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Hiring a roofing contractor is a significant decision. You’re trusting someone with your home’s most important protective element, paying thousands of dollars, and relying on work you can’t easily inspect from the ground.
The right questions separate professional operators from the ones who’ll cost you more in the long run. Here are the ten that matter most.
1. Are You Licensed and Insured?
Why it matters: In Western Australia, roof restoration and painting don’t require a specific builder’s licence for work under the prescribed value threshold, but any contractor working at height must comply with Work Health and Safety regulations. More importantly, they must carry:
- Public liability insurance ($10-$20 million) - covers damage to your property during the work
- Workers’ compensation insurance - covers their workers if injured on your roof
What to ask for: A current certificate of currency for both policies. Any legitimate contractor will have these ready and won’t hesitate to share them. If they can’t produce them, don’t hire them.
2. What Exactly Is Included in the Quote?
Why it matters: “Roof restoration” can mean wildly different things depending on who’s quoting. Some quotes include everything from high-pressure cleaning to two coats of paint. Others leave out critical steps like repairs, priming, or gutter work.
What the quote should detail:
- Cleaning method (high-pressure water, not just a hose)
- Drying time before coatings
- All repairs (broken tiles, pointing, flashings, valleys)
- Primer/sealer application
- Number of topcoats (should be two for a quality job)
- Product names and brands - not just “roof paint”
- Any exclusions clearly stated
If a quote is a single line item - “Roof restoration: $X,XXX” - ask for a detailed breakdown. The scope matters as much as the price.
3. What Products Do You Use?
Why it matters: There’s a massive difference between premium roof coatings (Dulux Acratex, Shieldcoat) and cheap trade paint. Premium products come with manufacturer warranties, have documented performance data, and are formulated specifically for roofing.
What to look for:
- A specific product name, not “premium roof paint”
- Data sheets available on request
- Coverage rates (litres per square metre) that match the manufacturer’s specification
- Manufacturer’s recommended system (primer + topcoat, not just topcoat)
A contractor who uses quality products will happily talk about them. One who uses cheap alternatives will be vague.
4. Are You Accredited by the Coating Manufacturer?
Why it matters: Major coating manufacturers run accreditation programs for contractors. To be accredited, the contractor must demonstrate consistent workmanship quality, proper product application, and business standards.
Accreditation matters because it’s the mechanism through which manufacturer warranties are activated. A Dulux roof membrane applied by a non-accredited contractor may not carry the full manufacturer warranty - you’d be relying solely on the contractor’s own workmanship guarantee.
What to ask: “Are you an accredited applicator for the products you’re proposing?” If yes, ask to see the accreditation certificate.
5. Can I See Recent Work and References?
Why it matters: Past work is the most reliable indicator of future quality. Photos are good, but drive-by examples and contactable references are better.
What to ask for:
- 3-5 recent jobs in your area, with addresses you can drive past
- At least 2 contactable references (homeowners who’ll take a phone call)
- Google reviews - check the pattern, not just the star rating. Consistent positive reviews over years indicate reliability.
Be cautious of contractors who only have photos but no verifiable addresses or references.
6. What’s Your Warranty?
Why it matters: There are two warranties that should apply to a professional roof restoration:
- Workmanship warranty - the contractor guarantees their work for a specified period (typically 5-10 years)
- Product warranty - the coating manufacturer guarantees the product’s performance (typically 12-15 years for premium systems)
What to confirm:
- Both warranties are provided in writing
- The workmanship warranty has specific terms (what’s covered, what’s excluded, how to claim)
- The product warranty is issued by the manufacturer, not just the contractor saying “15-year warranty”
- The contractor will still be in business when you need to claim (how long have they been operating?)
A verbal “she’ll be right, mate, we guarantee it” is worth nothing.
7. How Many Coats of Paint, and at What Coverage Rate?
Why it matters: This is the most common area of corner-cutting. Manufacturers specify minimum coverage rates (e.g., 4-6m² per litre). Applying the product thinner - stretching it further - saves the contractor money on materials but gives you a thinner coating that fails sooner.
Two full coats at the correct coverage rate is the standard for a quality roof restoration. Some contractors apply one heavy coat and call it done; others apply two thin coats that together still don’t reach the specified thickness.
What to ask: “How many litres of product will go on my roof, and what does the manufacturer recommend for my roof size?” Do the maths - if the manufacturer says 5m² per litre for two coats and your roof is 200m², you need at least 80 litres total (40 per coat). Significantly less than that means they’re stretching the product.
8. What Preparation Work Do You Do?
Why it matters: Preparation is where the quality of a roof restoration is determined. The paint is the visible result, but it only performs if the surface underneath is properly prepared.
The preparation should include:
- High-pressure cleaning (2000-3000 PSI) to remove all moss, lichen, old loose coating, and surface contamination
- Adequate drying time (typically 24-48 hours) before any coatings are applied
- Repair of all cracked or broken tiles
- Rebedding and repointing of ridge capping where needed
- Repair or replacement of failed flashings and valleys
- Sealing of all exposed nail or screw heads
If a contractor says they can clean and paint in the same day, the roof isn’t being prepared properly.
9. How Long Will the Job Take?
Why it matters: A proper roof restoration for a standard Perth home takes 3-5 working days on site:
- Day 1: High-pressure cleaning
- Day 2-3: Drying time (may not require workers on site)
- Day 3-4: Repairs, priming, first coat
- Day 4-5: Second coat, cleanup, final inspection
A contractor who promises to have it done in a day or two is either skipping steps or not allowing proper drying and curing time between stages.
What to ask: “What’s the day-by-day schedule, and what happens if it rains?” A good contractor has a plan for weather delays and communicates it clearly.
10. What Happens If There’s a Problem?
Why it matters: The true test of a contractor isn’t when everything goes right - it’s how they handle issues.
What to ask:
- “If the coating fails within the warranty period, what’s your process?”
- “Who do I contact - you or the manufacturer?”
- “Is there a service call fee for warranty inspections?”
- “What’s your response time for urgent issues?”
A contractor who’s confident in their work will answer these questions directly. One who gets vague or defensive may not intend to honour their commitments.
Bonus: What NOT to Ask
Don’t make price the first question. When “how much?” is the first thing out of your mouth, you signal that cost matters more than quality - and the contractor adjusts accordingly. Ask about process, products, and quality first. Price is important, but it should be assessed in the context of what you’re actually getting.
The Bottom Line
These ten questions accomplish two things: they give you the information you need to make a good decision, and they signal to the contractor that you’re an informed homeowner who expects quality work.
Good contractors welcome these questions because they have good answers. Dodgy ones will get evasive, irritated, or dismissive - which is exactly the signal you need to move on to the next quote.
When you’re ready to compare proper operators, you can request a roof restoration quote and put these questions to us directly. It also helps to know what a proper scope looks like: see exactly what’s involved in our roof restoration and roof painting services before you compare quotes.
Related: What’s included in a roof restoration quote? How to compare Perth quotes
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