If you have noticed mould on your ceilings, damp patches or water penetration in your home when it rains, it could mean you’ve got a problem with your roof tiles or your pointing.
Some roofing problems also occur because of bad weather. Maybe a storm has caused a tree to fall on your home, or high winds have caused the tiles to blow off the roof.
In cases like this, your roofing problem becomes an emergency.
Whatever the reason, when you need your roof looked at, you’ll want to get hold of a roofer.
In this guide, we’ll tell you how much a roofer charges on average, what goes into removing and replacing a ridge tile, how to find and hire a roofer, suggest what questions you should ask them and ways you can save money on a roofing repair.
Finally, we’ll answer some of your frequently asked questions.
Topics
How Much Do Roofers Charge?
A roofer specialises in the construction and repair of all types of roofs. They typically charge between £15 and £30 an hour, or £120 to £240 a day.
If you need to find a reliable roofer, use HouseholdQuotes. Simply fill in the online form and tell us briefly what you need, and we’ll find roofers to give you no-obligation quotes for your roofing job.
Click To Get QuotesWhat Affects the Cost of Hiring a Roofer?
A few different factors will affect the cost of hiring a roofer.
Type of Job
If the job is replacing a few roof tiles that are causing a leak, you may pay between £100 and £250.
However, if you are replacing a roof then the costs are much greater. Replacing the roof of a three-bedroomed semi-detached house will be on average between £5,000 and £7,500.
Size of the Job
If you are replacing a roof on a small, terraced house the cost will be less than replacing the roof on a four-bedroomed detached house.
A new roof on a two-bedroomed terrace will be around £4,750. A new roof on a four-bedroomed detached house will be around £7,000.
Skip Hire
Removing tiles and mortar from a roof can be messy. It may be necessary to hire a skip to get rid of the rubbish.
Skip hire starts at around £60 for a small skip and £275 for an extra-large skip.
Scaffolding
If the roofing job is large, then the roofer will need scaffolding so that they can access all parts of your roof safely. If you have scaffolding for a three-bedroomed terrace home, you can expect to pay between £650 and £850.
If the roofer is only working on one part of the roof, you may only have to erect a scaffolding tower which will cost on average between £250 and £300.
If you want to know more about the costs of scaffolding, have a look at our guide.
Location
Where you live will also have a bearing on how much you pay for a roofer and equipment like skips and scaffolding.
If you live in London and the surrounding areas, you can add between 10% and 20% to any of the average prices we have quoted.
How Can I Save Money on My Roofing Job?
First of all, make sure you get at least three quotes from roofers and compare each quote. If you are looking for a roofer in an emergency, jot down the figures they give you over the phone and compare each quote that way.
Research second-hand sites like Cawarden and Enviromate for reclaimed roof tiles which might come at a better price.
When you need a roofer, let HouseholdQuotes help you! Simply fill in our online form and tell us briefly what you need, so we can find local roofers to give you no-obligation quotes for your roofing project.
Click To Get QuotesHow Does a Roofer Remove and Repair Ridge Tiles?
Necessary tools:
- A hammer
- A brush
- A screwdriver
The roofer will start by putting the screwdriver gently under the ridge tile and then tap it with a hammer until they can lift it off.
The mortar will then be cleaned off the tiles using a brush if they are going to be reused.
Hard mortar can be softened using a cutter with a diamond cutter blade.
The old tile or a replacement will then be fixed into position again with new mortar and a nail in through to the roof rafter to fix the tile firmly into place.
How Do I Find and Hire a Roofer?
It’s always good to get a personal recommendation. Ask family, work colleagues and friends if they have had any work done on their roofs recently.
Someone in your social circle might be glad to give a recommendation of someone they have used in the past, or that they know personally.
You can also search the website belonging to the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC). If you have the roofer’s name you can search the NFRC site to see if they are member’s.
Use HouseholdQuotes. Fill in our online form and tell us briefly about the project.
We’ll find local roofers to give you no-obligation quotes, fast.
Click To Get QuotesEnsuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
Ask each tradesperson to give you a written quote. Try to get each quote to cover the same job scope.
If you have similar quotes, you’ll find it much easier to compare them.
- Are you a member of a trade association? It’s not vital that a person is a member of a trade organisation but trade association members usually have to adhere to certain regulations.
- What roofing experience do you have? This question can help you find out if the roofer is someone experienced or new to the job. You’ll probably pay more for someone with years of experience and less for someone who is just starting out after training. A roofer should be BBA (British Board of Agreement) certified.
- Do you supply a warranty? It’s normal practice if you have a new roof to receive a warranty of around 25 years.
- Do you charge for a callout, or have you got a minimum callout fee? This is an important question. You want to make sure that this is included in any quotes you get. Callout charges can be anything between £50 and £200 depending on the circumstances.
- Do you organise scaffold and skip hire? If the roofer organises skip and scaffold hire it will be included in the quote. If it isn’t and you need to arrange it ask the roofer’s exactly what you need.
- Have you got a website or a portfolio with photos of your previous work and client testimonials? It doesn’t matter if a tradesperson hasn’t got a website, but if they have one ask them if they have a portfolio of work done for previous customers. They might also have feedback you can read.
- Have you got public liability insurance? Public liability insurance provides insurance cover to a tradesperson. All tradespeople should have public liability cover to protect them from negligence claims.
Final Checklist
Use the checklist below to make sure you’ve got everything you need to hire a professional roofer:
- Get quotes from roofers for the job you need doing tell them if you intend to source and buy your own materials. (HouseholdQuotes can help you with this!)
- Compare the quotes
- Choose your builder
- Arrange a date for the work to start
- Organise a skip and scaffold hire if this isn’t included in the quote.
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
Should I Pay a Roofer Upfront?
How Do You Know if a Roofer Has Done a Good Job?
Your roof should also have appropriate flashings, so the guttering works efficiently.
The best way to find out is to have a survey carried out by a roofing surveyor who will provide you with an independent roofing report. A report will probably cost you between £250 and £500.
How Much Does a New Roof Cost?
What’s the Best Time to Replace a Roof?
If you can’t find a roofer in the Autumn, then you could have the work done in the Spring as long as the weather is dry.
Roofers also work during the summer, but with the holiday season it does tend to be a quieter time. Winter is not a good season for a roofer it is usually much too wet and windy in the UK.
Is It Okay to Use Reclaimed Tiles Rather Than New Ones?
It also means if you are having repairs done you can find the same type of tile for your roof.
What Is an Insurance Backed Guarantee?
It covers you or the tradesperson if the work isn’t finished or faults develop after the work is done, and the company no longer exists.
Do I Need Planning Permission to Replace My Roof?
If you have bats in your roof, you will need to have a survey and it might be necessary to obtain a licence to do any roof work.
If you are repairing or replacing more than 25% of the overall roof area, you will need to comply with the building regulations of your local authority.
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