Two quotes for “the same” re-roof can be a thousand pounds apart and both be fair — because they’re not actually for the same job. The only way to know is to read the quotes properly, and most people have never been shown how. Ten minutes with this guide fixes that.
The parts every real quote has
A professional quote itemises: the scope (what’s being stripped, replaced, retained), materials with actual product names and specs, labour, access (scaffolding — who supplies, how long), waste removal, VAT treatment, payment terms, and the guarantee in writing. A number on a text message has none of these, which is precisely why it can be whatever the roofer felt like that morning. Our Bristol cost guide gives fair ranges to compare any quote against.
Where cheap quotes hide their savings
Same headline job, quietly different content: “new felt” that’s basic 1F rather than a breathable membrane; battens reused rather than replaced; ridge tiles re-bedded rather than renewed; flashings “dressed over” rather than replaced; no allowance for rotten timber. None of these is visible from the street on completion day. All of them show up within five winters. If one quote is dramatically cheaper, the difference is usually findable in the spec — ask each roofer to talk you through their materials line by line and watch which one enjoys the conversation.
Provisional sums and the “what if” clause
Good quotes handle the unknown honestly: a stated rate for replacing rotten battens or rafter ends if found (per metre or per item), and an agreed process — photos, conversation, written revision — before extra work proceeds. A quote with no mention of discoveries isn’t cleaner; it just means the argument happens later.
Payment terms that protect you
Reasonable: modest or no deposit, staged payments on bigger jobs, balance on completion. Unreasonable: large cash up front (see our scams post). Card or bank transfer, always — the paper trail is part of your protection.
Compare jobs, not numbers
Line the quotes up item by item and make them describe the same work before you compare prices. The cheapest quote for the right job beats the cheapest number for an undefined one, every time.
Want a quote you can actually read? Get in touch — free site visit, written and itemised as standard.