How to hire a roofing contractor

In addition to reading reviews, there are a few other checks you should do to make sure you’re hiring a legitimate roofer that will do a good job:

Experience:

Do they have experience with your type of roof? If you have modern materials (like fibreglass) or something more specialist (such as a thatched roof) it’s recommended you use someone who specialises in this. If in doubt, check their website for past jobs, or ask them for photos. You can also ask them if they belong to any roofing industry associations to give you the assurance that they are qualified and able to undertake the works you require.

Qualifications:

There are a set of vocational qualifications (NVQs/SVQs) and apprenticeship standards in roofing, related to various disciplines. However, there are many roofers who are very experienced and competent but do not have a formal qualification. So whilst you should consider qualifications, this shouldn’t be your only determining factor when deciding which roofer to use, and you should also consider other factors such as if they are members of a trade association such as the NFRC.

Insurance:

It’s highly recommended you find a roofer with public liability insurance to make sure you won’t be out of pocket should the worst happen. If they have more than one employee we also recommend they have employers liability insurance. With Solar Daddy Group you can see all of our trade’s up to date insurances.

Presence:

Make sure they have a physical address and a phone number. You need to be sure they’ll be around for the long term and aren’t just “passing through”. This is especially important if your only interaction is them knocking on your door.

RCPS:

Check if they are part of the Roofing Competent Person Scheme (RCPS, also known as CompetentRoofer), which allows roofing contractors to self-certify their work against the Building Regulations. One great benefit of this is if you’re replacing more than 50% of the roof you won’t need a surveyor, helping save money and time.

RoofCERT:

You may also want to see if the roofer you are choosing has RoofCERT accreditation. RoofCERT is the only third-party accreditation for roofing operatives in the UK. To obtain RoofCERT accreditation, roofers must pass a knowledge test in their chosen discipline and undertake mandatory health and safety awareness training. They must also demonstrate their occupational competency either through a National Vocational Qualification or an assessment for those without a qualification. Accreditation is then reviewed periodically.

https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/hiring-guides/roofer/