A roof is one of the largest purchases a home ever makes, and it is bought almost entirely on trust. These questions are designed to be checkable. Vague answers are answers.
1. What is your license number?
Ask for the number, not the claim. Then verify it with your state’s licensing board. A contractor who hesitates here has told you everything.
2. Can I see your certificate of insurance?
You want two policies:
- General liability, which covers damage to your property.
- Workers’ compensation, which covers injuries to the crew.
Without workers’ comp, an injury on your roof can become your financial problem. Ask for the certificate to be sent directly from the insurer.
3. Are you manufacturer-certified?
Shingle manufacturers certify installers who meet training and quality standards. Certification usually unlocks stronger material warranties. It is a fact you can confirm on the manufacturer’s website.
4. What does your workmanship warranty cover, in writing?
The material warranty comes from the manufacturer. The workmanship warranty comes from the contractor, and it is the one that matters when a leak traces back to installation.
Get the term, the transferability, and the exclusions on paper. A verbal warranty is a sentence, not a promise.
5. Who is actually on my roof?
Ask whether the crew is employed or subcontracted, and whether the company vets them. There is nothing wrong with subcontracting — there is a great deal wrong with not knowing.
6. How do you handle decking that turns out to be rotten?
Nobody can see under the old roof until it comes off. The right answer is a stated per-sheet price, agreed before work begins. The wrong answer is “we’ll let you know.”
7. What does the estimate include?
A complete estimate names the material, the square count, tear-off, underlayment, drip edge, flashing, ventilation, cleanup, and the warranty. If it fits on a single line, it is not an estimate.
Two warning signs
The high-pressure close. A price that expires tonight is a sales tactic, not a discount.
The deductible offer. A contractor who volunteers to cover your insurance deductible is proposing fraud. Decline, and keep looking.
Finally: cleanup counts
Ask how the property is cleaned. A magnetic nail sweep across the whole yard, not just the drip line, is the difference between a finished job and months of flat tyres.
