How to choose a roofer in Cambridge (and spot a rogue trader)

Knowing how to choose a roofer in Cambridge matters because roof work happens out of sight. Most homeowners cannot easily check what was done once the scaffold comes down, so you are relying on trust as much as skill. The good news is that a few simple checks sort the reliable roofers from the risky ones.

This guide covers where to find a roofer, what a proper quote should include, insurance and guarantees, the trade schemes you will see advertised (explained neutrally), and the red flags of rogue traders and doorstep cold callers. It draws on advice from the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, the Confederation of Roofing Contractors, the HSE and Citizens Advice.

How do you find a good roofer in Cambridge?

Start with people you trust. Neighbours are the best source, especially on Cambridge’s terraced streets, where houses share the same roof type and often the same problems. Then check each name properly:

• Reviews: read the most recent ones, not just the star rating. The useful reviews name the job and the area. Read the lowest-rated reviews too, and see how the business replied.
• A real local presence: a landline, a verifiable address and a business name you can look up. If it is a limited company, you can search for it on Companies House.
• Who does the work: ask whether the roofer’s own team will be on your roof or whether the job is subcontracted.
• A proper survey: a good roofer looks at the roof properly, from a ladder, scaffold or drone, and often checks the loft or the ceiling below as well.

Read through Google reviews of Cambridge roofers and the same praise comes up again and again: a clear, detailed written quote with options; photos showing the problem; honest advice, even when that means little or nothing needs doing; work finished when promised; and a tidy site at the end. Detailed quotations and a tidy site are two of the things our own customers have picked out in their reviews, which you can read on our reviews page.

What should a good roofing quote include?

The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) advises getting up to three quotes in writing and not automatically taking the cheapest. Its homeowner checklist also warns that estimates can change once the old covering is removed. A good quote makes that clear in advance.

Item	What a good quote tells you
Scope	Exactly what will be done, and to which parts of the roof
Materials	The named system or product: EPDM, GRP, natural slate, clay tile and so on
Hidden problems	How rotten timber or decking found after stripping will be priced
Access	Whether scaffolding is included, and who arranges any pavement licence
Waste	Skip hire and removal of the old materials
Building Regulations	How compliance will be handled on a re-roof, and who provides the certificate
Insulation	Whether an upgrade is needed and included
Timing	Start date, how long the job should take and what happens in bad weather
Payment	Any deposit, staged payments and when the final balance is due
VAT	Whether the price includes it
Guarantee	How long, what it covers, and whether it is insurance-backed

Scaffolding is the line that most often causes disagreement, so make sure it is shown separately. For a localised leak repair, a good roofer will also explain that finding the cause can be a process of elimination, and what is and is not guaranteed.

How much should a roofer charge?

Checkatrade’s Cambridge data puts roofer labour at £35–£45 an hour or £280–£360 a day. Typical local job ranges are £583–£2,284 for roofing repairs and £5,443–£12,297 for a full roof replacement. The price table on this page gives more examples.

A quote well below those ranges is not automatically a bargain. It often leaves out scaffolding, waste removal, new decking or the insulation the regulations require, and those costs reappear later. Our roof repair cost guide and new roof cost guide explain what each job should include.

Should a roofer have insurance?

Yes. Ask to see a current public liability insurance certificate and check that it covers roofing work. The Confederation of Roofing Contractors (CORC) checks that applicants are insured “specifically to ensure they are insured for roofing purposes”. If the roofer employs staff, they should also hold employers’ liability insurance.

Safety is part of the same conversation. The HSE says almost one in five deaths in construction work involve roof work, and that all roofs should be treated as fragile until a competent person has confirmed they are not. Ask how the roofer will get onto your roof safely. On many Cambridge terraces, where front doors open onto the pavement, that means a scaffold licensed by Cambridgeshire County Council, which asks for at least 15 working days to process an application.

How do roofing guarantees work?

There are three kinds of cover, and they are easy to confuse.

The roofer’s own guarantee

This is the roofer’s written promise to put right any defects in their workmanship for a set period. Get it in writing, with the length and what it covers. It is only as good as the business behind it.

Manufacturer warranties

These cover the product, such as a membrane or a slate, not the way it was installed. A long product warranty does not protect you against poor workmanship.

Insurance-backed guarantees

An insurance-backed guarantee is a policy that stands behind the roofer’s guarantee. The NFRC explains that it matters because “even the best contractors can go out of business whereupon their own guarantees become worthless”. CORC notes that these guarantees are not mandatory by law and are normally issued only once the work has been paid for in full. Neither kind of cover usually extends to storm damage, which CORC says is classed as an “act of god”.

