Start with what you can see
Make notes from a safe position. The purpose is to give a roofer a useful starting point, not to diagnose the structure yourself.
- Whether the work is a new installation or replacement
- Roof shape and preferred covering
- Insulation, ventilation and structural concerns
What a written proposal should cover
Ask providers to explain the work in the same level of detail. A cheaper price can reflect a narrower scope.
- Survey and written specification
- Covering, underlay, battens and detail work
- Access, disposal, inspection and handover
Questions worth asking
- What exactly is included beneath the visible covering?
- How will ventilation and insulation be addressed?
- Which permissions or building-control checks might apply?
Cost and comparison
Roof area and form, chosen covering, timber condition, access and disposal shape the total. Compare itemised scopes, not a headline per-square-metre figure.