How quickly can you come out for an emergency?
For postcodes inside the Sheffield boundary (S1-S14, S17, S20, S35, S36), typical response during daylight hours is 60 to 90 minutes. For Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster and Chesterfield, allow 90 minutes to two hours. Overnight and weekend responses are a bit longer because roofers are travelling from home. We make the property safe and watertight first, and return in daylight for the permanent repair.
Do you charge a call-out fee?
During working hours (Monday to Friday 8am-5pm) we don't charge a call-out for diagnosis or emergency make-safe — you pay only for materials and time on site. Outside working hours, we charge a flat emergency call-out fee that is discounted against the cost of the full permanent repair if you book us for that too. In practice, if we do the repair, the emergency visit is essentially free.
Are you insured?
Yes. £5 million public liability and £10 million employer's liability, with current certificates. We're happy to send you copies before any work starts. Never, ever use a roofer who can't show you live insurance certificates — if they damage your property or get hurt on site, you may end up personally liable.
Do you provide written quotes?
Every single time. We don't do "from £X" estimates and we don't quote by phone without seeing the job. We come out, we inspect properly, we write you a detailed quote specifying materials, labour, waste removal and VAT separately, and that is the final price. No hidden extras.
What guarantees do you offer?
10 years workmanship on every job, transferable to new owners if you sell. Manufacturer material warranties run alongside — typically 25-50 years on slate and tile products, 20 years on EPDM rubber flat roofs, 15-25 years on GRP fibreglass, 50+ years on lead. Full details on our
guarantees page.
Do you do small jobs or only big ones?
Both. A genuinely common booking for us is "one missing tile, and can you check the rest while you're up there". We'll do those happily. We'd rather do an honest day's work on small jobs than oversell them into big ones.
Will you use scaffolding or ladders?
Depends on the job. Anything more than a quick single-tile replacement gets proper scaffolding or a mobile tower — it's safer for our roofers and it produces better work. We build the scaffolding cost into the quote transparently.
Do you take waste away?
Yes. All waste removal — old slates, tiles, felt, battens, whatever — is included in our quotes and taken to a licensed transfer station. We can provide waste transfer notes if you need them.
Can you work with my insurance company?
Yes, often. We deal directly with loss adjusters on storm damage and other insurance claims. We keep dated photos, write detailed damage reports, and provide itemised quotes in the format insurers expect. Most major UK insurers recognise us.
Do you do Welsh slate or Spanish slate?
Welsh by preference, every time, unless the customer specifically wants to save money with Spanish. Welsh slate lasts 100-150 years; Spanish slate typically 60-80. Chinese slate — which some cowboys sell as "Welsh-style" — we won't touch. It's not worth the short-term saving.
What about stone slate?
For conservation-area properties in the Peak District, the Derbyshire Dales or any heritage context, we use reclaimed Yorkshire stone slate sourced through specialist merchants. Never synthetic substitutes on heritage work.
Do you do flat roofs?
Yes — EPDM rubber (our preferred system for domestic flat roofs), GRP fibreglass, and three-layer torch-on felt for budgets or commercial use. We're qualified and insured for all three.
Can you install roof windows?
Yes — Velux and Fakro are our main suppliers. We handle the structural opening, the flashing kit, the interior trim and making good. Full Building Regulations notification via Competent Person scheme where required.
Do you do solar panel installs?
We do the roofing side of solar installations — watertight mounting, in-roof systems, proper membrane detailing around panels — in partnership with MCS-certified electrical contractors. We're not MCS electricians ourselves.
How do I know a roofing quote is fair?
Get three quotes minimum. Be wary of any quote that's dramatically cheaper than the others — there's always a reason. Check insurance, check guarantees, check references. Our quotes are always written, itemised and valid for 90 days so you have time to compare.
Where are you based?
Our yard and office are in Sheffield. We cover every postcode in S1-S81, plus DN, NG18-NG22 and DE4/DE45 for certain services.
Can I pay by card, bank transfer or cash?
Bank transfer and card are standard. Cash up to £1,000 is fine for smaller jobs. For work over £1,000 we prefer bank transfer for your records and ours. We're VAT registered — quotes always show VAT separately.