How to use this list
Print these questions or keep them on your phone for the quote visit. You do not need to read them out like an interview. Most come up naturally as the contractor walks around the house, gets up a ladder and talks through options.
Pay attention to how each answer is given as well as what is said. Specific, plain answers are a good sign. Changing the subject, rushing you or leaning on discounts that expire today are not.
Credentials and cover
1. Are you registered for roof plumbing, and can I see the registration?
In Victoria, work on sheet roofing, gutters, flashings, valleys and downpipes is regulated plumbing work. The person doing it should be registered or licensed in the roofing (stormwater) class. Registration was managed by the Victorian Building Authority until 2025, when its functions moved to the Building and Plumbing Commission. Check the name and number against the current public register rather than trusting a sticker or business card.
Tile-only work, such as rebedding and repointing, sits outside plumbing regulation, but most re-roofs involve some plumbing component.
2. What insurance do you hold?
Ask for a current certificate of public liability insurance, and ask whether workers on site are covered under WorkSafe Victoria's workers compensation scheme. If the job is large enough to need a domestic building contract, ask about domestic building insurance as well. Look at the expiry dates on the documents.
3. Who will actually be on my roof?
Some businesses use their own crews; others subcontract. Neither is wrong, but you should know who is coming, whether the subcontractors are registered for the plumbing work they perform, and who supervises the job day to day.
The scope of the job
4. What exactly does the quote include?
A good quote reads like a list, not a single line. Look for:
- removal and disposal of the old roof,
- any batten or timber repairs, and how extra rotten timber will be priced if found,
- sarking or insulation blanket,
- new flashings, valleys and ridge capping,
- gutters, downpipes and fascia, if being replaced,
- scaffolding or edge protection,
- the specific product names and colours,
- clean-up, including magnetic sweeping for screws and nails.
If something is not written down, assume it is not included.
5. Does this job need a permit, and who will apply for it?
The contractor is not the final authority on this, but an experienced roofer should know when to involve a registered building surveyor or check with council. Heritage streets in the City of Yarra and bushfire-overlay areas in Cardinia Shire are good examples where extra approvals are common. Our guide on council approval for roof replacement explains the process.
6. What problems might you find once the old roof is off?
No honest contractor can promise there will be no surprises. Rotten battens, termite damage, asbestos in eaves linings and sagging rafters are all possible on older homes. Ask how these would be handled: will work stop while you approve the extra cost, and how will it be priced? A written variation process protects both sides.
Money and paperwork
7. What is the payment schedule?
Ask how much is due up front and at what stages the remaining payments fall. Under Victoria's domestic building rules, deposits on larger contracts are limited, so a request for a very large payment before work starts deserves questions. Progress payments should line up with work actually completed.
For background on what moves the total, see the roof replacement cost guide.
8. What warranties apply, and who stands behind them?
There are usually two kinds: the material manufacturer's warranty and the contractor's workmanship warranty. Statutory protections under consumer law and Victoria's domestic building legislation sit alongside these. Ask for the warranty terms in writing, including what could void them. Our article on roofing warranties in Australia unpacks the details.
On the day and after
9. How do you handle weather and site safety?
Melbourne weather can turn in an afternoon, so ask what happens if rain arrives with the roof open. Good contractors strip only what they can cover or close up the same day and keep tarps on hand. Ask too about edge protection, how they protect gardens and solar panels, and where skips or materials will sit.
10. What will I receive when the job is finished?
At a minimum you should get a final invoice that matches the contract, warranty documents for materials, and a compliance certificate from the registered plumber for qualifying roof plumbing work. If a building permit was involved, the surveyor's final certificate should follow. If asbestos was removed, you should also get a clearance certificate.
Comparing the answers
Once you have spoken to two or three contractors, put their responses side by side. This simple table helps.
| Question | Contractor A | Contractor B | Contractor C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing registration checked on register | |||
| Liability insurance sighted, expiry date | |||
| Who does the work | |||
| Sarking and flashings included | |||
| Permit approach | |||
| Variation process in writing | |||
| Deposit and progress payments | |||
| Warranty terms in writing | |||
| Weather and safety plan | |||
| Handover documents listed |
Gaps in the table usually point to the follow-up questions worth asking before you sign.
It also helps to jot down a few impressions straight after each visit, while they are fresh. Did the contractor look in the roof space? Did they explain why a valley or flashing needed replacing, or simply list it? Did they ask about your plans for the house, such as solar panels or an extension, that might change the right roof choice? Small things like these often reveal more about how a job will be run than the headline figure does. A roofer who asks good questions of you is usually the one who will think ahead when something unexpected turns up halfway through.
Red flags during the visit
A few behaviours deserve extra caution:
- pressure to sign on the spot or lose a discount,
- cash-only pricing or reluctance to issue a proper tax invoice,
- refusal to put the scope in writing,
- an unsolicited knock on the door after a storm offering to "fix it today",
- recommendations for a full replacement without explaining why repairs would not work.
If you are not sure whether your roof needs replacing at all, our guide to the signs a roof needs replacing can help you judge what you are being told.
Before you sign the contract
Once you have chosen a contractor, read the contract slowly, ideally a day after you receive it. Check that the scope matches what was discussed on site, that product names and colours are spelt out, and that the payment stages line up with visible milestones such as stripping complete, roof sheeted or tiled, and final clean-up. Make sure the start window and expected duration are stated, along with what happens if weather pushes the job back.
If anything you agreed verbally is missing, ask for it to be added before you sign. It is much easier to fix a contract on paper than to argue about a missing item with the old roof already in a skip.
Getting quotes through us
Roof Repair Melbourne VIC arranges free on-site quotes from independent local roofing contractors. We are a referral service and do not carry out roofing work. We ask contractors in our network to hold the registrations and insurance their work requires, yet the documents are yours to sight before the job begins, and these ten questions are a good way to do it. To book a visit, head to contact us or browse our roofing services.