Frequenty Asked Questions

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How do I select a roofing contractor for my project?
First and foremost, check to see if the contractor is a member of an approved federation or body such as the Confederation of Roofing Contractors, FairTrades or Government TrustMark. You can also check references with other reliable businesses and customers that the potential contractor has worked with. It is also important to check that the contractor has adequate public and employers liability insurance. R G Leverett Ltd has £10m public and £10m employers liability insurance.

You could also consider a contractor who is qualified to install more than one roofing system, this will help to avoid a ‘one product’ contractor pushing a certain type of roof that may not be to your best benefit.

You could also ask how long a company has been trading, often contractors prefer to tell customers their employees' combined years of experience, not how long they have actually been in business. R G Leverett Ltd is a family run business which has been trading since 1986. We have a great team of experienced workers and are very proud of the work we do.

You can find more information about the trade bodies with whom we are associated on our associated bodies web page.

There seem to be many different types of roofing system available – how do I decide which is best for my roof?
A good contractor should discuss this with you at the outset prior to providing a quotation.

To help you and the contractor decide which is the best roofing system for you factors regarding the uses of the roof will need to be considered. Such as, does it have a lot of foot traffic? Will there be more penetrations added in the future? Are there stack emissions that will drift back onto the surface? If so, what is in the emissions and how will it affect the roofing surface and materials?

Some systems are more suited to certain roof areas than others for a variety of reasons, which we will discuss with you in detail. A reputable and knowledgeable contractor will be more than willing and able to lead the discussion through all of these and possibly more specific issues before making a recommendation.

Here at R G Leverett Ltd we provide our customers with a choice of the most up to date, high quality roofing systems at competitive prices to suit a range of budgets. We will be happy to discuss your requirements with you in detail.

Who will be on the job doing the actual work?
Trained and skilled workers who are directly employed by R G Leverett Ltd will be carrying out the works to your roof. There are occasional times when we subcontract another local contractor to complete certain parts of the job. When this is necessary, we make absolutely sure that this contractor is a reputable contractor, who is a member of an associated trade body or association. In this case, we would still be in overall charge of the works and would still provide your guarantee / warranty for your peace of mind. We have very strict terms and conditions with regard to sub contracting and we only use 2 local firms in Norfolk with whom we have a long standing and trusted business relationship.

What if damage happens during the roof work?
Reputable contractors will have adequate insurance in two forms. One is Employers Liability Insurance and the other is Public Liability Insurance. The insurance must specify that the contractor is insured for roofing work, including any hot works. This insurance is required by law and it is important to be sure that your contractor has adequate insurance to cover your property in the extremely unlikely event that a problem occurs.

Some unscrupulous contractors work without insurance and in this case if there is an accident and your property is damaged, you would be liable for all resulting expenses.

It is highly unlikely that any damage will be done to your property by a reputable contractor, however, a prudent contractor will provide adequate protection for themselves as well as you, the customer.

R G Leverett Ltd has £10m public liability and £10m employers liability insurance.

What if my roof requires removal and that removal reveals 'uncovered' water or structural damage that is not the fault of the contractor?
Most times, but not always, a skilled contractor can detect such potential conditions in their examination of the building prior to the commencement of works. In that event, we will include the potential sums of money within the quotation.

In the unlikely event that it has not been possible for us to detect an unforeseen problem, we will discuss this with you prior to completing any additional works to ensure that you are well informed throughout the process.

I really don't think that I need a new roof, but I am thinking of some type of preventative action. Is there anything like that available?
Of course, we would be happy to complete a survey of your roof area on a no cost, no obligation basis. Many building owners and managers receive an initial free complimentary survey of their roof. From that point the process can result in no further action at all if the roof is in good order and that is what the customer would prefer. Alternatively, we can arrange to carry out an annual inspection or even full blown preventative measures.

In any event you should feel well informed about the current condition of your roof and what the future should hold for it. At R G Leverett Ltd we often use digital photography and written reports that serve as a basis for your next important decision regarding roofing. These can also be particularly useful for insurance purposes if in the future your roof is affected by storm damage for instance, you will have documented proof that you have been maintaining your roof area appropriately.

