A complete roofing quote is written and itemised. Any verbal quote or single-figure total is an estimate that can expand once work begins. A complete quote specifies: exact scope of work; materials with manufacturer name and product name; scaffold (included or excluded); waste disposal; contingency terms for additional deck work; guarantee duration and scope; payment schedule with specific triggers; and estimated start date and programme.
Build a comparison table — scope items across the top, contractors down the side. The most common mistake is comparing totals without comparing scope. A £7,200 quote including scaffold and breathable membrane is not the same project as a £5,900 quote excluding both. Missing items are not savings — they are costs you pay separately, typically at a higher rate.
Any quote saying "quality concrete tile" without naming the manufacturer is a placeholder permitting any tile. Marley, Redland and Sandtoft manufacture tile with 30–40 year warranties that performs correctly in Highland frost. Budget import tile begins to show surface degradation at 15–20 years. The cost difference at installation is modest. The performance difference over 40 Highland winters is not.
All our quotes are itemised in writing within 48 hours of survey. No verbal estimates. Call 01463 262835.
Call 01463 262835Small repairs under £500: payment on completion. Medium projects: 10–20% deposit, balance on completion. Re-roofing: deposit, stage payment on strip completion, final payment on sign-off. Never pay more than 30% before materials are on site. Always pay by bank transfer — the documented record protects you in any dispute.
Scaffold on a two-storey Inverness property costs £400–£900 for erection, hire and dismantling on a standard re-roofing project. On a larger detached it can be £1,200–£1,800. This is a significant project cost that some contractors exclude from their initial quote — presenting a lower headline figure while intending to add scaffold as a separate line item once the job is agreed. Ask every contractor explicitly: is scaffold included in this quote? If yes, at what stage is it erected and dismantled? If no, what is the estimated cost for scaffold and who arranges it?
The answer to this question alone frequently changes the ranking of competing quotes. The cheapest quote that excludes scaffold often becomes the most expensive once scaffold is added. We always include scaffold assessment in every survey and include it in the written quote as a specified line item, not a later addition.
There is a significant difference between a 10-year workmanship guarantee and a 10-year insurance-backed guarantee. A workmanship guarantee is backed by the contractor — if they cease trading, the guarantee is worthless. An insurance-backed guarantee is underwritten by a third-party insurer and remains valid regardless of the contractor's continued trading status. For large Inverness re-roofing projects, ask specifically whether the guarantee is insurance-backed and request the insurer's details. The premium for an insurance-backed scheme is modest and the protection over a 10-year period is significant.
A quote that includes a programme — estimated start date and duration — is a contractor who has thought about logistics. A quote without a programme is a contractor who either has not confirmed material lead times, has not assessed scaffold requirements and availability, or intends to fit you in around other work without committing to a timeline.
For a re-roofing project in Inverness, the programme typically covers: scaffold erection (1–2 days before roofing begins), strip and underlay phase (1–2 days for a standard 3-bed semi), tile, ridge and hip completion (2–3 days), scaffold removal (1–2 days after completion). Total programme: 7–10 days from scaffold erection to site clearance. This timeline is affected by weather — a programme should include the contractor's weather policy, specifying what happens if conditions are unsuitable for roof work on a scheduled day. We include this as standard in every Inverness re-roofing programme, and we honour the stated weather policy rather than pressuring completion in unsuitable conditions.
"Comparison table approach revealed cheapest quote excluded scaffold entirely — was actually more expensive once added. Avoided a significant misunderstanding."
"Asked for manufacturer name. Contractor couldn't provide one. Went with a contractor who specified Marley Eternit throughout. Right decision."
Whatever the roofing question, the right starting point is a professional survey carried out by a roofer who knows Highland conditions and the local housing stock. A survey costs nothing when combined with any roofing project, and £95–£150 as a standalone assessment. The written condition report that follows gives you a clear picture of the current state of your roof, what needs to happen and in what sequence, and what the costs will be.
We have been carrying out roof surveys, repairs and replacements across Inverness and Highland since 2003. NFRC registered. £5m public liability insurance. 10-year workmanship guarantee on all work. Free, no-obligation surveys across the full Highland area. Call 01463 262835 to arrange a visit, or use the contact form on our homepage. We aim to confirm survey appointments within one working day.
For a free survey across Inverness and all of Highland, call 01463 262835. We attend survey appointments within 3–5 working days for non-emergency work. Written quotes are provided within 24 hours of the survey visit. We carry NFRC registration, £5m public liability insurance, and offer a 10-year workmanship guarantee on all roofing work. No call-out fees, no obligation to proceed. If you have read this guide and have a specific question about your property, call us directly — we are happy to advise before you commit to any work.
Scope, materials with manufacturer names, scaffold, waste disposal, contingency terms, guarantee, payment schedule, programme dates.
Not always — but significantly below-market quotes usually reflect excluded scope, lower material specification, or a contractor unable to deliver profitably at that price.
10–20% for medium projects. 10–15% plus stage payments for re-roofing. Never more than 25–30% before materials are on site. Call 01463 262835 with specific situations.
Ask for the public liability certificate — a legitimate contractor produces it immediately. Verify NFRC membership at nfrc.co.uk.
Under £500: one or two sufficient. Over £2,000: two or three. Over £6,000: three. More than three rarely adds useful information.
The workmanship guarantee covers defects in the installation — material placement, fixing method, flashing dressing, ridge and hip bedding. It does not cover damage caused by subsequent storm events, blocked gutters, or other external factors. The manufacturer warranty covers defects in the tile or membrane product itself. Both should be provided on job completion.
Yes — for any project over £500. A reasonable deposit is 10–20% to cover material procurement. More than 25–30% before materials are confirmed on site is a warning sign. We charge a deposit proportional to material costs and can explain the breakdown on request. Call 01463 262835 for any specific question.
No call-out fee. Written assessment within 24 hours. No obligation quote before any work starts.
Written quote, itemised by scope and materials. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Written workmanship guarantee. Specified for Highland conditions — not southern UK average specification.
Based in Inverness. Our team surveys your Inverness property and does the work — no subcontractors.
No call-out fee. No obligation.
01463 262835