Selecting a roofer and agreeing how the work will be carried out

Experience with a simple roof slope does not automatically mean skill with multiple roof valleys and dormers. It is worth asking for examples of work with similar geometry. The material is also important. Installing modular tile-effect metal roofing differs from laying long sheets or insulated sandwich roof panels.

Photos should show more than a finished house from a distance. Close-ups of flashings, the eaves and wall connections are useful. It is good to ask which works the given crew carried out. Mere participation in a large build does not define its actual scope.

A reliable quote needs dimensions, the design and information about the scope of works. For a renovation, an inspection is often necessary. A price given without assessing the condition of the structure may cover only the basic covering. The remaining activities will only emerge during the works.

Ask for the materials to be specified and for the installation instructions according to which the installation will be carried out. It is worth asking about the batten spacing, the ventilation method and the valley flashing solution. The aim is not to test the contractor’s memory. It is about checking whether the decisions have a concrete basis.

Who measures the roof, prepares the list of sheets and approves the order? This is particularly important with tile-effect metal roofing cut to size. It is also worth specifying who receives the delivery and reports damage. A lack of agreements can make it difficult to clarify a later mistake.

If you buy the material separately, give the contractor the full specification before confirming the quote. Fixings, flashings, membranes and accessories must be included. A quote for laying the sheet metal alone does not have to cover their supply. The scope should be stated explicitly.

The schedule of works should include demolition, substrate repairs, the layers beneath the covering and installation of the sheet metal. Chimneys, windows, gutters and roof access should be listed separately. For renovation, waste removal and protection of the building against precipitation must also be allowed for.

Not all defects can be seen before the roof slope is uncovered. Agree how such situations are documented and additional works approved. This makes clear when the client’s decision is required. A general financial contingency alone does not yet define the scope of repairs.

Good organisation covers unloading, moving materials and securing the work areas. The team should know where the sheets will be stored and how to protect them from moisture. Accidentally moving long sheet metal can damage it before installation.

It is worth discussing access to the building, the area beneath the works and fall protection. Procedures for worsening weather should also be agreed. A date in the schedule does not justify working in conditions that prevent safe installation.

Part of the roof disappears beneath successive layers. Acceptance should therefore be divided into stages covering the substrate, insulation and connections. Photographs should show the areas at chimneys, windows and the eaves. Once the works are complete, access to them may be difficult.

The schedule should allow for deliveries and the time needed to execute the details. It is worth appointing a person for ongoing decisions and agreeing how they are confirmed. A change of material or solution during the works should not remain only an oral arrangement on site.

A warranty on the sheet metal does not automatically describe all roofing works. Check who handles a leak report and what scope the given protection covers. The conditions relating to installation and material should be obtained in writing.

You can also ask about the contractor’s insurance and its actual scope. A document does not replace careful work or a good acceptance. It is, however, information when assessing the cooperation. Avoid basing your choice solely on a promise that every problem will be settled without formalities.

The inspection covers material conformity, surface condition, flashings, fixings and free-flowing drainage. It is worth checking that swarf and waste have been removed. The handover should take place from a safe position or using suitable access. The client does not have to walk on the roof slope without preparation.

Record the specific defects, deadlines and the method of rectifying them in the protocol. Collect the instructions, the delivery specification and the photographic documentation. Finally, agree the arrangements for inspections and service contact. Cooperation prepared in this way offers more than the lowest rate per square metre of covering alone.