How to Choose a Roofer You Can Trust (UK Checklist)

The checklist

6 Checks That Separate a Roofer From a Regret

Roofing is unregulated: anyone with a ladder and a Facebook page can call themselves a roofer. These checks take ten minutes and remove nearly all of the risk.

1. A real company you can look up

Search the exact company name on Companies House. A registered limited company with a trading history and a real address has something to lose; a mobile number and a magnetic van sign does not. We are Seal Pro Roofing Ltd, company number 15914993, registered in Windsor, and we put that on every page and every quote.

2. Insurance they will actually show you

Ask to see the public liability certificate, not just hear about it. If a roofer is uninsured, a dropped tile through a conservatory or an accident on your property becomes your problem. Any established company can produce the document within a day; hesitation is your answer.

3. Reviews on a platform they cannot edit

Testimonials on a company's own website prove nothing. Read reviews on Google, where the company cannot delete the bad ones, and read the recent ones, not just the average. Ours are here: 5.0 from 200+ Google reviews, and the pattern you will see repeated is punctual, tidy, honest.

4. A written, fixed, itemised quote

Verbal ballparks grow. A proper quote is written, names the materials, includes stripping and disposal, and states plainly whether scaffolding is in the price. Sanity-check the numbers against honest guide ranges first: our roof repair, new roof and flat roof cost guides exist for exactly that.

5. Photographs of what they found

You cannot see your own roof, which is what rogue traders rely on. Insist on photographs of the actual fault before agreeing to anything. Every Seal Pro inspection comes with photos of what we found, so the quote describes a fault you can see with your own eyes.

6. A guarantee in writing, from a company that will exist

A guarantee is only worth the company standing behind it. Ask what is covered, for how long, and get it in writing on the quote. Then weigh it against check number one: a guarantee from a company that dissolves every two years is printed on air.

Walk away when

The Red Flags That End the Conversation

They knocked on your door. Genuine roofers do not tout door to door. "We were working nearby and noticed your roof" is the oldest opening line in the trade.
Cash today, starts today. Urgency plus cash is the scam signature. A real company has a diary.
No address, no company number, no paperwork. If you cannot find them next year, neither can your guarantee.
The price drops the moment you hesitate. A number that can fall £2,000 in a doorway was never a real price.
They will not put it in writing. Whatever the reason given, the real reason is the same.

We work across Old Windsor, Egham, Surbiton, New Malden and Hampton, and a worrying share of our repair work is putting right jobs that failed these checks. Spend the ten minutes.

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Prefer to talk? Speak to Cornelius on 07777 735785 or 01753 415 442

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FAQs

Choosing a Roofer, Answered

What should I check before hiring a roofer?

Five things: that they are a registered limited company you can look up, that they carry public liability insurance and will show the certificate, that quotes are written and fixed rather than verbal, that their reviews sit on a platform they do not control, and that a workmanship guarantee is offered in writing.

How many roofing quotes should I get?

Two or three for anything substantial. Compare what each quote includes, not just the bottom line: stripping and disposal, felt and battens, the exact tile or slate, and whether scaffolding is in or out. A cheap number that excludes half the job is not a cheap quote. Our cost guides give you a sense of honest 2026 ranges before you start.

Should I pay a roofer a deposit?

Small deposits for materials on larger jobs are normal. Full payment up front is not, and demands for cash today for work starting today are how doorstep scams operate. A reputable company invoices as the work is done and is still trading long after your guarantee needs honouring.

Are doorstep roofers ever legitimate?

The knock that starts with your roof needs urgent work almost never ends well. Genuine roofers are booked up and do not tout for work door to door. If someone tells you your roof is dangerous, thank them, close the door and get an independent inspection. Ours are free, and if the roof is genuinely fine we will tell you.

What does a proper roofing quote look like?

It is written, itemised and fixed. It names the materials, includes stripping and disposal, states whether scaffolding is included, gives a start window and carries the company's registered details. Ours also include photographs of what we found, so you can see the fault you are paying to fix.

Why does the cheapest quote usually cost the most?

Because the price was built by leaving things out: the felt stays, the rotten battens stay, the disposal is extra, the scaffold appears on the invoice later. The job gets patched rather than fixed and you pay twice. Compare like for like, and treat a number well below every other quote as information.

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