Roofing quotes near me: compare local prices in 2026
Roofing is one of the few trades where the gap between the cheapest and the dearest quote can be two or three times the same number — and where the cheapest is very often the one you pay for twice. This page explains what UK roofers charge in 2026, what a proper written quote has to itemise, and how to get three comparable local prices without ringing round yourself.
- Minor repair: around £180–£450 for slipped or cracked tiles
- Full re-roof (3-bed semi): around £6,500–£11,000 in concrete tile
- Always get three quotes — and compare scope, not just the total
What roofing work costs in the UK in 2026
Prices below are typical supplied-and-fitted ranges for an average two-storey house, including scaffolding where the job needs it and waste removal. Access, roof pitch, storey height and region all move the number — London and the South East commonly sit 15–25% above these figures, while much of the North and Midlands sits at or slightly below them.
Scaffolding is not a small line item
For anything above single-storey, scaffolding typically adds £800–£2,500 depending on how much of the building has to be surrounded and how long it stays up. If one quote looks dramatically cheaper than the others, check whether scaffolding is in it at all — that single omission explains most suspiciously low roofing prices.
How the quote process actually works
A roofing quote is not a phone estimate. Any roofer pricing a re-roof or a significant repair should get up to the roof, or at minimum inspect it properly from a ladder or with a drone or pole camera, before putting a figure in writing. Expect the sequence to run roughly like this:
- Day 0: you describe the job and your postcode; matched roofers make contact
- Days 1–5: site visits and roof inspections, usually 30–60 minutes each
- Days 3–10: written, itemised quotes arrive by email
- Then: you compare like for like, ask your questions, and choose
Emergency leaks are the exception — a make-safe visit is normally priced on the day at an hourly or call-out rate, with a proper quote for the permanent repair to follow.
What to have ready before the roofer arrives
Five minutes of preparation makes the quotes you get back far more accurate, which means fewer variations later:
- The symptom, dated. Where the water appears inside, and when it started — heavy rain only, or wind-driven rain from one direction?
- Photos. Ceiling stains, dropped tiles on the ground, anything visible from an upstairs window or the garden.
- The roof’s history. Age of the covering if you know it, any previous repairs, and whether it has ever been re-felted.
- Access details. Side access width, parking, overhead cables, neighbouring property you would need permission to scaffold over.
- Property status. Listed building or conservation area — this changes materials and can require consent.
- Your decision timeline and whether you are also claiming on insurance.
What a good roofing quote itemises
A quote that is a single number on a compliments slip is not a quote. Insist on seeing, in writing:
How to compare three roofing quotes fairly
Three quotes only help if you line them up like for like. The most common mistake is comparing the bottom-line totals when the scopes are different — one roofer has priced a full strip and re-felt, another has quoted an overlay that leaves the old membrane in place. Before you rank them on price, rewrite each quote into the same shape: same materials, same battens-and-felt specification, the same scaffolding period and the same guarantee length. Our guide on what to look for when comparing roofing quotes walks through this side by side.
If the roofs being priced differ — one quote assumes a full re-roof, another a patch repair — you are not comparing quotes at all, you are comparing jobs. Ask each roofer to price the same defined scope so the numbers actually mean something. When you are ready to gather them, you can request written prices through our online roofing quote process and set three itemised documents against each other.
Accreditations worth checking
There is no single licence to be a roofer in the UK, so credentials do real work here:
- NFRC — the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, the main trade body; members are vetted and audited.
- CompetentRoofer — lets a roofer self-certify certain refurbishment work as compliant with Building Regulations, saving you a separate building control application.
- TrustMark — the government-endorsed quality scheme covering trading standards and customer service.
- Public liability insurance — ask for the certificate and check it is in date and in the same name as the quote.
Planning permission, building regulations and VAT
Most re-roofing is permitted development: if you replace a worn covering with tiles or slate of a similar appearance and do not raise the roof height, you will not usually need a planning application. Change the material significantly — slate to concrete tile, for example — and approval under the Building Regulations is likely, because the new covering has to satisfy structural, fire and energy requirements. Listed buildings and conservation areas are the main exceptions, where even a like-for-like swap can need consent. The Planning Portal guidance on re-roofing sets out when Building Regulations apply, and our own note on planning permission for a new roof covers the common household cases.
On tax, a normal domestic roof repair or re-roof is standard-rated: expect 20% VAT on the whole job. Fitting an insulated roof does not unlock a reduced rate — HMRC treats the covering and any insulation as one standard-rated job — so be wary of any quote that promises a re-roof at 5% or zero VAT. There are narrow exceptions, such as a property that has stood empty for two or more years, which we cover in our roofing VAT explainer. Whatever the rate, insist that VAT is shown as a separate line so the headline figure is not quietly hiding a fifth of the cost.
Changing your roof covering? Budget for building control
Swapping to a heavier or lighter material, or one with a different fire rating, usually triggers a Building Regulations check. A CompetentRoofer-registered contractor can self-certify this and register the work for you, which saves a separate building control application — ask whether that is included in the quote.
Red flags in a roofing quote
- A price given without anyone inspecting the roof
- Pressure to decide today, or a discount that expires this week
- Large cash deposit requested before materials are ordered
- No written scope, no company address, no VAT number on a large job
- A cold caller who “noticed some slipped tiles while working next door”
- A quote that is thousands below the other two — something has been left out
FAQs: roofing quotes near me
How do I get roofing quotes near me?
Describe the job and your postcode once, and you can be matched with up to three local accredited roofers who each inspect the roof and send a written quote. That is faster than ringing round and it gives you genuinely comparable prices.
How many roofing quotes should I get?
Three. One price tells you nothing, two tells you which is cheaper, and three tells you what the job is actually worth and whether an outlier has missed something.
Are roofing quotes free?
Quotes for planned work such as repairs, flat roofing and re-roofing are normally free and without obligation. Emergency call-outs and detailed structural or survey reports are usually chargeable, so confirm before booking.
What should a good roofing quote include?
Named materials, strip-out and disposal, new felt and battens, scaffolding with its hire period, flashing and ridge details, labour and days on site, VAT stated separately, the workmanship guarantee and a stage payment schedule.
How long is a roofing quote valid for?
Most roofers hold a price for 30 to 90 days. Material costs move, so if you are comparing quotes over several months ask for them to be reconfirmed before you sign anything.
Get three local roofing quotes
Tell us the job and your postcode once. We will match you with up to three accredited roofers near you, free and with no obligation.