Roof repairs: 2 very different quotes

Teatime99

After recent heavy rains I noticed leaks in one ceiling corner of my front bedroom and both corners of my back bedroom.

I've had two roofers in to look at this over the past couple of days. The first proposed to cut out defective timber battens and felt (only to the three parapets that have the leaks), renew battens and felt, refit tiles and dress lead cover flashings neatly back onto tiles. Cost for materials and labour £465.

The second roofer wants to erect scaffolding to front elevation, remove flashings to all four walls, remove and replace broken tiles, renew felt upstands, supply and fit new lead cover flashings, render and point them into brickwork, clear gutters. Cost £1,995 plus VAT.

I was a bit shocked at the huge difference between these two quotes, and knowing nothing about roofs I'm scratching my head a bit. The second roofer took a lot more time inspecting the job (the first one didn't go into the back garden to view the roof from that side). The second one also went through things more thoroughly with me and pointed out the flashing defects that are clearly visible when looking at my roof. He is a member of the Confederation of Roofing Contractors (if that means anything). I'd already decided to go with him until the quotes came in and his was three times the first one.

Any advice? I want the job done properly but obviously I don't want to pay wildly over odds. Also I need to get it fixed ASAP as one of the leaks is affecting my neighbour's property.

somethingcorporate

I'd get a couple more quotes. The second sounds like a lot of work that *may* not be necessary.

When we bought a house a few years ago the surveyor said issues with roof, may need replacing due to 2 leaks etc. A couple of quotes agreed and said, yep, needs replacing - will be £5k minimum. 2 more quotes said a patch-up and repairing/replacing of broken bits would be fine. We went with the latter at a tenth of the price of the re-roofs and a number of years later it was as good as new

docmatt

The amount of houses ive been to where they paid a few hundred quid for 'patching up' and we've had to rip it all out and start again.

Pay more and get it done properly, guy number two seems to know what hes doing. Not anyone can join the NFRC, we had a guy spend a whole day with us and physically inspect our jobs for us to become a member.