Roofing News: July 2026

The turn from June into July brought a run of news that lands straight on the price of a new roof. New steel tariffs took effect, the main UK cost index published a fresh five-year forecast, Wales changed how building work is signed off, and the latest market read shows where roofing money is actually being spent. Here is what changed and why it matters before you book a job.

New steel import tariffs take effect from 1 July

From 1 July the government cut the tariff-free limit for imported steel by 60 per cent, and once a quarterly quota is used up, further imports face a 50 per cent tariff. That reaches more roofing materials than people expect: coated steel sheets, standing-seam and box-profile metal roofs, steel fascia and trims, and the structural sections used in some roof frames. The National Federation of Roofing Contractors warned the measure “poses a significant risk to the roofing and cladding sector” because UK producers cannot yet cover every grade and volume, which risks both shortages and higher prices. For a homeowner weighing a metal roof or steel components, ask your roofer to confirm current material costs at the time of quoting rather than relying on a figure from earlier in the year. The trade write-up is at Roofing Today and the official measure is on GOV.UK. Our best flat roof material guide covers where metal makes sense and where it does not.

Building costs forecast to keep climbing to 2031

The Building Cost Information Service published an updated five-year forecast on 29 June, projecting building costs up 13.1 per cent and tender prices up 15.5 per cent by mid-2031. Nearer term, its general building cost index rose 1.4 per cent between the first and second quarters of 2026, for annual growth of 3.8 per cent, with materials inflation blamed on higher energy and oil prices. In plain terms, a roof is unlikely to get cheaper by waiting, so if a replacement is already needed, delaying mainly means paying more later. The forecast is covered at Roofing Today. Our roof cost per square metre guide shows how these rises feed into a real quote.

Wales changes how building work is controlled

From 1 July, Wales brought in a new dutyholder regime that applies to ordinary building work, not just tall higher-risk blocks. It puts clear duties on the client, designer and contractor to plan, manage and monitor the work and to be competent to do it. Most homeowners in Wales will feel this through their contractor rather than directly, but it does raise the bar on paperwork and competence for anyone taking on notifiable roof work. If you are in Wales, it is fair to ask a contractor how they handle building control under the new rules. The legal summary is at Gowling WLG, with official guidance on GOV.WALES. See our guide to planning permission and building regs for a new roof for the wider picture.

Repairs, not new builds, are driving the roofing market

A market update on 1 July put the UK roofing products market at around £1.3 billion and broadly flat, with only a 1 per cent rise in value after two weak years. The notable point for homeowners is where the growth is: repair, maintenance and improvement work is expected to lead, because those jobs “cannot be easily delayed or postponed.” Flat roof membranes now make up roughly a third of sales, helped by green and living roofs. A softer new-build market can mean roofers have more capacity for domestic repair work, so it is a sensible time to get more than one quote and compare properly. The figures are at Roofing Today. If you have a repair in mind, our roof repair cost guide sets out typical prices before you call anyone out.