A written guarantee is one of the best protections when hiring someone to work on your property, but a standard promise is only as good as the firm behind it. That gap in protection is exactly why an insurance-backed guarantee exists. Understanding the difference between the paperwork you are offered will help you avoid paying for promises that might be worthless.
Three different promises called a guarantee
Roofers often use the word guarantee as a blanket term for the paperwork you receive when a job is finished. You cannot see your own roof properly, so you have to take a stranger's word for what was done and how long it will last. If you do not know exactly what that document covers, you might assume you are fully protected when you are not.
There are three entirely separate promises involved in roofing work. The first is the roofer's own workmanship guarantee, which covers the physical labour and installation. The second is the manufacturer's materials warranty, which covers the physical products used on your roof. These are separate documents, and a proper written quote contains both of them.
The third promise is an insurance-backed guarantee. This is a formal insurance policy that steps in to honour the roofer's workmanship guarantee if their company goes out of business. It is a completely different product from the other two, and you will normally only receive one if you specifically ask for it or use a contractor registered with a specific scheme.
The table below shows the three main types of roofing protection and who provides them.
|
Type of protection |
Who issues it |
What happens if the firm closes |
|---|---|---|
|
Workmanship guarantee |
The roofing contractor |
No protection if the company ceases to trade |
|
Materials warranty |
The product manufacturer |
Should still be valid |
|
Insurance-backed guarantee |
An independent insurance provider |
The policy covers valid claims |
Specific policy terms will always vary, so read the wording of each document.
What a workmanship guarantee covers
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors states that a contractor would normally provide a workmanship guarantee setting out their obligations. This document is a written promise from the roofing firm that sets out their obligations for the work they carried out.
Roofing involves complex systems, and the workmanship guarantee should cover how those parts are put together. On pitched roofs, the covering might be concrete and clay tiles, or natural and fibre cement slate. A workmanship guarantee should cover the roofer fixing those materials securely to the battens, which are the timber strips holding the tiles. It should also cover the correct installation of the underlay, which is the waterproof layer often called felt or membrane.
Check that the guarantee also covers the vulnerable junctions of the roof. This includes the ridge along the top edge, the hip on a sloping edge, the valley where two slopes meet in an internal corner, and the verge on the outer edge of a gable. It should include the eaves at the bottom edge, the lead flashing that seals joints against brickwork, and the fascias, soffits and guttering attached to the roofline.
Flat roof systems rely entirely on correct installation to stay watertight. Whether the roofer uses built-up felt which is usually torch-on, EPDM rubber, GRP fibreglass, single-ply or liquid coatings, the workmanship guarantee should cover the application. It should also cover the installation of the timber deck, which is the structural base of a flat roof. Workmanship warranties are often 10 to 20 years according to one 2026 comparison guide, so always check the length in writing.
Why the firm's guarantee can fail
A company guarantee gives you no protection at all if the company ceases to trade. Firms can cease to trade for many reasons. If the legal entity that issued your paperwork no longer exists, their written promise to fix your roof dies with them.
This is a particular problem with rogue traders and cold callers. A common tactic is for someone to knock on your door having spotted a loose tile or moss from the street. They will apply pressure to decide today, insist on cash only, and provide no fixed address. They often hand over a vague one-line quote.
A guarantee from a firm like that may be worthless if the firm disappears after the work is done. Even with legitimate businesses, you face a risk. You might hire a well-meaning local roofer who does excellent work, but if they close their business three years later, a company guarantee gives you nothing to fall back on.
What an insurance-backed guarantee does
An insurance-backed guarantee sits directly behind the company guarantee. It comes into effect only if the contractor ceases to trade due to liquidation, receivership, administration or winding up. If the firm is still trading, you would normally go to them to fix the problem under their workmanship guarantee.
This is a one-off paid-for policy provided by an independent insurance company. It ensures that if a fault develops in the roof and the original installer is no longer in business, you can claim under the policy so the work can still be put right. The policy wording, excess amounts and specific exclusions differ between providers, so you must read the terms carefully.
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors points out that there will be an additional cost for any insurance-backed guarantee, and this cost must be measured against the risk of failure. There also tends to be a high excess which needs to be considered. You have to weigh the upfront cost of the premium and the excess against the risk of failure.
When you are likely to get one
Insurance-backed guarantees are not legally compulsory. You will usually only receive one by default if you use a contractor registered with a specific scheme. CompetentRoofer is a government-authorised competent person scheme run by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors. Where a roofer is in this scheme, a ten-year insurance-backed guarantee is included with every domestic notification. One scheme guide describes this as applying to roof refurbishment jobs valued under £50,000, so ask the roofer to confirm it for your job.
If your roofer is not part of that specific scheme, an insurance-backed guarantee is optional. You will need to ask the roofing firm if they are registered with an insurance provider to offer one. If they are, there will be an additional cost, so ask whether it is included in the quote.
You can also check if a roofer is registered with TrustMark, the government-endorsed quality scheme for work in and around the home. You should always verify membership on the scheme's own register rather than just trusting a logo on a van. Membership of these schemes is a good sign of a professional business, but it is not a guarantee that the work will be flawless.
Checks before you accept the paperwork
You must check the details of an insurance-backed guarantee carefully before you assume you are covered. If the paperwork has errors, or the work is not covered by the policy terms, you may find a claim harder when you need the cover most.
- Check that the guarantee period is clearly stated in writing on the policy document.
- Check whether a company guarantee is needed, as one scheme states that its policy is void without one.
- Check when the work must be paid for, as one scheme states that work must be paid for in full before a policy is issued.
- Verify that the policy is issued in the exact name of the property owner and the address is correct.
- Check if the policy is transferable if you sell the house during the coverage period. One scheme states that its policy is.