The company who have been doing some other work at my house have offered to replace my flat roof, I don't think that they usually carry out roofing work, should I take them up on this offer?
We would advise that only a specialist roofing company who is a member of an approved roofing confederation, with experience in the roofing industry should be trusted to replace your flat roof. Often, when work is slow in other industries, companies decide to expand their portfolio to include other trades such as roofing and roofline. This can result in tradesmen who are not skilled in roofing completing the work to a sub standard, or, unchecked and unskilled sub contractors installing a roof. Again, this can leave you, the customer with little recourse when the roof inevitably fails.

A roofer turned up on my doorstep and offered to fix my roof at a discounted price – should I take him up on this offer?
It's a common scam to find a roofer turn up at your door with a smile and a welcoming offer of fixing your roof at a discounted price. Often the roofer will say he was driving home from another local job and noticed a problem. He'll commonly have 'left-over' materials and put a 'too-good-to-be-true' offer to you if you enter into a deal with him there and then.

You should never accept this kind of offer as you have no contract to back you up should something go wrong and in many cases you may hand over money for a poor job, or one that isn't even finished at all. Always contact a roofer of your choosing should you need help with a roof issue. Roof problems can lead to dampness, construction issues and much more, so always look for an accredited tradesman, otherwise it could be dangerous.

I have received a quotation from a company offering me a life time guarantee for a roofing system, could this be true?
No, it is unlikely that any reputable contractor will really be able to offer you a lifetime guarantee on a roofing system. Ask the contractor if you can see the terms and conditions of the guarantee, often within the small print, the contractor’s definition of ‘a lifetime’ is actually only 10 or 20 years. In addition, this is usually a company backed guarantee, which is not endorsed by any separate insurance or by a manufacturers warranty.

We don’t know of a system that will last for your entire lifetime, however, we have been in business for over two decades now and we do have a wealth of experience in the roofing industry. Therefore we can advise you on the best possible long lasting system for your roof area.

What guarantees do you offer?
We offer guarantees from 15 – 25 years depending on which roofing system you opt for. The details of the guarantee offered will be set out in your quotation prior to commencement of the works and on your invoice following completion of the works.

As accredited members of the Confederation of Roofing Contractors, FairTrades and Government TrustMark we are also able to arrange for a 10 year insurance backed guarantee for all roof replacements.

A local roofing company has asked me for an administration fee for completing a quotation to replace my roof, am I obliged to pay?
It depends whether you were informed of this charge before the contractor visited your property. If the contractor did not inform you that there would be a charge for providing a quotation, then this is not ethical business practice. Check to see if the contractor is a member of an associated body such as FairTrades, Government TrustMark or the Confederation of Roofing Contractors and contact them. Alternatively, you could try contacting the Office of Fair Trading for further advice.

Here at R G Leverett Ltd, we will provide a free no obligation survey of your roof area, followed by a written quotation, which we aim to get back to you within 72 hours of visiting your property.

When will I be asked to pay for the roofing work?
Be cautious of contractors who want most or all of the payment before work has started. Particularly if you have not received any official paperwork from them. Always check their credentials thoroughly before you hand any money to them.

Here at R G Leverett Ltd, customers are not expected to make any payment until they have received a detailed invoice in the post following completion of the work. The invoice will include details of the work that has been completed along with the associated costs as well as details of the guarantee.

I want to make my house as energy efficient as possible, can I make my flat roof energy efficient?
Yes, absolutely, in fact a flat roof presents the smallest surface area for heat loss, therefore offering excellent thermal efficiency. Modern high performance flat roofing systems have a number of benefits that allow us to conform to modern thermal, acoustic and fire standards, and provide long term building performance, safer service maintenance, and cost effective construction methods.

High performance bituminous roofing systems contribute significantly to the overall airtight construction of a building. These systems will automatically seal voids and gaps, insulation can easily be incorporated into the system and the bonded system negates the need for mechanical fixings which are often responsible for a significant reduction in the thermal performance and air tightness of other roofing systems. Airtight construction is an important element of the Building Regulations.

A high performance bituminous roofing system will also be able to accommodate any further planned upgrades in the Building Regulations Part L to the thermal requirements, simply and with greater efficiency than some other roofing systems.

