Scaffolding and roof repairs

Aince1985

I've recently purchased a house and I some work doing. There are a few roof slates that are broken/missing, ridge tiles need patch repointing and chimneys need checked/repointed.

Obviously I want to get this done as smoothly as possible, but I had one guy who was quoting me £4.5 to remove a chimney. He was a bit unclear about the rest of the work and (what type of) scaffolding was need.

I understand that people can charge what they want and they should also be allowed to work in a safe environment; I just need some tips so I don’t get ripped of.

I feel like because I’m a single female, mid thirties and not very confident (plus I’m new to the area) I’m getting ripped of with regards to some trades people. One guy wanted to quote me £700 for painting a corridor and landing, said it would take him 9 days, I provide the paint and he wanted cash lol.

So can you MSE forum members give me tips on negotiating with the roofers for the roof repairs?

McKneff

Get three quotes.from legitimate business.
Quotes are set prices, estimates are a round about price, not set price so ask for a quote every time

Make sure they are like for like

Don't deal in cash

Look on any local fb recommendation pages

Aince1985

^im using Next Door app.

Shaun_of_the_Dead

Aince1985 wrote: »

I've recently purchased a house and I some work doing. There are a few roof slates that are broken/missing, ridge tiles need patch repointing and chimneys need checked/repointed.

Obviously I want to get this done as smoothly as possible, but I had one guy who was quoting me £4.5 to remove a chimney. He was a bit unclear about the rest of the work and (what type of) scaffolding was need.

I understand that people can charge what they want and they should also be allowed to work in a safe environment; I just need some tips so I don’t get ripped of.

I feel like because I’m a single female, mid thirties and not very confident (plus I’m new to the area) I’m getting ripped of with regards to some trades people. One guy wanted to quote me £700 for painting a corridor and landing, said it would take him 9 days, I provide the paint and he wanted cash lol.

So can you MSE forum members give me tips on negotiating with the roofers for the roof repairs?

£700 for 9 days work is cheap, I take it this guy was a handyman and not a painter. If you found him via the app I'd source your trades from elsewhere.

Aince1985

Shaun_of_the_Dead wrote: »

£700 for 9 days work is cheap, I take it this guy was a handyman and not a painter. If you found him via the app I'd source your trades from elsewhere.

I did it myself. Took two days. The guy was a painter, but there are no formal qualifications I can check against.

My point is that it doesn’t take 9 days to paint a small area and yes £70 a day is too cheap, below min wage. The guy was giving me creepy vibes anyway. He stunk of BO (wasn’t in his work clothes) we also arranged to meet on the weekend for the quote as I work. However he was outside my front door on a Wednesday morning asking to quote there and then (he lives two streets away). He also said he was doing a really good price because he lived two streets away. Lol, ok. I told him several times I had to go and pick up my kid and he wouldn’t get the hint.

comeandgo

Get quotes from some well established businesses, not from some app that anyone who pays the fee can join.

Aince1985

comeandgo wrote: »

Get quotes from some well established businesses, not from some app that anyone who pays the fee can join.

Yes I know what apps you mean. This is a neighbourhood app.

EssexExile

Try to find local long established companies to quote. What I did when I needed a builder for an extension was to knock at doors where builders were working (after they'd gone) & asked what the owner thought of them. Most people are happy to give their opinion, some invite you in to have a look!

Aince1985

Can anyone give me guidance on the scaffolding part

tiggerbodhi

My roofer re-pointed and re set the lead on a chimney, he had scaffold erected to the gutter level to give him a platform to work from whilst walking up onto the roof, would think if the ridge needs looking at and the chimney you would need a scaffold work platform created for the full width of the house at gutter level.

Unlikely to need scaffold around the chimney unless it is being stripped down and re-built or removed completely.

Including scaffolding to get the chimney re-pointed, lead replaced and reset into place was £450 (south coast)

John_the_Boy

I had ridge tiles redone and valleys re mortared. Some companies would only do it with scaffolding others were happy to to use ladders. Chose on price and recommendation, the roofer we went with just used ladders but had their own scaffolding towers if needed.

Shop around as others have suggested.