Service
How Much Does a New Roof Cost?
The honest answer is a range, and the range is wide because a bungalow with easy access and a four bed detached with three valleys and two chimneys are different jobs entirely. What you can do before anyone visits is understand what the surveyor is measuring and why one quote beats another on paper but not in the roof.
- What the surveyor measures and why
- How to compare three quotes fairly
- New roof or repair, quick test
- Payment stages and deposits explained
- Free survey across Buckinghamshire
- Insurance backed thinking, written guarantee
What we measure at survey
It takes about forty minutes and none of it is guesswork.
- ▸True roof area, taken from pitch and span rather than footprint
- ▸Number and length of hips, valleys, verges and ridges
- ▸Chimney count, condition and the flashing work each one needs
- ▸Batten gauge and a sample lift to see the underlay and rafter tops
- ▸Loft inspection for daylight, sagging, past repairs and ventilation
- ▸Access: gates, drives, overhead cables and where scaffold can stand
Comparing three quotes without getting stung
Line the quotes up by scope, not by total. Check each one names the tile or slate, states the lead code, says whether ridge and verge are dry fixed or mortar bedded, and shows scaffold and waste separately. If one price is missing two of those, it is not cheaper, it is smaller. A quote that says exactly what happens if the timber is rotten is worth more than one that stays quiet about it.
Is a new roof actually the right call?
If you have had one leak in one place, that is a repair. If tiles slip in different spots every winter, mortar is crumbling along the whole ridge and verge, and you can see daylight through the underlay, you are paying for repairs that are effectively instalments on a roof you will need anyway. We will tell you which side of that line you are on, and we do not push replacement when a repair will hold.
Deposits, stages and paperwork
A deposit towards materials on a full roof is normal, and it should be proportionate, documented and never cash only. We invoice in stages tied to visible progress, hand over a written workmanship guarantee at the end, and carry full public liability insurance you are welcome to see before we start.
FAQs
What is the biggest single cost in a new roof?+
Labour, followed by scaffold on most domestic jobs. The tiles themselves are usually a smaller share of the total than homeowners expect.
Is a new roof cheaper in winter?+
Availability is easier, which sometimes helps. Weather can add days, so we build realistic timings in rather than promising a summer schedule in January.
Do you charge for the survey?+
No. Surveys and written quotes are free anywhere in Buckinghamshire, with no obligation.
Will you use my choice of tile?+
Yes, within what the pitch and structure allow. Heavy clay on a roof designed for light concrete needs checking first, and we will say so at survey.
Do you handle building control?+
Where a replacement triggers building regulations, we tell you at quote stage and deal with the notification as part of the job.
Related reading
Other pages homeowners usually look at alongside this one.
Need Roofing Work You Can Rely On?
Speak with Butler Bespoke Roofing for honest advice, a free site visit and a clear, written quote anywhere across Buckinghamshire.