5 Ways to Win More Roofing Contracts This Year

The roofing opportunity in planning data

Every roof replacement, roof extension, and dormer installation starts with a planning application. For roofing contractors, planning applications are one of the most reliable sources of upcoming work — but most roofers never look at them.

By the time a roofing job appears on a lead-generation site or gets recommended through word of mouth, the homeowner has often already spoken to two or three other contractors. Planning applications give you a head start.

1. Search for roof-specific keywords

The most direct way to find roofing work is to search for keywords that appear in roofing planning applications. In PlanningIndex, use the keyword search to find applications mentioning roof work.

• Roof replacement
• Re-roof
• Roof covering
• Tile replacement
• Slate roof
• Flat roof
• Dormer
• Roof alteration

2. Look for extension and conversion applications

Not all roofing work comes from applications that mention "roof" in the description. Extensions require roofing work — flat roofs for single-storey extensions, pitched roofs for two-storey extensions. Loft conversions require dormer construction and roof alterations.

Search for "extension" and "loft conversion" applications in your area. Every one of these projects will need a roofer at some point. By identifying them at the planning stage, you can reach out to the homeowner or the main contractor early.

3. Track applications in your CRM

Finding applications is only the first step. To win the work, you need to follow up. Use the PlanningIndex CRM pipeline to track every roofing application you find. Move leads through stages — New, Contacted, Proposal Sent, Follow Up, Won — and never lose track of an opportunity.

Set follow-up reminders for each lead. A homeowner who was not ready to hire a roofer when the application was submitted may be ready three months later when planning permission is granted. A well-timed follow-up can win you the job.

4. Send professional proposals by post

When you are ready to approach a homeowner, use the PlanningIndex proposal builder to create a professional, branded proposal. The property address and planning reference auto-populate from the application data, saving you time and ensuring accuracy.

Send the proposal by physical post through PlanningIndex. A printed, posted proposal stands out far more than an email. It arrives at the property addressed to the homeowner, looking professional, and clearly connected to the planning application they submitted.

5. Build a pipeline of recurring work

The roofing contractors who win the most work are not the ones who find individual jobs — they are the ones who build a pipeline. By consistently searching planning applications, adding leads to your CRM, and following up systematically, you create a steady flow of opportunities rather than a feast-or-famine cycle.

PlanningIndex is designed to support this workflow. Saved searches keep you updated with new applications. The CRM pipeline keeps your leads organised. The proposal builder makes it easy to act. And the postal sending service means you can reach homeowners without leaving your office.

Start winning more roofing contracts

Roofing work is out there — in every council, every week, in the form of planning applications. The question is whether you will find it before your competitors do. Start searching with PlanningIndex today and turn planning data into roofing contracts.