Make sure contractors price the same project
Provide the same survey findings, drawings, photographs, access details and known constraints to every roofing firm. Ask each to state what they have actually inspected. Where a detailed specification is needed, use an appropriate independent professional to prepare it so the contractor proposals can be compared fairly.
The fifteen line items worth checking
- Access scaffolding and permissions
- Weather protection during stripping
- Scaffold duration and extensions
- Existing slate removal and storage
- Assessment and salvage of sound original slate
- Replacement slate origin, grade and matching
- Fixing specification and relevant standards
- Battens, sarking or underlay included
- Lead valleys, flashings and dormer details
- Ridges, hips, verges and parapets
- Chimney interfaces and associated masonry exclusions
- Timber repair provisional sums
- Gutters, downpipes and drainage interfaces
- Waste, protection, cleaning and site reinstatement
- VAT, payment stages, start date and programme
Five questions that reveal hidden cost risk
- What happens if rotten timbers are discovered after opening the roof?
- Which works are provisional sums and how will variations be approved?
- Are reclaimed slates the owner’s property, and how are they counted and stored?
- Is access to every elevation included, including difficult valleys and towers?
- Who obtains or coordinates any needed consents and professional design input?
Assess capability, not just price
Ask for examples of comparable traditional roofing jobs and details of relevant insurance. Check who will carry out the work, who supervises and how changes are documented. Verify realistic availability and what happens if weather interrupts the programme. On protected buildings, suitability for conservation-sensitive detailing can be essential.
What SSR does — and does not — compare
SSR can help find suitable contractors, ask who is available and coordinate initial quotation correspondence. SSR is not an independent quantity surveyor or certifier: we do not validate the final price or guarantee workmanship. Owners should obtain independent professional advice where the scope, structural condition or procurement is complex.
Frequently asked questions
Should I always choose the lowest roofing quote?
No. Compare scope, exclusions, experience, materials, timescale and risk as well as the total price.
Do all contractors have to price the same type of slate?
For a meaningful comparison, either specify the material consistently or ask contractors to explain proposed alternatives and consequences.
Are homeowner introductions through SSR free?
Yes. SSR does not charge the owner for initial sourcing and introductions; participating contractors fund the service under disclosed terms.
Further guidance and sources
These independent references explain official repair categories, maintenance and consent considerations. SSR does not claim their endorsement.