How to spot a rogue roofer in Dublin.
A knock at the door, a ladder already up and a price that sounds too good. Here is what to do before anyone starts.
- A rogue roofer is usually the one who turns up unasked, will not put a price in writing, cannot show insurance and wants cash or a big deposit now.
- Seven warning signs: calling uninvited, no written quote, no insurance proof, pressure to decide today, a large deposit, no address or landline, and no guarantee on paper.
- If any of those apply, stop, take photographs, ask for it all in writing and get a second opinion from a roofer who will survey first.
- Our approach: a free survey, a fixed written price, public liability of €6.5M and a 10-year written guarantee.
Most roofers in Dublin are honest and some are not. The dishonest ones rely on one thing: you cannot see your own roof, so you will have to take their word for what is wrong with it. These warning signs do not prove anyone is a rogue. They are the signs that mean you should slow down and ask for proof before any money moves. This guide names no one: it is about patterns.
01 / Warning signsSeven signs worth stopping for.
1. They called to you, not the other way round
"We were passing and noticed a few slates." A roofer who has spotted a problem from the road may be right, but an unasked visit with an urgent warning is the most common opening of a bad job. Thank them, take their details and arrange to check it yourself.
2. No written quote
A figure in the air is not a price. Without a written quote that lists what is included, the figure can grow halfway through the job and you have nothing to point to.
3. No proof of insurance
If someone falls from your roof or a slate goes through a neighbour's car, the insurance is what stands between you and the bill. Ask for public liability and employer liability certificates, read the dates and check the name matches the company quoting. A reputable roofer sends them without argument. Ours are €6.5M public liability and €13M employer liability.
4. Pressure to decide today
"The price is only good this week" and "we have the scaffold up now" are pressure. A roof that has been leaking for a year can wait a day for a second opinion. The exception is water coming in right now, and then the right first step is to make it safe, not to commit to a full replacement.
5. A large deposit, or cash only
Some jobs need materials ordered, so a deposit is not unusual in itself. Be careful if it is large, if it is cash only, or if there is no paper to say what it covers. Ask for the amount and the stages in writing before paying anything.
6. No address, no landline, no trading name you can check
You should be able to find the company again. Ours is on the contact page, with an office address and a phone number. Check any roofer has a business address and a number that rings back.
7. No guarantee on paper
"Don't worry, we'll sort it" is not a guarantee. If it is not written, with a number of years and a scope, you do not have one. Ours is 10 years written on installation work and repairs, and a complete roof replacement also carries the Lifetime Leak Guarantee.
02 / What to doIf you think you have met one.
- Do not pay, and do not sign anything on the spot.
- Ask for the quote, the insurance certificates and the company's address in writing.
- Take photographs of the roof yourself from the ground, with the date.
- Get a second opinion from a roofer who will survey before pricing.
- If you have already paid, keep every message, receipt and photograph.
- Read the consumer guidance published by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission at ccpc.ie.
If a crime may have been committed, such as taking money for work never done, that is a matter for An Garda Síochána. Keep your evidence together before you report it.
03 / Seeing the real conditionWhy proof beats persuasion.
The antidote to a rogue trader is evidence you can see. In July 2026 we filmed a South Dublin felt flat roof at survey, before any work started, and the blistering and lifted sections were on film. One Dublin customer described how a repair was handled:
“An assessment and quote were provided the day after I first got in touch, and the repair was completed within a week.”
Alice Daniels, Google review, 2026-08-20
See more under roofing jobs in Dublin, or read the reviews word for word. What a survey and quote cost is covered on the roofing prices page: for a leak repair, €400–€2,500 plus VAT is the 2026 guide.
04 / GuaranteesA guarantee that is on paper.
Repairs and installation work carry a written 10-year workmanship guarantee from Recommended Roofing. A complete roof replacement also carries the Lifetime Leak Guarantee. A repair or a part-roof job does not get the lifetime cover, only the 10-year one, so ask which applies before you agree to anything.
The full wording is on the guarantees page. Read any guarantee, ours included, before you sign: what it covers, who stands behind it and how to make a claim.
Keep reading:
How to choose the best roofer in Dublin · Questions to ask a roofer before you hire
Or see what to look for in a roofing company in Dublin.Rogue roofers: your questions.
How do I know if a roofer is genuine?
Ask for insurance certificates, a written fixed price after a survey, a written guarantee and references you can check. A genuine roofer provides them without argument.
What if a roofer knocks on my door offering to fix my roof?
You do not have to agree on the spot. Take their details and trading name, and get a survey and written quote from a roofer you have chosen yourself.
Is it normal to pay a deposit?
Sometimes, where materials need ordering. The warning sign is a large deposit, cash only, or no written record of what it covers.
Should I ever pay cash with no receipt?
No. Ask for a written price, an invoice and a receipt for every payment, and keep them.
What if the roofer says my roof is dangerous and needs doing today?
If water is coming in, make it safe first. A full replacement can wait for a second opinion. A roof that has been ageing for years rarely becomes an emergency in an afternoon.
How can I check a roofer's insurance?
Ask for the certificates, check the dates and the company name, and keep a copy. If you are unsure, contact the insurer named on the certificate.
Does membership of a trade body prove a roofer is genuine?
No. Membership, such as the National Guild of Master Craftsmen, shows that they belong to that body. It does not replace insurance or a written guarantee.
What does a fair survey involve?
Photographs of the slopes and the places that leak, a look at the attic timbers, and a plain account of what is wrong and what is only ageing, followed by a fixed written price. Ours is free.
What should I do if I have already paid a rogue roofer?
Keep every message, receipt and photograph. Read the guidance at ccpc.ie, and if you think a crime has been committed, contact An Garda Síochána.
Where can I read about my consumer rights?
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission publishes guidance for consumers at ccpc.ie.
What does Recommended Roofing do differently?
We survey first, free, then give a fixed price in writing. We carry public liability of €6.5M and employer liability of €13M, and give a 10-year written guarantee on installation work and repairs. A complete roof replacement also carries the Lifetime Leak Guarantee.
Who do I ring for an urgent leak?
Ring 01 265 7795. We aim to be with you within 6 hrs, make the roof safe first and repair it after, with a written report for your insurer.
Get your roof
looked at.
Tell us what the roof is doing and roughly where it is. Someone looks at it for free and a fixed written price comes after. Send the form, or ring.