Finding a genuine heritage roofer can be challenging. If you have a period or listed property and need a re-roof or roof replacement, it’s crucial to seek quotes only from roofers with extensive experience in this specialised work.
Heritage roofing can be defined as roofing works carried out to older pre-1911, historic buildings using traditional materials and traditional styles of workmanship. This is not the same as using modern materials and workmanship used in normal day to day roofing. It requires highly skilled work and very few roofers are truly heritage skilled!
It can be challenging to determine who is truly skilled in heritage roofing or knowledgeable enough to specify the right materials and labour.
A true heritage roofer has honed their skills over many years with extensive training and experience on historic properties. Look for someone with at least an NVQ Level 3 in Roofing and a heritage skills card.
Often called CSCS cards, these are gold in color, indicating advanced crafts. The back of the card clearly lists the heritage roofing skills acquired.
To help you know what to look for, we’ve photographed our Managing Director Chris Hopkins’ card. His heritage qualifications are shown on the back.
Make sure to ask for this CSCS card and check that the back lists at least an NVQ Level 3 and mentions heritage skills. This is the best way to identify a genuine heritage roofer with the expertise to accurately quote and specify your project from the start!
A true heritage roofer takes responsibility for applying for and adhering to current Building Regulations. If someone quotes a project and ignores the need for approval, that’s a major warning sign!
For roof replacements covering more than 50%, the insulation must be upgraded to meet current regulations, specifically Part L, which ensures thermal efficiency.
Homeowners cannot opt out of this requirement.
Additionally, it’s essential to inform the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) before starting work. Without a Building Control Completion Certificate, selling your home might become challenging.
Most professional roofers are registered with Competent Roofer, allowing them to sign off work as compliant, with regular monitoring for assurance.
If they aren’t part of this scheme, they should apply to the LABC, which will periodically inspect the work to ensure it meets Building Regulations (including Part L) and aligns with your plans.
A completion certificate is issued at the end. Non-compliance fines can reach £5000, potentially affecting the homeowner, so it’s important to ensure this is managed for you.
Check which roofers are registered with the Competent Roofer Scheme on their website.
It’s always a good idea to review a roofer’s previous work.
A genuine heritage roofer will have experience with many heritage projects. Look for case studies on their website or social media that showcase similar work. Ensure the photos are truly theirs and not stock images or other contractors’ work.
Consider visiting their projects or speaking with their customers to learn about the quality of workmanship, their guarantees, and how efficiently building regulations were handled.
We hope this helps you in selecting a genuine heritage roofing contractor.
Our MD, Chris Hopkins, is a true heritage roofer with over 35 years in the industry. He’s known for driving positive changes within the field.
Chris handles all specifications and quotes for Green and Heritage projects. Here’s his advice on choosing a heritage contractor:
“As a dedicated heritage roofing contractor, I urge everyone to be cautious when selecting a roofer for period properties. I’ve seen many claiming to be heritage experts without the necessary experience, often subcontracting work improperly. I hope the above tips will guide you effectively.”
If you're looking to re-roof your property and need a solar or heritage roofing specialist, we can usually offer you an idea of price without visiting your home
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