I hate nobbing builders...

Get it scaffolded & covered, then DIY at your leisure.

Probably a good thing, if true. A firm which has a high 'staff' turnover is unlikely to have decent tradesmen.

Really, there's so little equipment etc needed for roofing that most of the best roofers will have their own firm. But of course finding one of those may not be easy as they have no need to waste money on advertising.

Do you know a local architect etc who specialises in extensions or whatever? He likely would keep a list of good tradesmen. ,

I recently had my roof redone, a very quick and efficient job they made? Where do you live? I reside in North Staffordshire, all roofers approached efficiently supplied quotes and the selected company came as promised and did a good job. Did you apply to builders rather than roofers?

Could get chilly - besides, I'm really not up to this level of work with a day job sadly - it would take me 6 months...

Also I do not know how to do flashing nicely or how hip/ridge tiles "work". Definately happy to concede ignorance on this job - I'm happy I can do plumbing and electrics and tiling :)

East Sussex -

Yep. I did wonder when he said scaffolding was not necessary and towers would be OK. Not that I'm disputing that you *need* scaffolding for a single storey bungalow - but everyone usually does and perhaps the bloke was cheap and pissed off his men? Not that scaffolding is a massive expense.

I tried teh word of mouth - that was even more disasterous. Not one of the buggers could be arsed to quote.

I don't, but it's a good idea - I could chance a phonecall to someone out of the phonebook...

Cheers for that.

So far, I have picked someone off "Checkatrade" website and SWMBO has found someone on the Roofing Federation scheme's site.

That might be one step better than doing the same as for roofers - but I hoped you might know of an architect etc with a good reputation. Or a structural engineer.

No - I've never had cause to use either and I couldn't afford any job that would need them either ;->

Blimey, you shouldn't need an engineer or an architect to find a roofer.

Like a lot of trades, they stop answering the phone when they're busy because they wouldn't be able give a starting date. When they're not busy they tend to advertise in the local paper. Short sighted I know, but that's how they are IME.

I was on the lookout for a few weeks before a suitable ad turned up in the paper.

Having had the roof off a place in the past, that is definitely the way I would do it if there is a next time. However I don't think I would fancy it heading into winter. Not so bad if you can throw people at the job to get it done fast, but not so good on your lonesome.

I merely said that a pro using them a lot might know the better ones and be willing to pass on that info.

That's how I got my roofer - from an architect acquaintance. And one look at it compared to others in the street that have also been replaced shows I was lucky in that choice. The workmanship is superb.

Have you tried RE Burt roofing, Battle. 20 or more years since i last had dealings with them, but they were very good.

This guy?

R A Burt Roofing - Roofing Contracting Services in Battle TN33 0EW Address:

Thanks - I'll try him, if it's not him maybe it's his son or something...

Ta muchly!

Tim

Have to say I've never actually tried it, but I doubt I'd like it much either.

I don't think I could do it - to much to do and only weekends and a few leave days. From the quotes I've had it's 2 fit men for 2 weeks solid...

Re: weather - it's been an entire s**te year for this job. I don't think a week has been without rain since early spring until last week. I was hoping to do this before we froze our nuts off (again)...

You would if they were like the ones here:

If you do use them would you mind reporting back, so i know if they can still be recommended in future.

You must have missed the virtually rain free Olympics then

tim