Can I See a Roofer’s Previous Work?
Yes, and it's a reasonable thing to ask. Photographs help; a finished roof you can see from the street, or a past customer willing to talk, helps more.
The short answer
Yes, and it's a fair request. Photos help. A real job or a past customer helps more.
You can ask any roofer to show you examples of previous work, and a good one will usually have something to share: photographs of recent jobs, the address of a finished roof you can look at from the street, or a past customer willing to talk to you. It's one of the most useful checks you can make, because it shows whether the roofer regularly does the kind of work you need, and what their finished jobs look like.
What you shouldn't expect is access to someone else's home or loft. Previous customers are entitled to their privacy, and a roofer who protects it is behaving properly, not hiding something.
What to ask for
Three kinds of evidence, in order of usefulness
A past customer you can speak to. Ten minutes on the phone with someone who had similar work done tells you about the result and about the experience: whether the roofer turned up, kept them informed, left the site tidy and dealt with any snags. Our answer on asking a builder for references explains how to approach it.
A finished job you can see. Many roofs are visible from the street. A roofer may be happy to give you an address or two, with the owner's agreement, so you can take a look at your own pace.
Photographs of recent work. Useful, especially if they show jobs similar to yours and include before and after shots. They're also the easiest evidence to borrow or select carefully, so treat them as a starting point rather than proof.
The best time to ask is at the site visit or when the quote arrives, before you've committed to anything. It's a natural moment: you're already talking about the job, and a roofer who does this kind of work regularly will often have examples on their phone.
What it can tell you
What to look for without being a roofer
You don't need to judge technical detail from the pavement. Look for the things anyone can see.
Similar work
A flat roof, a re-tile and a rooflight are different jobs. Ask for examples closest to what you need.
Recent work
A job from last month tells you more about the current team than one from years ago.
A finished, tidy look
Does the job look complete, with nothing left half done around the edges and no materials abandoned nearby?
Work that has lasted
An older job that still looks sound is good evidence. Ask whether there are any from a few years back.
The customer's experience
How the roofer communicated, kept to dates and handled a problem matters as much as the finish.
A consistent story
Does what you see match what the roofer told you about the job, its size and when it was done?
Checking photographs
How to get more from photos
Ask where and when
The rough location and date of each job. A roofer who did the work will know without having to think.
Ask for more than one shot of the same job
A set of photos from start to finish is much harder to borrow than a single polished image.
Check the details match
The style of house, the materials and the setting should fit what you've been told about the job.
Compare with their reviews
Reviews that mention similar jobs back up the photos. Our guide on how to read builder reviews explains what to look for.
A newer business may have only a few jobs to point to, and some roofers simply never photograph their work. That isn't automatically a problem. It just means the other evidence has to work harder: references, reviews, insurance and a clear written quote. An honest "I'm fairly new, but here's what I can show you" is a better sign than a gallery that doesn't add up.
Fitting it into your checks
One check among several
Previous work tells you about skill and standards. It doesn't tell you whether the roofer is insured, whether their quote covers everything or whether they're the right business for your particular job. Use it alongside the other checks in our knowledge guide to checking previous work, and the questions in what to ask a roofer before hiring.
When you do speak to a previous customer, keep it short and specific. Ask what the job was, whether it ran to time and price, how problems were handled and whether they'd use the roofer again. Those four answers are usually enough.
Where Mortaro fits
Work history is part of our checks
When we appoint a contractor from our network, trade experience and prior work history are among the things checked before they're introduced to customers, along with public liability insurance, reviews and references, the warranties they provide and their ability to meet our standards. Our contractor network explains those checks.
If you'd like to see examples of your contractor's previous work, ask us and we'll put the request to them. Your contractor is named in your quotation, and they carry out the work.
Straight answers
Questions about previous work
Can I ask to speak to a previous customer?
Yes. It's a normal request. The roofer will need to ask their customer first, so allow a day or two for them to arrange it. Our guide to taking up references suggests what to ask.
What if all the photos look very polished?
Ask for a few everyday shots of the same jobs, or for an address you can see from the street. A mix of evidence is more convincing than a perfect gallery.
Should I knock on the door of a house they worked on?
Only if the roofer has arranged it with the owner. Looking from the street is fine; turning up unannounced isn't fair on the homeowner.
Start here
Tell us about the work you have in mind
We will confirm we cover your postcode, arrange a site visit with a contractor from our network and send you a written quotation. No charge, no obligation.