newcladd@yahoo.comCovering Kent, Sussex & Essex
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Frequently Asked Questions

Commercial roofing — questions, answered straight

The things commercial-roof clients ask us most often. If yours isn't here, call 07864 823476 — you'll usually get a straight answer in the first conversation.

About our work

Do you only work on commercial roofs?

Yes. 100% of what we do is commercial, industrial or agricultural roofing. We don't fit tile roofs, we don't do conservatories, we don't do general house roofing — and we don't sub-contract those jobs to someone who does. If your project isn't commercial-scale, we're probably not the right contractor.

What kinds of buildings do you work on?

Warehouses, factories, distribution centres, light-industrial units, multi-let trade parks, motor-trade premises, self-storage estates, agricultural barns, grain stores, livestock buildings, equestrian arenas, glasshouses, school sports halls, public-sector outbuildings, NHS trust estate maintenance buildings, and barn conversions / rural diversification schemes.

Do you do new-build as well as refurbishment?

Yes. We work as a roofing sub-contractor on new-build commercial projects (typically for general contractors or developers), and as a principal contractor on refurbishment, re-roof and repair projects directly with the building owner or their FM team.

How long have you been trading?

More than 40 years. The company was founded in the early 1980s and is still owned and run by the same family. We're registered in England & Wales.

Pricing & programme

What does a typical commercial roof cost?

It depends entirely on access, sheet type, insulation requirement, asbestos involvement and roof size, but as rules of thumb:

  • Over-cladding: £55–£85/m²
  • Full strip-and-replace (no asbestos): £85–£140/m²
  • Asbestos involvement: adds £25–£45/m² on top
  • Box gutter renewal: £180–£320/linear m depending on size
  • Standing-seam premium systems: £140–£220/m²

Every quote is fixed price in writing before any work begins. We don't do day-rate billing or open-ended “final account” arrangements.

How long does it take?

Typical programmes: 500 m² over-clad: 2–3 weeks. 1,500 m² re-roof with asbestos: 4–6 weeks. 3,000 m² full strip-and-replace: 8–12 weeks. Storm-damage emergency repairs: same week. We commit to a binding programme in the written quotation.

When can you start?

Emergency repairs: 24–48 hours. Standard repairs: 1–2 weeks. Planned re-roofs: typically 4–8 weeks from quote acceptance to start on site, depending on size and the season (early-spring and late-summer windows are usually our busiest).

Do you take a deposit?

For jobs under £5k, we usually invoice on completion. For larger projects we agree a payment schedule in advance — typically a small deposit, monthly applications on programme value, and a 5% retention released on practical completion.

Warranties, insurance & accreditations

What warranty do I get?

Manufacturer's warranty on the roof sheets themselves (typically 25 years on PVDF, 40 years on premium PVDF/zinc systems) plus our own workmanship warranty (typically 10 years on new roofs, 5 years on repairs). One contractor, one warranty — no “the supplier will fix that” finger-pointing.

What insurance do you carry?

£10 million public liability, £10 million employer's liability, and contractor's all-risks for the works in progress. Certificates issued before any job starts and available on request at survey stage.

Are you accredited?

Yes — CSCS-carded operatives; for asbestos removal; member of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) [if applicable]; manufacturer-approved installer for the principal systems we install. Specific certificates available on request.

Asbestos & safety

Do I need an asbestos survey before you can quote?

If the building was constructed before 2000 and contains a cement-fibre roof, we'll assume asbestos for survey purposes regardless of what the documentation says. We'll arrange (or you can provide) a refurbishment/demolition asbestos survey from an independent UKAS-accredited surveyor before works are confirmed.

Can you do the asbestos strip as well as the new roof?

Yes — that's a big part of our work. We handle asbestos cement strip and disposal under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, so we quote, plan, strip and replace as a single combined contract. More about our asbestos removal service →

How do you handle working at height safely?

Every job includes safety netting beneath the working area on fragile roofs, MEWPs where access allows (keeping operatives off the roof entirely wherever possible), edge protection where the survey identifies it as required, exclusion zones around the building footprint, and full PPE including FFP3 RPE on asbestos works. All priced into the job, never invoiced as a mid-programme variation.

Areas & logistics

Do you cover my area?

If you're in Kent (BR, CT, DA, ME, TN, KT), East or West Sussex (BN, RH, southern TN), or Essex (CM, SS, RM, IG, EN, CO) the answer is almost certainly yes. We also work parts of Surrey and the Greater London fringes. Call with your postcode and we'll confirm same-day. See full areas covered →

Do you charge travel time?

Within our core service area (Kent, Sussex, Essex) — no, it's built into our hourly rate. For projects further afield we'll discuss this transparently at the quote stage.

Can you work out-of-hours?

Yes — on occupied sites we frequently work evenings, weekends and scheduled shutdowns. There's a modest premium for out-of-hours installs but it's often a smaller premium than the cost of stopping the business underneath us during the day.

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