In this trade I hear the same line over and over again
“I just want it done as cheap as possible.”
I understand it. Nobody wants to overspend. But after more than a decade in roofing and construction across Berkshire and the surrounding areas, I have seen where cheap quotes lead. Spoiler — it is rarely anywhere good.
I am Caleb, owner of Price Wise Construction LTD based in Arborfield, and I want to share a real story that explains why cheap roofing quotes can end up costing more than doing the job properly the first time.
The Job That Went Wrong Before It Began
A homeowner in Wokingham called me a few months ago. He had a leak coming from his roof after a spell of heavy rain. He had already paid another company to repair it just six weeks earlier. They gave him a cheap quote and finished the job in half a day. Sounds great, right
Except it was not fixed at all.
When I inspected the roof I saw the problem straight away. The ridge tiles had been repaired using nothing but a thin line of cement that was already cracking. Underneath I found gaps that were letting water straight into the loft. Instead of properly rebedding the ridges and sealing them, the previous company took shortcuts to save time and money. The customer thought he was saving money. In reality he paid for the job twice.
Why Cheap Quotes Are a Red Flag
If a roofing quote is far cheaper than the others, there is always a reason. It usually means one of three things
- Inferior materials are being used to cut costs
- Shortcuts in workmanship that reduce labour time
- No long term guarantees because they know it will not last
At first glance these quotes look attractive. But behind them is a bigger problem. Once water gets into a roof it does not stop at the tiles. It travels. It soaks into the timber. It rots battens. It ruins insulation. It even causes mould and damp inside bedrooms and loft spaces. A roof leak left untreated can turn into a much bigger repair.
What A Proper Job Looks Like
Professional roofing is not about rushing. It is about doing things properly. That means
- Inspecting and finding the root cause of the problem
- Using quality materials that suit the roof type
- Repairing or replacing damaged areas, not covering them
- Preventing future leaks, not hiding current ones
- Keeping the roof watertight and structurally sound
At Price Wise Construction LTD we do not use words like cheap or quick fix. We focus on safe, long lasting work. That is the difference between price and value.
How To Avoid Paying Twice For Roofing Work
Here are a few simple checks before hiring anyone for roofing or construction
- Do they explain the work in detail
- Will they show you photos before and after
- Are they local and easy to reach after the job
- Do they have genuine experience and not just a van
- Are they insured to work at height
If the only selling point is a low price, walk away. Roofing is a trade where you pay for what you get.
Final Word
Cheap quotes feel tempting but often end with frustration, leaks and extra cost. A good roof should be repaired once and repaired properly. Trust matters in this industry. That is why I always tell my customers
“Quality is not expensive. It is simply the price of doing things properly.”