Roofing in London Borough of Wandsworth

A roofing contractor repairs, maintains or replaces a roof: slipped or missing tiles, a leak, damaged flashing, a flat roof patch, guttering, or a full re-roof when the covering's worn out. Wandsworth Roofers puts you in touch with local specialists who cover London Borough of Wandsworth, whatever the job. This page covers how to find a roofer you can trust, what a roofing contractor actually does, how flashing works, and where liability sits if someone's working at height on your property. For a specific job, see roof tiles and materials, roof leak repair, gutter repair, flat roofing, or what it tends to cost.

How do I find a roofer I can trust in Wandsworth?

Ask for a written quote, check they're happy to put the job and price in writing, and be wary of anyone who turns up unannounced or pushes you to pay on the spot. Citizens Advice has flagged roofing as a common scam: most cases start with a doorstep approach, someone claiming to have spotted damage from the street, or inventing a problem that's hard to check because a roof is out of sight.

A few checks before you commit: get more than one quote, ask for the price in writing before any work starts, keep a photo and date record of anything they show you as "evidence" of damage, and never hand over full payment upfront or in cash only. If someone pressures you to pay immediately because of "the weather" or says the price is only good if you agree right now, treat that as a warning sign rather than a bargain. A legitimate specialist is comfortable with you taking a day to think it over, and happy to say upfront what guarantees come with the work.

What does a roofing contractor do?

A roofing contractor handles the full range of roof work: inspecting and repairing tiles, slates, felt or sheet coverings, fixing leaks, repairing or replacing flashing around chimneys and valleys, patching or replacing flat roofs, clearing and repairing gutters, and stripping and relaying a whole roof when it's reached the end of its life. Most also cover moss removal and roof cleaning, and many take on chimney work too.

Which parts of that a specific business specialises in varies. Some firms focus on pitched roofs and tiling, others on flat roofs or on commercial properties, so it's worth saying what the job is when you ask for a quote. Storm damage or an active leak counts as an emergency rather than routine work: see emergency roof repair or emergency leak repair if that's what's happening right now. Otherwise, request a quote and we'll put you in touch with specialists who cover the work you need in Wandsworth.

What does flashing do on a roof, and can I do it myself?

Flashing is the strip of lead or another weatherproof material that seals the join where a roof meets a chimney, a wall, a valley or a roof light, places tiles or sheets alone can't cover. Roofers typically use lead, or on smaller jobs a flashing tape or liquid flashing compound designed as a repair product rather than a long-term fix on its own.

Fitting flashing properly means dressing it into the joints and overlaps correctly so water runs off rather than finding a way behind it, which is a skill that takes practice to get right. A small, accessible repair with flashing tape is something a confident homeowner can try as a stopgap, but flashing around a chimney or on a steep pitch is specialist work, both for the standard of the finish and because it usually means working at height.

Am I liable if a roofer falls off my roof in the UK?

Generally, no: under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, a homeowner counts as a "domestic client," and the legal duties that would normally sit with a commercial client transfer to the contractor, who takes them on alongside their own responsibilities as the person doing the work. The guidance is clear that homeowners aren't expected to manage health and safety on site themselves.

That transfer of legal duty isn't the same as it being nothing to do with you at all: it's still worth checking a specialist has their own insurance before work starts, since that's what actually pays out if something goes wrong. A specialist working on your roof should be able to tell you about their insurance when you ask.