Step 1: Check the licence
In NSW, residential building work over $5,000, including labour and materials, generally requires a contractor licence issued by NSW Fair Trading. Ask for the licence number and look it up on the NSW Government's online licence check. Confirm:
- the name on the licence matches the business you are dealing with
- the licence is current
- the licence class covers the work you need
- any conditions or disciplinary notes
For asbestos removal, ask for the SafeWork NSW asbestos removal licence and check its class suits the job. See licences, insurance and certifications.
Step 2: Confirm insurance
Ask for:
- public liability insurance, covering damage to your property or injury to others
- workers compensation for employees, as required by NSW law
- home building compensation cover for residential work over the threshold, arranged before a deposit is taken
Ask for certificates, not just verbal assurances.
Step 3: Insist on an on-site inspection
A trustworthy roofer gets on the roof, where safe, and looks in the roof space before quoting. Quotes from aerial images alone miss most of what matters: battens, sarking, fixings, flashings and hidden damage. See what a proper roof inspection covers.
Step 4: Get an itemised written quote
The quote should name:
- what is being removed and how it is disposed of
- battens, sarking or blanket
- the new covering: product, grade, profile, colour
- flashings, ridges, valleys, gutters, downpipes
- access and safety equipment
- solar and electrical arrangements
- a rate for rotten timber
- exclusions, GST, timing and payment stages
Step 5: Compare like with like
Line up quotes item by item. Differences in total usually come from differences in scope. Ask each contractor to price any missing items. Factors that affect roof replacement costs explains each line.
Step 6: Ask good questions
- Why do you recommend repair or replacement?
- What grade of steel, and why for this address?
- How will you handle wind-driven rain at flashings?
- Who will be on site, and who supervises?
- How do you handle rain mid-job?
- What happens if you find rotten timber?
- What are your workmanship terms, in writing?
Clear, specific answers are a good sign.
Step 7: Sign a proper contract
NSW Fair Trading sets out requirements for home building contracts above certain values, including what must be in them. Read it before signing. Check the start date, completion estimate, payment stages, variations process and dispute resolution.
Step 8: Keep the deposit within limits
For residential building work in NSW, the deposit is generally capped at 10 per cent of the contract price. Progress payments should match completed stages. Never pay the full price upfront.
Red flags
- no licence number, or a licence in a different name
- pressure to sign today
- large cash deposits or cash-only discounts
- no written quote or contract
- quotes without an inspection
- vague descriptions of materials
- door-knocking after storms with "leftover materials"
- no edge protection on site
- reluctance to provide insurance certificates
Reviews and references
Online reviews can help but should be read carefully. Look for detail, consistency and how the business responds to problems. Ask for addresses of recent similar jobs you can drive past. See reading roofer reviews for more.
During and after the job
- keep communication in writing where it matters
- agree variations in writing before extra work
- inspect at handover
- keep all documents with the house records
If a dispute arises, raise it with the contractor first, then contact NSW Fair Trading for information on the dispute process.
Local knowledge worth testing
A contractor who knows Newcastle roofs will have opinions about things specific to this area. It is worth testing that knowledge with a couple of questions at the inspection: what grade of steel they use near the beaches and why; how they deal with box gutters on older terraces; how they would detail flashings against wind-driven rain on an exposed hillside; whether they have worked with the council on heritage roofs; and how they coordinate with asbestos removalists on fibro houses. You are not looking for a lecture, just a sign that they have thought about these things before.
Comparing communication, not just price
How a contractor communicates during quoting is a fair preview of how they will communicate during the job. Did they turn up when they said? Did the quote arrive when promised? Did they answer questions clearly, or avoid them? Did they explain what they found with photos? A slightly higher price from someone who communicates well is often the better value on a job that will have your roof open for days.
How we fit in
When you contact us, we refer you to an independent local contractor. We ask the contractors we work with to hold the licences and insurance the job needs, but you should still run these checks yourself. Read how this roofing service works and the disclaimer.