- Ensure the policy covers the new work and materials, as one scheme states that it covers new work and materials only, not repairs, paints or resins.
Small repairs are usually a fixed price or a day rate, while larger work is priced per square metre plus access. Scaffolding is often a separate and significant line on your bill. Waste removal and VAT may or may not be included, so you must ask. Prices are higher in London and the South East, and nobody can see rotten timber until the old covering is off, so a good quote says exactly how extras will be priced.
What the guarantee does not replace
A written guarantee does not replace your statutory rights. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, all building work must be done with reasonable care and skill. If it is not, you can ask for the work to be put right or for your money back. A quote is a fixed price, while an estimate is not. Contracts agreed at home, by phone or online normally carry a 14-day cooling-off period, but if you ask for work to start inside that period you must pay for what has been done.
A guarantee also does not replace a building regulations compliance certificate. In England, repairing or re-covering a roof does not normally need a building control application if less than 25 per cent of the building envelope and less than 50 per cent of the roof is affected. Above that threshold, formal approval is needed and the roof insulation may have to be upgraded to modern standards. A warm roof has insulation above the deck, while a cold roof has it between the joists.
Building regulations approval is also needed for structural alterations, where a new covering performs significantly differently in fire, or where it adds 15 per cent or more to the weight of the roof. Replacing a glazed or polycarbonate conservatory roof with a solid one takes the conservatory out of its exemption, meaning building regulations apply to the new roof. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so you must check with your local council rather than guessing.
Registered roofers in the CompetentRoofer scheme can self-certify roof refurbishment in England and Wales, meaning they issue the building regulations compliance certificate directly. Otherwise, the work must go through council building control or a registered building control approver. You must keep this certificate safe, as it is essential when you come to sell your home.
The table below shows the typical limits and timeframes associated with roofing protection.
|
Protection type |
Typical timeframe or limit |
|---|---|
|
Workmanship guarantee |
Often 10 to 20 years in some published advice |
|
Insurance-backed guarantee |
10 years |
|
CompetentRoofer scheme IBG |
10 years, described as applying to refurbishment jobs under £50,000 |
|
Section 75 credit card cover |
Purchases over £100 to £30,000 |
These are general figures and specific policy terms will differ, so read each policy before relying on it.
If the roofer has gone out of business
Discovering a leak when the original roofer has stopped trading is highly stressful. Your first step is to check your paperwork to see if you have an insurance-backed guarantee. If you do, contact the insurance provider directly to start a claim. If you only have a company guarantee, it may be of little use now, but you still have options.
Check if you have a separate manufacturer's warranty for the materials. If the tiles or the flat roof membrane have failed prematurely due to a manufacturing defect, that warranty should still be valid regardless of the roofer's business status. Citizens Advice explains that you can use the guarantee or warranty that came with the item to get repairs or a replacement.
How you paid for the work makes a massive difference to your rights. If you paid by credit card or a buy now pay later scheme, and the work cost over £100, you may be able to make a Section 75 claim against your credit provider. If you paid by debit card, you can ask your bank to use the chargeback scheme, though they might not agree to do so.
If the company has gone into administration, you can ask the administrator for repairs, but there is a small chance they will be able to help. You can register a claim as a creditor on GOV.UK, but other creditors are paid first, so you might not get any money back. If you are struggling with a dispute, the Citizens Advice consumer service can help guide you through your legal rights.
Questions to ask before you sign
Taking the time to ask the right questions before you hire a roofer will protect you from worthless paperwork. A professional roofer will be happy to answer these clearly and put their responses in writing.
- Will I receive a separate workmanship guarantee and a manufacturer's materials warranty?
- How many years does your company workmanship guarantee cover?
- Are you registered to offer an insurance-backed guarantee?
- Is the cost of the insurance-backed guarantee included in this quote?
- What is the excess fee if I need to make a claim on the insurance policy?
- Will you handle the building regulations notification, or do I need to contact the council?
- Can you provide proof of your public liability and employers' liability insurance?
Common questions
Are verbal guarantees worth anything?
A verbal guarantee is a red flag because you have nothing in writing to rely on if things go wrong. You should always insist on a detailed written quote that specifies the exact length and terms of the guarantee before any work begins.
Do roof repairs come with a guarantee?
Ask the firm whether a repair comes with a written workmanship guarantee and how long it lasts. One scheme states that its insurance-backed guarantee covers new work and materials only, not repairs, paints or resins, so do not assume a repair is covered.
Does a materials warranty cover the labour?
No, a manufacturer's warranty only covers the physical products against manufacturing defects. If the materials fail because the roofer installed them poorly, the manufacturer may reject the claim, and you would then have to rely on the workmanship guarantee instead.
Can I transfer a guarantee when selling my house?
This depends entirely on the terms of the specific policy. One scheme states that its insurance-backed guarantee is transferable to the new owner if you sell the property during the 10-year period. Check the wording of your own policy.
Next steps
Securing the right paperwork is just as important as choosing the right materials. Before you agree to any roofing work, make sure you follow these exact steps to protect your home and your money.
- Ask for three itemised written quotes that separate the cost of scaffolding, materials, labour and waste removal.
- Demand that the length of the workmanship guarantee is stated clearly on the quote.
- Ask if the firm is registered to provide an insurance-backed guarantee and what the premium will cost.
- Take photos of the roof defect from the ground or from inside the loft before work begins.
- Agree to staged payments for larger jobs, and only make the final payment when the work is completely finished.
By understanding exactly what your paperwork covers, you can hire a professional with confidence and find a roofer near you who stands behind their work.
Find a top rated roofer near you
3,861 roofers across the UK, each ranked on their Google rating and the number of reviews behind it. Start with your county:
