Query for roofing companies and references?

I'm getting a BTL re-roofed. Have selected a roofer after obtaining 3 quotes. He's a local council trusted trader with good reviews on their site and, although I get they can't always be fully trusted, he has good reviews on other sites. He's agreed to offer a 10 year insurance backed guarantee over and above his guarantee however again, I get this doesn't necessarily equate to being covered for every eventuality. I've asked him to take front and rear aspect pics of all main stages e.g. roof stripped, membrane on, straps fitted etc and he's confirmed work won't be subbed out, nothing to pay until finished to my satisfaction etc.

So I've done as much as I reasonably can, although I stopped short of asking for actual references I could visit.
 
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ETAF said:
Surprised not staged payments
From your description, you may have been given references.
Click to expand...
Yeah I might have been had I asked. He has on his website nowt to pay until job complete, work not subbed out etc however I asked him to reiterate. There are also pics on his website however as others have touched on, you never fully know if it's work the contractor has done! I think quite a few people use the council trusted trader site so it's not necessarily in the listed companies interest to do a poor job.
 
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^woody^ said:
Including a signed contract .... and specification?
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Nope. I have a relatively detailed quote, however it doesn't drill down to the make of products used or defined specification, however the make/colour of tiles was my choice. Having said that, would I necessarily know he's bought and installed the make I want? No, not unless I ask for receipts.
 
diy_fun_uk said:
Nope. I have a relatively detailed quote, however it doesn't drill down to the make of products used or defined specification, however the make/colour of tiles was my choice. Having said that, would I necessarily know he's bought and installed the make I want? No, not unless I ask for receipts.
Click to expand...
Then you haven't done all that you reasonably can!
 
e36503f5-c7ca-4a87-8608-c064d6e4b166.gif
 
We carried out a re slate of a very large slate turret roof in s prominent position in Dorset .
A week or two after we had finished I drove by to see another companies sign board on the fence !
 
ETAF said:
I must admit , we had a lot of trouble finding someone to do our roof/fascia & Soffits , some of the cowboys that turned up.
Click to expand...

The less complicated the task, the more the cowboys concentrate on offering to do it and call themselves experts. Often, they will not even be able to get the basics right.
 
datarebal said:
We carried out a re slate of a very large slate turret roof in s prominent position in Dorset .
A week or two after we had finished I drove by to see another companies sign board on the fence !
Click to expand...
Cheeky barstools.

My oppo is always advertising 'our' work on sadbook.
 
Jayd S said:
Hi
Can you let me know what is expected in terms of references for work I want doing (approx 3 days' work cost £2,400-£2,800)?
I got a few quotes, and the few I'm interested in have reviews online (one in particular has 80 odd good reviews on Checkatrade, a few good ones in other sites/google review etc).

When I ask for references/examples of similar work I'm told I can see these online (reviews/photos). Or I just never hear from them again...

Is asking for references unusual nowadays? Is it common practice now to just go off internet reviews/photos of should I keep going until I find someone willing to provide references?
Click to expand...

It is hard for punters to find decent tradesmen.

I strongly recommend you do some networking:

1. Call into your local trade roofing supplier, an independent merchant is ideal - ask somebody at the counter for a couple of names. They know their regular customers.

2. If you see any extensions or major building works being done near where you live, be cheeky call in and ask to speak to the builder running the job. I can tell you, professional builders build up a set of "subbies" they trust - they will know a good roofer or two in the area.

3. Join your local town Facebook group - ask on there. And same with nextdoor - join and ask for recommendations (be careful sometimes on nextdoor you get people touting for work and or wives and girlfriends putting forward their partners name)

4 if you say where you are based on this thread, there might be somebody on here that is nearby.


There are many many great tradesmen around, but they don't advertise because they don't need to. You will only get their contacts by asking around.

Never ever source tradesmen from online sites.
 
datarebal said:
We carried out a re slate of a very large slate turret roof in s prominent position in Dorset .
A week or two after we had finished I drove by to see another companies sign board on the fence !
Click to expand...

I suppose that's a sort of compliment.......
 
D

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