Choosing the Right Carpenter or Roofing Team

When you’re investing in a major project.. loft conversion, roof work, home extension… the team you pick can make or break the outcome. Here’s a guide to help you choose wisely.

What to Look For in a Carpentry / Roofing Team

• Clear Range of Services: Structural carpentry, roof framing (truss or hand-cut), floor joisting, RSJ installation, staircase installation, first-fix carpentry. This ensures they can handle full scope rather than patch-work by multiple sub-contractors.
• Experience with Similar Projects: Ask for past project examples that are relevant to the work you need undertaking such as loft conversions, dormers, extensions, etc, to show they understand structural requirements, building regs, and finishing.
• Compliance with UK Standards: Structural timber, load-bearing joists, roof framing, RSJ work must all meet building regulations. A good team should know and document compliance.
• Transparent Quoting & Scope Breakdown: Labour, materials, structural work, finishes, a clear breakdown helps avoid hidden costs.
• Good Communication & Site Planning: Especially for live home environments, Please consider logistics, dust control, disruption minimisation, safe access, scheduling.
• Flexibility & Problem-Solving: A complex roof geometry or old house may present unexpected challenges so choose a team comfortable adapting to those.

Questions to Ask When Hiring

• “Do you handle structural design and roof framing in-house, or do you subcontract parts?”
• “Can you show previous loft conversion / extension projects with timber/RSJ work and meet building regulations?”
• “Do you provide a full breakdown of scope, materials, labour, permissions, compliance checks?”
• “How do you handle site management, safety, and minimising disruption if the house is occupied during works?”
• “What guarantees or aftercare do you provide once the structural and carpentry work is completed?”

Choosing the right team for structural carpentry and roof work is as important as choosing design or finishes because a safe, well-built structure underpins everything else!