At Roofing Cambridge, repairs come with our 5-year warranty and new roof installations with our 10-year insurance guarantee, set out in writing with every quote.

Trade bodies and competent person schemes explained

You will see a lot of logos on roofing vans and websites. Here is what the main ones mean. Membership of any of them is voluntary, and plenty of good roofers belong to none. Ask any roofer which they hold, then check it on the scheme’s own website.

Scheme	What it is
Competent person schemes	Government-authorised schemes that let registered roofers self-certify that replacement roof coverings meet Building Regulations. GOV.UK lists two for roofing: NAPIT and CompetentRoofer, now the NFRC Competent Person Scheme.
NFRC	The UK roofing trade association. It runs the National Heritage Roofing Register for listed and historic buildings and is a TrustMark scheme provider.
TrustMark	Describes itself as “the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme” for work in and around the home. Registered businesses are vetted.
CORC	A roofing trade association that checks ID, qualifications, credit history and insurance before membership, followed by a six-month probation. It handles complaints and mediates, but says membership does not make it liable for a member’s work.

If your roofer is not registered with a competent person scheme, that is fine: the work can be approved through building control instead. On a full re-roof, though, a roofer who does not mention Building Regulations at all is a concern. Our guide to planning permission and regulations for roofing in Cambridge explains when they apply.

How can you tell a dodgy roofer?

Most roofers are honest tradespeople. The rogue ones tend to follow a familiar pattern:

• They knock unannounced, saying they “noticed a loose tile” while working nearby.
• They push for a decision on the doorstep, often with a “today only” price.
• They want cash, or offer a discount for a “VAT-free” job. The NFRC warns that contractors offering cash or VAT-free deals “are not easily tracked down if things go wrong”.
• They ask for a large payment upfront, before any materials arrive.
• There is no written quote, or just a lump sum on a scrap of paper.
• They have only a mobile number, no verifiable address and a vague business name.
• They cannot show insurance or a written guarantee.
• They find “more damage” once on the roof, with no photos to prove it, and the price climbs.
• They offer to start tomorrow with a scaffold on a pavement, which would normally need a council licence first.
• They give you nothing in writing about cancelling. CORC says contractors should give you a 14-day cooling-off notice before work starts, which you can waive in writing for urgent repairs.

If a cold caller knocks

Do not agree to anything on the doorstep and do not let them onto your roof. If you are worried about what they say they saw, ask a roofer you have chosen yourself to check it and show you photos. If you think you have been targeted, report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service, or find your local office through GOV.UK. If someone refuses to leave or you feel intimidated, call the police.

Why should you ask for photos?

Because a roof is out of sight, photos are the simplest way to see what you are paying for. A good roofer will show you the problem before quoting and, on bigger jobs, photos during and after the work. Drone surveys make this easy without anyone climbing on the roof; see our roof inspections and drone surveys page.

Photos also keep everyone honest. If a roofer says a repair is all you need, or that nothing needs doing yet, the pictures let you judge for yourself.

Check the name, number and address before you book

Several Cambridge roofing firms have very similar names built from the words “Cambridge” and “roofing”, and customers do mix them up. Before you book, check that the phone number, address and website match the business you meant to contact.

Our details are: Roofing Cambridge, 2 The Grove, Cambridge CB4 1TJ, phone 01223 902596, website roofingcambridge.net. If someone at your door claims to be from us and you are not sure, call that number to check.

Questions to ask before you hire a roofer

1. Can you give me a detailed written quote, with options?
2. Who will actually do the work, and who will be in charge on site?
3. Can I see your public liability insurance certificate?
4. What guarantee do I get, in writing, and is it insurance-backed?
5. How will Building Regulations be handled, if they apply?
6. Is scaffolding included, and who arranges any licence?
7. What happens if you find rotten timber once the roof is stripped?
8. What are the payment stages, and is VAT included?
9. Can you show me photos of the problem now, and of the work when it is done?
10. Can I speak to, or read reviews from, recent customers nearby?

Talk to a local roofer

Roofing Cambridge is based in Chesterton, north Cambridge, and works across the city and the surrounding villages. Our team has over 40 years of combined roofing experience. We offer a free, no-obligation survey by ladder or drone, show you photos, and give you a detailed written quote with options, so you can compare us fairly with anyone else. If a simple roof repair is all you need, we will say so.

Call 01223 902596 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm) or request a free quote.