How to compare roofing quotes without missing the work between the lines

Put the scope beside the price

Create a simple comparison with one column for each quotation. Record what is being removed, repaired, replaced and retained. Include the named roof area and adjoining junctions, not just a description such as “renew roof”. Mark any item that is not mentioned as a question to clarify rather than an assumed inclusion.

Ask whether scaffolding or other planned access, protection, waste removal and making good are included. Discuss restrictions such as shared drives, rear access, parking or adjoining property. These details affect how a proposal can actually be delivered.

Ask for a specification you can recognise

A material description should be specific enough to check what has been agreed. For a membrane roof, request the proposed system and build-up. For a tiled roof, ask which covering and related details are included. If something is to match existing material, ask how that match will be selected and what limitations apply.

Ask who is responsible for checking any design or approval requirements and what documentation you should receive. Where thermal work or substantial renewal is proposed, Planning Portal provides a starting point for understanding why building control may be involved.

Make hidden-condition assumptions explicit

A roofer may not be able to see the full deck or supporting structure before opening-up. Ask what condition has been assumed and how a newly discovered defect will be reported. Agree that additional work, its cost and any effect on timing will be explained and authorised in writing before it proceeds, except for any separately agreed emergency arrangements.

• Which items are fixed in the scope and which are allowances?
• What inspection or photograph will support a proposed variation?
• Who can approve changes, and how will they be recorded?

Check the practical terms and completion record

Confirm the contracting business, contact details, relevant insurance and the proposed payment stages. If a guarantee is offered, read the actual terms and identify its issuer. Ask about access arrangements and protection for occupants; HSE guidance makes clear that roof work needs planned safety measures, including for short tasks.

Agree what handover means for your project: completed scope, photographs where useful, removal of access equipment and waste, maintenance information and relevant certificates. Keep the accepted quote and subsequent changes together. A cheaper total is only a useful comparison once you understand the work and terms attached to it.