I have heard that if I have my flat roof insulated I will be entitled to a discount on the VAT is this true?
Yes, if we are upgrading a flat roof which currently has little or no insulation in it then the insulation element of the flat roof would qualify for 5% VAT, which is equal to a 10% discount on the VAT element of the work.

The remainder of the roofing work would be subject to the current 15% VAT level.

As reputable accredited contractors we are up to date on the current Building Regulations and can advise you of the best possible insulation solution for your flat roof area.

How do you remove construction debris and waste from our property?
We use our own vehicles to safely remove the debris from your property and take it to the appropriate waste recycling facility. The cost of this service is always included in our quotation. The vehicles will be removed from your property when work has finished for the day. If a harmful substance such as asbestos is found on your property, this will need to be collected by the local council or by an approved contractor, we can arrange for this to be done for you and this will be itemised within your quotation, so that you know what to expect.

Occasionally, usually on large commercial jobs, where the amount of waste and debris is too large to fit into our vehicles, we will arrange for a skip to be delivered and collected from your site. Again, this cost is always included in our quotation.

R G Leverett Ltd is committed to achieving environmental best practice in undertaking its business activities. We recognise that the roofing industry inevitably impacts on the environment in a number of ways and we always minimise the potentially harmful effects of such activities whenever and wherever practicable.

What is FairTrades?
R G Leverett Ltd is a member of FairTrades. FairTrades is one of the largest multi-trade associations and has been promoting vetted trade professional members since 1983. FairTrades expects all of its members to demonstrate the highest levels of customer service at all times and as such all professional members uphold the values of the FairTrades Homeowner’s Charter. To discover more about FairTrades you can visit their website at www.FairTrades.co.uk.

What is TrustMark?
R G Leverett Ltd has been awarded the Govermnet TrustMark. TrustMark is a new scheme supported by the Government, consumer groups and the building industry and is your route to a job well done. The TrustMark we have been awarded means that:

  • Scheme operators have checked our technical skills, trading record and financial position.
  • We have signed up to a code of practice that includes insurance, good health and safety practices and customer care.
  • The quality of our work, trading practices and customer satisfaction will continue to be monitored.
  • We will inform you about any building regulations you must meet and, where possible, give you the certificates you need.
  • We have a user-friendly complaints procedure to help sort out any problems. To discover more about TrustMark you can visit their website at www.TrustMark.org.uk.

What is CHAS?
R G Leverett Ltd is accredited within the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) having demonstrated compliance with, and sound management of, current health and safety legislation. CHAS is a government run scheme which has been developed over a number of years by local government health and safety professionals, with the support of the Health and Safety Executive.

As a CHAS accredited company you can be assured that the health and safety of our employees as well as our customers and members of the public is our top priority. To find out more about CHAS you can visit the website at www.chas.gov.uk.

What is Constructionline?
R G Leverett ltd is listed on the Constructionline UK register of pre-qualified construction services. This means that we have met all of the pre-qualification requirements appropriate to public and private sector procurement. Constructionline is owned and endorsed by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (formerly the DTI).

To find out more about Constructionline you can visit the website at www.constructionline.co.uk.

What is Norfolk Home Call?
Norfolk Home Call has been set up by Norfolk County Council to help safeguard older and vulnerable people in Norfolk, by making sure that they don’t have to take a chance with a trader picked at random from advertisements placed in newspapers or telephone books, or someone who comes knocking at their door.

R G Leverett Ltd is an accredited provider of roofing and roofline services for Norfolk Home Call. Our details can be found on the Norfolk Home Call website at www.norfolkhomecall.org and are given out over the telephone and by post to people looking to access roofing services from a reputable contractor. As an accredited provider our services are subject to the Norfolk Home Call monitoring process to help ensure that we maintain core standards.

What is The Confederation of Roofing Contractors?
R G Leverett Ltd is a member of the Confederation of Roofing Contractors. The Confederation of Roofing Contractors was formed in 1985 to promote membership and protect the general public against unscrupulous roofing contractors. Since then the Confederation has expanded to become an elite organisation specialising in the provision of roofing services to all market sectors.

The Confederation of Roofing Contractors employs a strict vetting procedure that ensures only companies of high repute can become members. The Confederation ensures that all materials and methods used strictly conform to the requirements laid down in its own code of practice.

R G Leverett Ltd provides a complete roofing service across East Anglia, including Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
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