The guarantee is a written promise from Castle Roofing Margate about the quality of the work carried out on your roof. It runs for ten years and is given in writing, so you hold it on paper rather than relying on a spoken assurance.
Workmanship means the way the job was done: how tiles or slates were fixed, how flashings were dressed, how a flat roof was laid and finished. It is a different thing from the materials themselves and from how long a roof covering lasts, which depends on the product, the weather and the upkeep.
The basics
What is promised, and in what form
The promise is ten years on our workmanship, in writing. It is given by Castle Roofing Margate as the firm that did the work, so it is a promise from the roofer, not from a manufacturer or a third party.
The paper that goes with a finished job is where the detail belongs. Ask to see the wording before you accept a quote, and read it as you would any contract. If something is unclear, ask in writing and keep the reply.
Not a lifespan
A guarantee is not the life of a roof
Ten years of cover does not mean a roof is expected to last ten years. Lifespans for slate, clay tile, lead and single-ply membranes differ with the material, and any figure quoted is a typical range only. The guarantee deals with how the work was done, and a roof covering ageing in the ordinary way is a different matter.
A manufacturer may also offer a product warranty on its own materials. That is a separate document from a different company, with its own terms.
Your rights
It sits beside the law, not in place of it
A guarantee is something extra. It does not replace the rights you hold under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Section 49 sets the standard of reasonable care and skill for a service, and the Act's remedies for a service that falls short apply whether or not any guarantee is in place.
If you are not sure where you stand, the Citizens Advice consumer helpline is 0808 223 1133. Our guide to poor roofing work and your rights goes through the options in order.
Making use of it
If something is wrong with the work
Tell us in writing as soon as you notice a problem, with the address, the date of the job and photographs of what you can see. Early notice helps, because rainwater can travel along battens and timbers and a small fault can grow.
- Take clear photographs, wide and close, from the ground or a window. Do not climb onto the roof to take them.
- Send them with the job address and the date of the work by email, WhatsApp or the quote form.
- Keep the written quote, the invoice and the guarantee paper together.
If you have a leak that cannot wait, make the area safe first and call 01843 305243. Our complaints route, set out on the complaints page, applies if you are not satisfied with the outcome.
Before you sign
Questions to ask about any guarantee
These apply to any roofer, and you are welcome to put them to us.
- What is covered, and what is left out?
- When does the ten years start, and is the start date on the paper?
- Who do you contact, and how?
- Does it pass to a new owner if you sell the house?
Asking the questions before the work begins is easier than after a fault appears. See also the terms and conditions for how a job is arranged.