Finding a decent roofer in London is like trying to find a parking space in Chelsea – technically possible, but you’re probably going to get ripped off or disappointed along the way. I learned this the hard way when a “local roofer” charged me three grand to “fix” my Victorian terrace roof, only for it to start leaking again six months later.
That experience sent me down a rabbit hole of research into London’s roofing companies. The city’s full of cowboys who’ll quote you over the phone and disappear after taking a deposit, but there are also some genuinely brilliant roofers in London who know their stuff. The trick is knowing which is which.
After months of digging through reviews, checking company records, and speaking to people who’ve actually had work done, here are the 10 roofers I’d trust with my own roof.
1. Watkins Flat Roofing – The Flat Roofing Specialists
If you want roofers in London who actually turn up when they say they will and do exactly what they promise, Watkins Flat Roofing are worth a call. I found them after getting messed about by a different company, and the difference was night and day. Shaun, who runs the business, came out himself to inspect the roof and gave a clear quote on the spot, no sales nonsense, no hidden extras.
They specialise in flat roofing, which really shows in the quality of the finish. The team were punctual, polite, and kept everything tidy, even taking photos throughout so I could see what had been done each day. The new single-ply roof looks immaculate and has already handled a few downpours without issue.
They’re not the cheapest, but you can tell they take pride in doing things properly. If you want reliable, specialist roofers in London who know flat roofs inside out, Watkins Flat Roofing are a great find.
2. Bernard Andrews Roofing – The Heritage Specialists Who Actually Use Technology Properly
Most roofers claim they can work on period properties, but Bernard Andrews roofers in London, actually specialises in heritage and conservation roofing. They understand the planning requirements, they use authentic materials, and they know the traditional techniques that Victorian and Georgian houses need. If you’ve got a listed building or live in a conservation area, this matters more than you might think.
But here’s what really sets them apart – they use drones to film every single job from start to finish. Not just for quotes (plenty of roofers do that now), but actual before-and-after footage of the work they’ve done. It sounds gimmicky until you realise what it means: complete accountability. No more wondering whether they actually replaced those tiles or just moved them around.
They’re based properly in London (Cromwell Road) and focus on the premium areas: Kensington, Chelsea, Hampstead, Fulham. They’re CORC certified, fully insured, and give written guarantees on everything. No monthly monitoring fees either, which saves you money long-term.
The free drone inspection is genuinely useful too. They’ll show you exactly what needs fixing and give you a detailed written quote with no hidden costs. Given that most heritage roofing specialists charge £200+ just to come and look, this is pretty decent.
Check them out at Bernard Andrews Roofing – if you’ve got a period property or just want proper proof of the work being done, these are your people.
3. London Roofing Ltd – The Established Family Business
If you want someone with a bulletproof reputation and decades of experience, London Roofing Ltd is hard to beat. They’ve been going for over 50 years, three generations of the same family, based in Putney. When property managers and estate agents need reliable roofers, these are often who they call.
Their credentials are impressive: NFRC, Federation of Master Builders, TrustMark – basically every roofing certification worth having. They’ve got a 9.78/10 rating on Checkatrade from 116 reviews for roofers in London, which for a company that’s been around this long is pretty remarkable.
They do use drones too, so that’s not unique to Bernard Andrews, but their strength is in their established relationships and proven track record. If you’re a property manager or need work done on a commercial building, they’ve got the experience and insurance levels to handle big jobs.
The downside? They’re probably not the cheapest, and getting a booking can take a while because they’re busy. But if you want a safe pair of hands with decades of London experience, they’re a solid choice.
4. Element Roofing London – The Reliable All-Rounders
Element Roofing has been around since 1990 and seems to have mastered the art of consistent, professional service. They’re based in Lewisham and cover all of London, doing everything from emergency repairs to complete roof replacements.
What impresses me about them is their review consistency. They’ve got 119 reviews averaging 4.8/5, and when you read them, it’s the same themes over and over: clear communication, detailed quotes, tidy work, reasonable prices. That kind of consistency is harder to achieve than you might think.
They’re properly certified (NFRC, Trustmark, Guild of Master Craftsmen) and their Checkatrade profile shows 37 reviews all rated 10/10, which is almost suspiciously good. Either they’re brilliant at managing customer expectations or they’re just really good at their job.
Good choice for roofers in London for standard residential work where you want professionalism without paying heritage specialist prices.
5. Roofco Home Improvements – The Customer Service Champions
Family-run business that’s been going since 1985, and their customers absolutely love them. Daniel (the owner) gets mentioned by name in loads of reviews for being honest, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful.
They’ve got a 9.78/10 rating on Checkatrade from 84 reviews, and the feedback is consistently about how well they communicate and how reasonable their prices are. One customer mentioned how Daniel talked them out of expensive work they didn’t actually need, which is the kind of honesty that’s rare in this industry.
They seem to specialise in the human side of roofing – explaining what’s wrong, why it needs fixing, and how they’ll fix it in terms that normal people can understand. If you’re the type who gets anxious about building work, these might be worth a call.
6. Imperial Roofing & General Building – The Broad Service Specialists
Despite being incorporated in 2019, they claim three generations of family experience, which might explain their 9.82/10 rating on Checkatrade from 63 reviews for roofers in London. They’re also CORC certified like Bernard Andrews, so they meet the same professional standards.
