The short answer
A roofing quote should name the property, describe the work in detail, state the materials, say whether scaffold and waste removal are included, explain who handles any consents, set out the guarantee in writing, and give the total price with payment terms. It should also say how extra work would be agreed. If any of these is missing, ask for it to be added before you accept.
The scope of the work
The scope is the heart of a quote. It should tell you which part of the roof is being worked on, what is coming off and what is going on in its place. "Repair roof" is not a scope. "Strip the rear slope, renew battens and underlay, and re-cover in matching natural slate" is.
Look for each of these elements in the description:
- The address and the parts of the roof involved, such as front slope, rear slope, extension or porch.
- What is being stripped and what is being kept.
- New timber, including battens, which are the thin strips that carry the slates or tiles, and any repairs to rafters or fascia boards.
- The underlay, the membrane that sits beneath the battens.
- The lead, with a note of where it is being replaced, such as flashings, valleys or chimney trays.
- Ridge, hip and verge details, including how they are fixed.
- Gutters and downpipes, if included.
The more specific the description, the less room there is for argument. A roofer who writes it all down is showing that they have looked properly at the roof. If you want help checking the paperwork before you commit, see how many roofing quotes to get for a way of putting several side by side.
Materials, named properly
A good quote names the covering, not just its type. "Natural slate" is better than "slate", and "natural Welsh slate, 500 by 250 millimetres" is better again. For tiles, expect the make and range. For flat roofs, the membrane and its thickness or system. For lead, the code, because lead sheet is made in numbered thicknesses, with heavier codes used where more strength is wanted. One lead supplier lists code 5 and heavier for parapet and box gutters, and codes 4 and 5 for flashings.
Matching matters on an older roof. If your house is in natural slate or stone tile, the quote should say the new covering is a match, and whether the existing slates are being reused. Replacing natural with a man-made product can change both the look and the performance of a roof, and in a conservation area or on a listed building it can need permission.
If the roofer says they will use "equivalent" materials, ask them to name the specific product. A vague description lets cheaper substitutes in at the last minute, and the written quote is your only record of what was promised.
Scaffold, access, waste and clearing up
These are the extras that often make the difference between two quotes that look alike. Scaffold is needed for most re-roofing and for work at height, both for safety and for access. The quote should say whether it is included, who arranges it and for how long it will stay up. Typical UK ranges reported by MyBuilder (2026) put scaffold at about £1,125 on a roof replacement, which gives a sense of the scale involved. Your fixed quote follows the survey.
Waste is the next item. Old slates, tiles, battens and lead all have to go somewhere. Look for a line that says waste is removed from site and the site left clean, with no skip fee left for you to find. Hazardous material, such as an asbestos cement roof, is handled under different rules and should be mentioned separately if it applies.
Also check for the small details: protection for gardens and paths, the working hours, and whether the roofer will cover the roof overnight if rain comes. How an open roof should be looked after is covered under roofing in wet weather.
Consents and the paperwork behind the job
The quote should say who deals with permissions. Many roof jobs need no formal approval, but some do. A re-roof that affects a large part of the roof may need Building Regulations approval, and a heavier covering may need a structural check. Listed buildings need listed building consent from B&NES Council before work starts, and a conservation area can affect which materials are acceptable.
You do not need the quote to give legal advice, but it should show the roofer has thought about it. Look for a line such as "Building Regulations notification arranged by us where required" or "listed building consent to be obtained before work begins". If the roofer shrugs the subject off, that is a warning. You can read the basics in our pages on roofing regulations in Bath, and on roof checks when buying a house if you are dealing with a purchase.
Where approval applies, the roofer should also say how a completion certificate or sign-off will reach you, since you may need it later when you sell the house.
Guarantee, price and payment terms
Finally, the quote should give the price and how it is paid. The price should be a total, or a clear breakdown that adds up to one. Watch for items marked "provisional" or "at cost", because they can grow. If the price might change, for instance when rotten timber is found, the quote should say how extra work will be priced and agreed. It is reasonable to ask that no extra is carried out without your approval first.
Payment terms should be spelled out. Money up front for materials ordered specially can be normal, with the balance at completion or in stages. What counts as reasonable is set out under paying a roofer in advance.
The guarantee belongs on the paper too. It should state the period, what is covered and how to make a claim. Ours is a ten-year workmanship guarantee, issued as a document. Finally, look for the roofer's name, a contact number, the date on the quote and how long the price stays valid. A quote with an expiry date of a few weeks is fair, because material costs move. A quote that expires tomorrow is a pressure tactic. Start a conversation about your own roof through the home page, and you will get a written quote after the survey.
