Before you hire a roofer, ask who will do the work, whether they are registered and insured, how they will keep their crew safe on your roof, what exactly the quote includes, what warranty applies, and whether you will get a written contract. Good roofers answer all of these without hesitating. The answers also make quotes comparable, which is the only way to tell a cheap quote from a cheaper job.
The short answer
- Who does the work: their own crews or subcontractors?
- Registration and insurance: ask to see them
- Safety: edge protection, not just a harness
- Scope: exactly what is included, and what products
- Warranty and a written contract, especially over $10,000
10 questions to ask your roofing contractor
- Will your own crew do the work?Subcontracted crews are not always a problem, but you should know who will be on your roof.
- Are you registered?In Victoria, the Building and Plumbing Commission registers domestic builders, including a class limited to roof tiling, and plumbers for roofing (stormwater) work. Ask for the registration number and check it.
- What insurance do you hold?Ask for public liability details, and for work over $16,000, domestic building insurance.
- How will you prevent falls?WorkSafe Victoria’s compliance code puts edge protection, such as guard rail, ahead of harnesses and ladders. Ask what they set up.
- What did you find, and can I see photos?A good inspection comes with photos and a clear explanation.
- Is it a repair, a restoration or a replacement, and why?Ask them to explain the choice, and what would happen if you waited.
- What exactly does the quote include?Cleaning, tile replacement, rebed and repoint, valleys, flashings, the coating system and number of coats, clean-up.
- Which products and tiles will you use?Can they match your tiles, and is the coating a matched system?
- What warranty applies?Workmanship and product warranties, how long, and what they cover. Get it in writing.
- Will I get a written contract?In Victoria, domestic building work over $10,000 needs a written major domestic building contract.
Sources: BPC: Domestic builder limited to roof tiling; BPC: Roofing (stormwater) plumbing work; WorkSafe Victoria: Prevention of falls in housing construction; Consumer Affairs Victoria: Work that requires a building contract; VBA: Domestic building insurance.
Red flags
- Door-knockers offering a cheap deal because they are “in the area”
- Pressure to sign on the spot or pay a large deposit in cash
- A quote with a price but no list of work
- Vague answers about registration, insurance or warranty
- No safety equipment beyond a ladder
- Recommending a full re-roof without showing you why
Want straight answers?
Book a free inspection and ask us anything on this list.
Why a local, established roofer helps
Accountability
A business with a yard, a phone number and years in the area is there when you need warranty work.
Matching tiles
Local tile yards hold the profiles common on local roofs. Ours hold over 200 tile types.
Knowing the conditions
Melbourne’s rain, hail and older roof styles shape what fails and how to fix it.
Response time
Local crews can get to storm damage and leaks sooner.
Comparing quotes properly
| Check | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | ||
| Registration and insurance | ||
| Safety method | ||
| Repairs included | ||
| Coating system and coats | ||
| Warranty | ||
| Written contract |
Fill this in for each quote. Our restoration cost guide and repair cost guide list market price ranges to compare against.
How Royce Roofing answers
- Our own crews, led by owner Dave Porter, a qualified roof tiler
- Fully insured
- Our own temporary safety rail, ladder guards and skylight nets on every job, and working at heights qualifications for every crew member
- A free inspection with photos, and a fixed written quote
- Tiles and materials from our own Mulgrave and Doveton yards
- A 7-year warranty on every roof restoration
More about Royce Roofing.
WorkSafe Victoria’s compliance code for housing construction puts edge protection such as guard railing ahead of harnesses and ladders when controlling the risk of falls from a roof. Our crews set up our own temporary safety rail, ladder guards and, where there are old skylights, safety nets before anyone works on the roof. Every crew member holds a working at heights qualification.
Common questions
What should I ask a roofer before hiring?
Who will do the work, whether they are registered and insured, how they prevent falls, what the quote includes, which products they use, the warranty, and whether you get a written contract.
How do I check a roofer is registered in Victoria?
Ask for their registration number and check it with the Building and Plumbing Commission, which registers domestic builders, including roof tiling, and plumbers.
Do I need a contract for roof work?
In Victoria, domestic building work over $10,000 needs a written major domestic building contract, and over $16,000 also needs domestic building insurance.
What are red flags when hiring a roofer?
Door-knocking deals, pressure to sign or pay cash up front, quotes without a list of work, and vague answers about registration, insurance or warranty.
Why does safety equipment matter to me?
A crew working without edge protection is at greater risk of a fall, and an accident on your property is a serious matter. WorkSafe Victoria puts edge protection ahead of harnesses and ladders.
How do I compare roofing quotes?
Compare what each includes: repairs, coating system, number of coats, warranty, who does the work and the safety method, not just the price.
Related
Sources: BPC: Domestic builder limited to roof tiling; BPC: Roofing (stormwater) plumbing work; WorkSafe Victoria: Prevention of falls in housing construction; Consumer Affairs Victoria: Work that requires a building contract; VBA: Domestic building insurance.
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