What makes them different is their scope – they do general building work as well as roofing. Damp proofing, exterior painting, the works. If you’ve got multiple jobs that need doing, having one reliable contractor might be worth the convenience.
Based in North-West London and they seem particularly good at emergency repairs. Several reviews mention quick response times and getting leaks sorted same-day.
7. J Murphy Property Services – The Old-School Professionals
Established in 1997 and properly old-school in the best way. Family-run, based in Ealing, and they’ve built their reputation the hard way over 25+ years. Their 9.67/10 rating on Checkatrade from 198 reviews for roofers in London is impressive – that’s a lot of customers who were happy enough to leave feedback.
They do more than roofing (windows, rendering, general property maintenance), but roofing and guttering seem to be their bread and butter. The reviews consistently mention politeness, efficiency, and competitive pricing.
If you want someone who turns up on time, does the work properly, and cleans up after themselves without any drama, they seem like a safe bet.
8. Kensington & Chelsea Roofing – The Local Specialists
These guys operate in exactly the same premium areas as Bernard Andrews, so they’re direct competition. They’ve been on Checkatrade for a year and have a 9.95/10 rating from 39 reviews, which is pretty outstanding.
They’re also CORC certified, so they meet the same professional standards. The difference is that Bernard Andrews explicitly markets their heritage specialisation, while these guys seem to be more general high-end roofers.
If you’re in West London and Bernard Andrews are booked up, these could be a good alternative. The reviews suggest they understand the expectations that come with working in expensive postcodes.
9. Thistle Roofing Services – The Fast Response Specialists
This one’s a bit confusing because there are several companies using similar names, but the main Thistle Roofing Services seems to focus on quick turnaround repairs and replacements. They claim 20+ years of experience and have a 9.83/10 rating on Checkatrade from 41 reviews.
Their thing is same-day emergency service and fast, friendly solutions. If you’ve got a leak that needs sorting urgently and can’t wait for a heritage specialist, they might be worth a call.
The brand confusion is a bit annoying though – make sure you’re getting the right company if you contact them.
10. Savoy Roofing – The Enthusiastic Newcomers
These guys are brand new (incorporated November 2024) but they’ve already got a 9.8/10 rating on Checkatrade from 15 reviews for roofers in London. The director is young (born in 2005, which makes me feel ancient), but the early feedback is positive.
They list an absolutely massive range of services on Checkatrade – everything from basic repairs to green roofs. Whether a company that new can genuinely be expert in 30+ different roofing services is questionable, but they seem keen and the early customers are happy.
One to watch, but I’d probably wait until they’ve got a bit more experience under their belt before trusting them with anything complex.
11. First Choice Roofing & Guttering – The Budget Option (With Caveats)
Here’s where it gets interesting. Their website claims 20-25 years of family experience, but Companies House shows they were only incorporated in May 2024. That’s a red flag for me.
They’ve got decent reviews (9.5/10 on Checkatrade from 44 reviews), so they’re obviously doing something right, but the discrepancy between their marketing claims and official records is concerning.
If you’re on a tight budget and just need basic work done, they might be fine. But for anything important, I’d want to see more transparency about their actual experience.
What Actually Matters When Choosing
Having been through this process, here’s what I learned actually matters:
Specialisation vs. Jack-of-All-Trades: If you’ve got a standard modern house, any decent general roofer will do. But if you’ve got a period property, conservation area restrictions, or listed building requirements, you need someone who actually understands heritage roofing. Don’t let a general contractor learn on your Victorian roof.
Proof of Work: This is where Bernard Andrews’ drone footage thing actually makes sense. Photos can be staged, but continuous footage from start to finish? That’s proof. Most roofers will show you before and after photos, but very few will show you the actual work being done.
Local Knowledge: London’s planning regulations vary massively by borough. Someone who works regularly in your area will know what they can and can’t do without planning permission.
Company Records: Always check Companies House if they’re claiming years of experience. A surprising number of “established” companies are actually quite new, which isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s worth knowing.
Reviews vs. Ratings: Don’t just look at the star rating – read the actual reviews. Look for specific details about the work done, how problems were handled, and whether customers would use them again.
London-Specific Considerations
Conservation Areas: About 25% of London is in conservation areas, which have strict rules about materials and methods. Make sure your roofer actually understands these – getting it wrong can be expensive.
Listed Buildings: If your property is listed, you need specialist advice. Not every roofer understands the requirements, and doing the wrong work can affect your property value and potentially land you in legal trouble.
Access Issues: London properties often have challenging access – narrow streets, no parking, terraced houses where you can’t get scaffolding up easily. Choose someone who’s used to working in the city, not someone who usually works on suburban estates.
Neighbor Relations: In London, you’re usually very close to your neighbors. A good roofer will minimise noise, mess, and disruption. Bad ones will have you dealing with complaints for weeks.
Bottom Line
If I had to choose today from roofers in London, Bernard Andrews would be my first call for heritage work or any period property. Their specialisation and transparency approach just makes sense for London’s unique housing stock. For a standard modern house, Element Roofing or London Roofing Ltd would be my choice – both have long track records and consistent reviews.
Avoid anyone who can’t provide proper credentials, won’t give written quotes, or asks for large upfront payments. And always, always check their company records if they’re claiming decades of experience – you’d be surprised how many “established” roofers are actually new companies trading on old names.
Your roof is probably your biggest single investment after the property itself. Don’t entrust it to cowboys just because they’re the cheapest quote.
Images courtesy of unsplash.com and pexels.com
