Summary
- Check insurance, licensing and recent local work before price.
- Deposits above 25% are a warning sign.
- Quotes must name materials, scaffolding and waste removal.
- Demand progress photos of membrane, battens and flashings.
- Never hire a roofer who cold-calls at the door.
Quick answer
Check insurance, trade body membership, a real address and recent local work before you consider price. Never pay a large deposit, and never hire from a cold knock at the door.
What to verify before the quote
What a proper quote contains
Typical price context
Re-roofing a standard house costs roughly $9,000–25,000 in the US and £5,500–15,000 in the UK. Repairs run from $250 or £180 for a few slipped tiles. Scaffolding alone is $800–2,500 or £600–1,800.
Red flags
During the job
Ask for progress photos at each stage — especially of the membrane, battens and flashings, which are invisible once tiles are on. Retain a final payment until you have walked around, seen the finished work photographed from the scaffold, and received the written guarantee.
Summary
Verify insurance, trade body membership and recent local work first, insist on a written specification naming materials and scaffolding, and never pay more than a modest deposit. The roofers worth hiring will expect all of it.