What a roofing quote should include

The opening of a quote describes the job in words you can check against your roof. It should say which slopes or elevations are included, whether the old covering is stripped or patched, and whether the work includes the ridge, hips, verges, valleys, chimney flashings and gutters. A statement such as "re-roof house" is too vague to hold anyone to.

Scope also names exclusions. If rotten rafters, damaged battens or a failed chimney stack might emerge when the slopes are opened up, a good quote says how that will be handled: agreed with you before the extra work is carried out. Timber repairs that appear mid-job are a common source of disagreement, so see them written down in advance.

A quote that follows a survey should also refer to what the survey found. Survey pictures of your slopes make the scope concrete, because you can see the flashing, the slipped slates or the gap at the abutment the quote is dealing with.

Materials should be named by type, origin, size and make where a make applies: natural Welsh slate, 500 by 250 mm, rather than "slates"; a named clay pantile rather than "tiles"; lead to Code 4 or Code 5 rather than "lead flashings". Underlay, battens, fixings and ventilation parts belong on the list as well.

This matters for two reasons. The price of slate is £100 to £130 per m² for Spanish and £140 to £180 per m² for Welsh, according to MyBuilder in 2026, so an unnamed slate hides a wide range. And like-for-like covering is essential on older homes: if a stone or slate roof is replaced with something else, the appearance changes, the weight changes and consents may be needed. A covering at least 15% heavier needs building control approval and a structural check.

Where the covering is reclaimed, the quote should say so. Where it is new, it should say that too. The difference should not be a surprise on the day the van arrives.

After the covering itself, scaffold is often the biggest cost on the page. Checkatrade gives a typical range of £700 to £1,300 in its 2026 guide, and MyBuilder says about £1,125. A quote should say what is being erected, whether it includes a hire period and whether a pavement licence or road closure is needed. Steep lanes and terraced hillsides in the valleys make access part of the price, so ask how it is handled.

Waste is next. MyBuilder gives disposal at £100 to £1,000, depending on the job, which is why the quote should state whether waste is taken away and who pays for the skip. Lastly, ask what making good covers: pointing at the chimney, repairs to the fascia, the garden left tidy and the site cleared.

Stripping the old covering, fitting the new underlay and battens, and tidying the site are all part of the work. A written quote lets you compare two firms like for like, and it is how Supreme prices work after a survey.

The quote should show whether VAT is included and how much. Roof repairs and re-roofs usually carry 20% VAT, while loft or roof insulation is zero-rated until 31 March 2027. Mixed jobs are for the firm and HMRC to settle, so ask the firm to state how VAT applies. The page on what roof work costs in Stroud explains how a quote is built before VAT is added.

A start date and an expected duration belong on the page too, with a note of what happens if rain stops work. A date only means something if it is tied to the quote's validity: a price held for 30 days, say, with the date it was issued. Ask what happens if the start is moved, and who is on site.

If the quote runs for weeks, ask how long the roof will be left open, how it is covered each night, and how you will be told about changes.

Payment terms should be written down, not agreed by a handshake. A sensible quote shows what is due when: for example, a sum tied to ordered materials or scaffold, a stage payment partway through, and a balance on completion. Be wary of anything that asks for most of the money before work begins. Our page on roofer deposits explains the options.

The guarantee should be in the quote or the paperwork that comes with it. Look for the name of whoever gives it, the work it covers and the number of years it runs. A line of small print that limits it to materials only is worth a question, because materials are rarely what fails first. Ask what happens if the firm is no longer trading. Ours is a 10-year workmanship guarantee, in writing, which covers the work itself and is not insurance-backed. A manufacturer guarantee on a product is separate and is never a promise of how long the roof lasts.

Finally, check the name, address and contact details on the page. If the choice is between a roofer and a general builder, see roofer or builder: who should do your roof job. You can also return to Supreme Roofing Stroud to book a survey and receive a written quote.