Are roofers robbers?
Author
Discussion

A500leroy

Original Poster:

7,443 posts

139 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
quotequote all
Struggling to get my head round two quotes.

I want some flashing replacing or resealing on one side of side chimney easy access, they want £1700.

Is this me being tight or are they having a laugh?

Midlands based.

megaphone

11,373 posts

272 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
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They're having a laugh, get more quotes.

GiantEnemyCrab

7,904 posts

224 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
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Is it 5cm of flashing in total or 5m+ etc? Access ok?

borcy

9,363 posts

77 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
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I'd get some people round to have a look. Quite often building quotes can vary wildly.

Simpo Two

90,589 posts

286 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
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Does it include a tower/scaffolding?

My TV aerial needed replacing last month; the bloke went up a ladder and straight up to the ridge like a jack rabbit!

A500leroy

Original Poster:

7,443 posts

139 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
quotequote all
Probably a meter of flashing, could easily be done from a tower.
I'm scared of heights otherwise I'd be on it.

thebraketester

15,298 posts

159 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
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Impossible for anyone to say based on information provided.

fooman

626 posts

85 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
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We were charged £250 for about 30 mins work but on balance I thought this good as they clearly had skills and the equipment, not to mention having to drive over quote and the difficulty finding people to take on small jobs.

A500leroy

Original Poster:

7,443 posts

139 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
quotequote all
fooman said:
We were charged £250 for about 30 mins work but on balance I thought this good as they clearly had skills and the equipment, not to mention having to drive over quote and the difficulty finding people to take on small jobs.
This is what I thought mine would cost, pull some old flashing off, stick new down, seal round the edges.

Belle427

11,085 posts

254 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
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whats your definition of easy access?

Sheepshanks

38,669 posts

140 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
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A500leroy said:
This is what I thought mine would cost, pull some old flashing off, stick new down, seal round the edges.
Has it not got to be mortared into the chimney?

Mr Penguin

3,815 posts

60 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
quotequote all
A500leroy said:
Struggling to get my head round two quotes.

I want some flashing replacing or resealing on one side of side chimney easy access, they want £1700.

Is this me being tight or are they having a laugh?

Midlands based.
We had something that sounds similar (in Lincs) four years ago and paid £600. I would get another quote, at least then you know if you are paying the going rate for your job in your area.

A500leroy

Original Poster:

7,443 posts

139 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
quotequote all
Belle427 said:
whats your definition of easy access?
No roofing ladder required, it's literally the side of the house

A500leroy

Original Poster:

7,443 posts

139 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
A500leroy said:
This is what I thought mine would cost, pull some old flashing off, stick new down, seal round the edges.
Has it not got to be mortared into the chimney?
No bitumen sealant

A500leroy

Original Poster:

7,443 posts

139 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
quotequote all
Mr Penguin said:
A500leroy said:
Struggling to get my head round two quotes.

I want some flashing replacing or resealing on one side of side chimney easy access, they want £1700.

Is this me being tight or are they having a laugh?

Midlands based.
We had something that sounds similar (in Lincs) four years ago and paid £600. I would get another quote, at least then you know if you are paying the going rate for your job in your area.
That's what I thought it should be

hotchy

4,765 posts

147 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
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The qoutes range so wildly I can only point to yes for alot of them. My qoutes started at £900 for a small job that in the end got done by a perfectly good roofer for £120 + 4 pints from the shop to say thanks.

Problem is I now need to buy 4 pints every time but he turns up for a job haha.

TwigtheWonderkid

47,508 posts

171 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
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Had some leaks about 16 years ago, first two firms said new roof, circa £50K. Was recommended to a 3rd guy, he said nothing wrong with your roof, actually in pretty good nick. Need a few tiles replaced, £500 should do it, and you'll be good for years. And he was right. He's my go to now, really nice guy, prices always good, just had all soffits replaced, and he's done my guttering previously too.

West London based, if that's any use to the OP.

gotoPzero

19,568 posts

210 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
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My guy charges about £60-70 to put his ladders up and have a look (large Victorian property) and then after that its about £300 a day I would say. Well established local firm with a small unit etc.

A day starts about 10am and ends about 3pm... but being honest there is zero chance you would get me doing what he does so I am fine with that. He usually has 2 lads with him.

We had our ridge replaced last year and it was probably 15 hours solid work but they spread it out over 4 days. I made a few hints they needed to speed up and suddenly it was done. I would rather keep a good relationship with them for emergencies but there is a limit.

Last year we had a bad storm and lost about 30 tiles, so it was handy to have him on speed dial.

If this is a one off then just get lots of quotes but I would only use a proper company with an actual office no cash in hand bloke in a transit van.

netherfield

2,984 posts

205 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
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I know a really good roofer, he once said to a client who thought he was expensive, ' you do realise that it's really only possible to work half the year on this job, I can't do it when it's bucketing down rain, snow and ice are killers'.

I figure he meant needs to charge enough to keep himself all year.

RoVoFob

1,502 posts

179 months

Saturday 27th December 2025
quotequote all
A500leroy said:
Struggling to get my head round two quotes.

I want some flashing replacing or resealing on one side of side chimney easy access, they want £1700.

Is this me being tight or are they having a laugh?

Midlands based.
Seems very expensive to me, unless this is very high up or not as easy to access as you think.

I had my roof done last week in zone 4, outer London. Cost was £9,500 all in for an entire new roof on a two-bed bungalow, including removal of a small chimney (which was only about 2m off the ground). Included the following:

SUPPLY AND ERECT SCAFFOLDING AS REQUIRED
STRIP OFF ROOF COMPLETE
REMOVE CHIMNEY FROM SIDE OF PROPERTY
SUPPLY AND FIT BREATHEABLE MEMBRANE OVER ROOF
SUPPLY AND FIT TREATED BATTENS
SUPPLY AND FIT ALIMINIUM VALLEYS
SUPPLY AND FIT NEW TILES TO FRONT REAR AND SIDE OF PROPERTY OF PROPERTY (STANDARD PATTERN TILES)
SUPPLY AND FIT HIP IRONS
SUPPLY AND FIT DRY RIDGE SYSTEM
SUPPLY AND FIT LEAD FLASHING TO CHIMNEY
ALL RUBBISH REMOVED
ALL WORK GUARANTEED FOR 25 YEARS
ALL WORK LABOUR AND MATERIALS SUPPLIED AND FITTED
FOR THE TOTAL SUM OF £9500