How many roofing quotes should I get?

Two or three is usual for a restoration or re-roof. More than that takes a lot of your time and the roofers' time without adding much. For a small repair, one quote from a properly registered business may be enough if the price sits within the published guide bands.

What if a roofer will not put the quote in writing?

Treat that as a reason to look elsewhere. A written quote protects both sides and is the basis for any later dispute. On larger jobs a written contract is required by law, so a business that avoids paperwork at the quote stage is unlikely to provide it later.

Should I pay a deposit before a roofing job starts?

A deposit is common, especially where materials are ordered to suit your roof. Agree the amount in writing, pay by a traceable method rather than cash, and make sure later payments are tied to stages of work you can see. Be wary of a request for most of the price up front.

What does a workmanship warranty on a roof normally cover?

It covers faults in how the work was done, such as leaks at new flashings or loose sheets, for a stated period. It is separate from the manufacturer's warranty on the roofing product. Ask for both in writing and keep them with your compliance certificate and invoice.

Can I use this checklist for a small repair?

Yes, but many lines will not apply. For a few tiles or a short gutter section, focus on the register check, a written price, what is included and photos of the finished repair. The paperwork section matters most on larger jobs.

Roofing quote checklist for Traralgon homes

Before you accept a roofing quote, check three things: that the person is registered or licensed for the job on the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) register, that the quote spells out the full scope in writing, and that it names the paperwork the job needs. Print this page, take one copy per quote, and tick each line as you go. Anything you cannot tick is a question to ask before signing.

The roofers you compare are independent businesses. They set their own prices, carry their own licences and insurance, and do the work; this site passes enquiries to them and nothing more, as the about page explains.

Step 1: Have you checked the roofer on the register?

The BPC’s find and check a practitioner search lets you look someone up by name, business name, licence or registration number, or location. It shows whether they are current, which class they hold and any conditions. The BPC tells homeowners not to rely only on advertising, business cards, quotes or what someone says.

Name or business name on the quote matches the register
Status is current, not suspended or expired
Class matches the job (see the table below)
Any conditions on the registration do not exclude your job
The person who will issue the compliance certificate is licensed, not only registered
Checked the Compliance and Enforcement Register for disciplinary entries

The enforcement register holds plumbing records from June 2019 and building records from 2018 and 2019, and entries stay for five years. A clean search does not prove good work, but an entry is worth asking about.

Job	Class or registration to look for
Metal roof sheets, flashings, gutters, downpipes on a house	Roofing (stormwater) plumbing
Metal roofing on a shed, garage or carport only	Roofing (stormwater) restricted to Class 10a buildings
Tile re-roof or tile work over the building registration value	Building practitioner registration with the BPC
Asbestos cement sheets	Licensed asbestos removalist
Painting or coating only	No plumbing class covers it; check what else is included

The trade classes guide explains each class and its limits in more detail.

Step 2: Does the quote describe the whole job?

A short quote that says “re-roof in Colorbond” leaves too much open. Look for each of these lines.

Materials

Roofing product named by brand, profile and colour
Gutter and downpipe profile, size and brand, if included
Fixings and any sealants specified
Sarking type, and whether new sarking is included on a re-roof

Timber and structure

Batten allowance stated: how many metres are included
Rate for extra battens or rafters found once the roof is open
What happens if structural damage is found, and who decides

Flashings and edges

Ridge, hip, valley and wall flashings listed
Penetrations covered: flues, vents, skylights, solar mounts
Fascia inspected, and replacement priced or excluded

Site and safety

Scaffold or edge protection included, and who supplies it
Old material removed and disposed of, with disposal cost shown
Protection for gardens, solar panels and gutters during work
Clean-up of fixings, offcuts and dust at the end

Price and payment

GST shown as its own line
Fixed price or estimate stated clearly
Deposit amount and progress payment stages written down
Start date and expected length of the job

WorkSafe Victoria’s compliance code for preventing falls in housing construction sets out how employers and self-employed people should control the risk of falls, with different controls for heights above and below 2 metres. Ask how the roofer will meet it on your roof. A quote that includes no edge protection on a two-storey house is a gap.

Step 3: Is the right paperwork named?

These items depend on the job’s value and type. The permits and contracts guide explains each threshold.

Compliance certificate promised for roof plumbing above the set value, issued by a licensed plumber
Building permit arranged if the roof material is changing, with the surveyor named
Written major domestic building contract for building work over the set value
Home Warranty cover in place for eligible contracts signed from 1 July 2026 over its set value
Domestic Building Consumer Guide given to you before signing a major domestic building contract

Under the rules on the BPC’s compliance certificate page, you should have the certificate in hand no more than five days after the roof plumbing is finished. Keep it with your house records: buyers’ conveyancers and insurers often ask for it later.

Step 4: Has asbestos been considered?

Many Latrobe Valley homes date from the post-war building years. Victorian Places records that the Housing Commission built more than 2000 homes in Morwell by the 1950s, and that APM and the Housing Commission built homes in Traralgon for the Maryvale mill workforce from the late 1930s. Houses from before 1990 are the ones the state’s asbestos guidance for homeowners flags as likely to contain it, and that page also notes that ordinary building and plumbing trades generally hold no licence to take it out.

Roofer has asked when the house was built
Old cement sheets, ridge capping, eaves or gutters flagged as possible asbestos
Sample tested by a lab before work starts, if there is any doubt
Licensed asbestos removalist named for any removal
Removal priced separately and shown on the quote

If no roofer has looked at a pre-1990 roof yet, ask for a quote that includes an asbestos check and give the build year.

Step 5: Will you get evidence during and after the job?

Roofer agrees to send photos of the roof once stripped, before new material goes on
Photos of any extra battens or rafters replaced, before they are charged
Final photos of ridges, valleys and flashings
Workmanship warranty in writing, with its length and what it covers
Manufacturer’s product warranty details provided
Final invoice matches the quote, with any variations agreed in writing

What should I ask when the roofer visits?

The site visit is the best chance to learn how a business works. Keep these questions on the same sheet and write the answers down while the roofer is still there.

Did they go up on the roof, or into the roof space, before pricing?
Did they show you photos of the problems they found?
Who will be on site each day, and who is in charge of the job?
Will any part of the work be passed to a subcontractor, and is that person registered?
What happens if rain arrives while the roof is open?
How will solar panels, antennas or satellite dishes be handled?
Is there safe access for a scaffold or ladder on every side of the house?
How long will the quote stay valid, given that material prices change?

A roofer who answers these in plain terms, without rushing you, is easier to deal with if something goes wrong later. On older Latrobe Valley houses with additions from several decades, ask the roofer to point out where the roof changes material or pitch, since joins between old and new sections are where many problems start.

How do I score the quotes once ticked?

Count the unticked lines on each quote and ask each roofer to fill the gaps. Once every quote describes the same job, compare the totals. If one is much cheaper, check which line it left out. The Traralgon roofing cost guide gives the published bands to sanity-check each total against.

Warning signs that should stop you signing:

The person cannot be found on the register under the name on the quote.
They will not put the scope in writing.
They ask for full payment, or a large cash deposit, before work starts.
They say no compliance certificate is needed on a metal re-roof.
They plan to cut or pressure-clean old cement sheets without testing.
They push you to decide on the spot.

Next step: send an enquiry with the details roofers need

To get quotes that are easier to compare, start with a clear brief. Tell us the suburb, the roof material, the year the house was built if you know it, the job you want quoted, and anything from this checklist that matters most to you, such as an asbestos test or a stated batten allowance. Attach a few photos from the ground. Then send a roofing enquiry for comparison quotes and use this list on every quote that comes back.

Send a job enquiry