So you’ve decided to bite the bullet and get someone in to do your new flat roof. Now it’s time to choose your flat roofing company.
How can you make sure they do a great job? What if they’re a cowboy set-up about to leave you high and dry?
In this super simple blog, you’ll find the five most important questions you can ask a flat roofing company before hiring them to make sure they’re credible.
Question 1: How Long Is Your Guarantee And Does It Cover The Whole Roof?
Some customers find this crucial information out when it’s too late.
Many companies offering to supply and install flat roofs provide what looks like a comprehensive warranty, but it often only covers the physical product – the sheets of PVC, EPDM, GRP or roofing felt that have been professionally fitted – and not your whole roof.
What’s more, some flat roof businesses will have multiple companies on the books for different aspects of the job. When there are different companies involved, such as a supplier AND a fitter, it makes claiming against your guarantee really clunky and requires a lot of hard work.
So what are you looking for when you’ve asked this question?
The industry standard for flat roof guarantees is 10 years, but some companies will offer a lifetime guarantee, which we’re sure you’ll agree is a weight off the shoulders… If it covers your whole roof.
To make sure you understand what the warranty will and will not cover, ask to see the written terms of conditions and seek further advice if you’re not sure.
Question 2: Are You Certified Or Accredited?
The #1 sign of a credible flat roof company, and proof they aren’t a cowboy ready and waiting to rip you off, is legitimate accreditation.
No certificate? Beware. Choosing a dodgy roofer can leave you with devastating results and no cash to fix them.
The four most well-known regulatory bodies to scope out on certificates or paperwork provided to you are:
- British Board of Agreement. The BBA is a UKAS-accredited company that sets the bar for construction quality.
- Federation of Master Builders. By displaying the FMB badge of quality, a flat roof company is demonstrating that they are a professional company that clients can trust.
- Competent Roofer. This is the UK’s government-licensed scheme that allows professional roofing contractors to self-certify that their work complies with building regulations.
- Trustmark. A government-endorsed vetting scheme that covers all 3 cornerstones of quality; good trading practices, good customer service and technical competence.
Question 3: Can You Give Me A Detailed Price Breakdown?
Received a cheap quote from a flat roofing company? Does your quote skimp on the details?
These red flags could spell trouble.
Any quotes you receive should be clear and itemised. And any reputable, professional roofing business should be able to break a quote down to show you exactly what you’re paying for if asked.
Quotes given as one single figure, or clear resistance when a breakdown is requested, are big red flags that you’re dealing with a bogus business.
Remember. High-quality roofs aren’t cheap. They’re an investment. Hiring a specialist might be more expensive than a cheap one-man-band installer, but it will save you thousands in the long run when you don’t have to fund repairs and replacements.
Question 4: Can I See Previous Projects You’ve Completed? What About Reviews?
Professional, specialist companies should have nothing to hide.
Of course, you can hunt out photos of previous work and recent reviews yourself. Look for unbiased reviews on Google, review sites like Checkatrade and even the company’s social media pages.
Nevertheless, a reputable roofing company should jump at the chance to show off its brilliance when asked, if they haven’t paraded it already.
And, if they don’t have anything to show you at all, ask yourself why they can’t produce a proven track record. Photos of previous jobs and published reviews aren’t anything out of the ordinary.
Have they even done this before?
Question 5: What Type Of Flat Roofs Do You Provide?
The flat roof market is huge. Felt, Single-Ply, GRP, EPDM… Even what we’d call warm roofs and cold roofs. There’s a flat roof option out there for everyone, and each comes with its own set of pros and cons.
As a prospective customer, you’re unlikely to know a lot about the roofing business. But a flat roof professional absolutely should.
Can your potential flat-roofer explain the advantages of single-ply over felt roofs? What about the differences between cold and warm roofs?
The question isn’t simply ‘do they know their stuff’, but rather ‘are they being open about potential downsides of the roof types they offer’. An inability to answer technical questions points towards the possibility that this so-called professional is trying to pull the wool over your eyes.
Education Is Everything
Do your homework and learn more about the variety of flat roofs out there to avoid wasting your time and money with phoney roofing companies.
When you’ve got a couple of quotes in, make sure you’re happy with the price breakdown. Check their online business presence out for certification, previous work and recent reviews, and above all, ask questions.
Any reputable company will be happy to answer them.
Want to know exactly how much your new flat roof could cost? Book a FREE survey today and we’ll give you a 23-point roof condition report worth £295+VAT totally free…