get the terms in writing.
Roofing scam red flags to watch for
Certain behaviours reliably signal a rogue trader, and recognising them protects you before any money changes hands. The classic warning signs are consistent.
Be cautious of anyone who: cold-calls or knocks on your door uninvited, claims they “noticed your roof needed work from the road”, insists on cash only, will not provide a written quote, has no verifiable business address, pressures you to decide immediately, quotes a price that seems too good to be true, or asks for a large deposit before starting. These so-called storm chasers are especially common after Scottish winter storms, appearing quickly to prey on genuine damage. A reputable roofer gives you time, paperwork, and proof.
Extra Questions For Scottish And Edinburgh Homes
Ask a local roofer local questions, because Scottish and Edinburgh roofs bring specifics a generic contractor may not know. Experience with the right roof type and local rules matters here.
Worth asking: do they have genuine experience with traditional slate and lead work, which is common on older Edinburgh and Borders properties? Have they worked on tenement roofs, where a shared roof means coordinating with other owners or a property factor? Are they familiar with conservation area and listed building requirements, which are widespread in Edinburgh and can affect what work is permitted? And can they handle Scottish weather and access? A roofer who answers these confidently knows your kind of roof. This is exactly the sort of work covered by our roof slating and tiling service.
Question, Why It Matters, And Good Answer Vs Red Flag
This table sums up the highest-value questions, what a reassuring answer sounds like, and what should worry you.
| Question | Why it matters | Good answer vs red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Are you insured? | Protects your property and their workers | Good: shows PL and EL documents. Red flag: vague or “don’t need it” |
| What accreditations do you hold? | Signals vetted standards | Good: names NFRC, FMB or similar. Red flag: none and dismissive |
| Can I see recent local work? | Proves a real track record | Good: offers examples and reviews. Red flag: reluctant or evasive |
| Will you survey before quoting? | Ensures an accurate price | Good: inspects first. Red flag: quotes sight-unseen |
| Is the quote written and itemised? | Protects both sides | Good: detailed written quote. Red flag: verbal or one figure |
| What guarantee do you offer? | Covers future problems | Good: written workmanship guarantee. Red flag: “trust me” |
| What are the payment terms? | Guards against scams | Good: staged, written terms. Red flag: large cash deposit upfront |
How We Answer These Questions At Edinburgh Borders Roofing
We are happy to answer every one of these questions, because we built our reputation on doing so. We are fully insured, established for more than 30 years, and we provide a free photographic roof survey, a written itemised quote, and a workmanship guarantee on our work. As an established Edinburgh roofing company, we cover slate, tile, lead and flat roofing across Edinburgh, Leith, Musselburgh, Dalkeith, Midlothian, Portobello, the Lothians and the Scottish Borders, with rope access for awkward roofs.
If you are weighing up a roofer and want honest, straightforward answers, book a free photographic roof survey with Edinburgh Borders Roofing and see how we work.