NFRC origins begin in 1892 when a group of forty slate merchants and slaters from across England met in York. Hull slater, James Townsley, initiated the meeting with a view to forming a national association. The first annual general meeting of the National Association of Slate Merchants and Slaters was held on 14 September 1893 at the Green Dragon Hotel in Leeds. In its first year, the association membership had reached over three figures with six regional branches being formed.

On the 25 October 1893, Mr Townsley, together with Mr Nicholson of Newcastle and Mr Shenton of Derby, called a meeting at the Charing Cross Hotel in London which was attended by eleven slate merchants and slaters of the London area, who agreed to form the London regional branch. On the 24 November 1893, a further meeting was held when it was decided that an independent London Association of Slate Merchants and Master Slaters be formed, with a view to co-operating with the national association. In 1912 the name of the London association was changed to The London Association of Slate Merchants, Master Slaters and Tilers. In 1930 the name was changed again to The London Association of Master Slaters and Tilers. The National Association added 'and Tilers' to its name.

During the Second World War, The Ministry of Works and Buildings (later Planning) enforced rigorous control over building materials and special Emergency Committees were set up, including those dealing with slates and other roofing materials, for emergency works and damage caused by enemy action. The need to work with Government brought various industry groups together, during this period, in all aspects of the building industry.

At a meeting in The Connaught Rooms in London, on the 17th November 1942, it was decided that eleven associations of manufacturers, representing clay and concrete tiles, English and Welsh slate quarries and roofing contractors, would form a joint committee called The National Pitch Roofing Council, to deal specifically with the interests of pitched roofing in the immediate post-war planning process, due to a stated Government preference for flat roofs at the time.

Mr E Hillson (Manchester Slate Co Ltd) and Mr C G Dobson (Hall & Co. of London) were the contractors' representatives. The National Pitched Roofing Council was active under Mr Dobson's chairmanship, in producing technical and training material, BSI codes of practice and product standards, and bursaries for architectural students supporting pitched roofing, the finance being provided by the eleven constituent associations. During the 1950's this Council relinquished its work to various special committees set up within NFRC.

Early 1943 it was decided that there would be benefits from bringing NASMS&T and LAMS&T together. The former already had regional groups but the latter remained as one region in the new National Federation of Roofing Contractors, just fifty years after the original initiatives. Mr A K Davidson, secretary of NASMS&T became national secretary, based in Leeds, at offices which also dealt with the NFBTE (builders' federation in Yorkshire). In 1973, following Mr Davidson's retirement due to an unfortunate accident, Mr H S Kitching was appointed secretary from the offices of NFBPM (builders' merchants federation) in London, firstly at High Holborn and later at Soho Square. Under Mr R Wormell as general secretary, the move was made to Weymouth Street in 1988.

From its early beginnings as an association of slating interests, with its journal called 'The Slate Trades Gazette' founded in 1892, taken over as 'The Roofing Contractor' magazine in 1949, to reflect the inclusion of clay and concrete tiles and asbestos sheeting, cladding and slates, the NFRC has expanded to represent all the major sectors of roofing.

In modern times NFRC has broadened its remit to cover all roofing types and disciplines, and seeks to speak as one voice for the roofing industry.

NFRC consists of eight regions, each represented on the Management Board. The Chief Executive, together with the head office staff in London work closely with the regional associations, their secretaries and members. NFRC has over a thousand trade and associate members. Close co-operation is also maintained with the Government, British Standards Institution, ConstructionSkills, national heritage organisations, together with all major associations representing the various aspects (both flat, pitched and industrial) of the roofing industry. NFRC is also an active member of the International Federation for the Roofing Trade (IFD). In January 2008 NFRC's Gordon Penrose took on the Presidency and leadership of IFD for a three year term. Mid-2007 also saw NFRC Head Office move from Weymouth Street to new offices in the City, Roofing House. Roofing House is now also occupied by the Flat Roofing Alliance, the Institute of Roofing and the National Home Improvement Council.