Questions to Ask a Roofer Before You Hire One
"I didn't ask him HOW he was going to fix the leak he is trusted and I've used him many times so I stupidly took his work without too many questions."
That is one commenter looking back on a repair. Ask every roofer the same short list: license, insurance, the work in writing, payment, permit, warranty and references. Get each answer on paper. Then compare the papers side by side, not your gut feeling about each person.
Quick answer:
- Confirm the license with your state or county, and ask for proof of insurance1.
- Ask for the work in writing: scope, materials, timeline, cost breakdown and warranty2.
- Collect at least three written estimates3 so you can compare like with like.
- Write every answer next to its question before you decide.
On this page
Today, open a note on your phone, type those seven topics (license, insurance, the work, payment, permit, warranty, references) and leave space under each one for the answer.
Asking can feel rude. As another reply put it: "I ask questions all the time at the risk of coming off as less smart than I am." But the questions are the screening, not a challenge. You ask each bidder the same things and let the written answers decide.
Do I need to check a roofer's license and insurance?
Yes, both, before you compare anything else. Confirm the license with your state or county government and ask the roofer for proof of insurance1.
Some states, such as Georgia, do not require a roofing license4, but a legitimate company should still be able to show proof of its credentials. Ask your state's licensing office what applies where you live.
Ask for copies of the liability insurance and workers' compensation certificates5. Workers' comp is the cover for a crew member who gets hurt. You ask because you need to understand who is responsible if property is damaged or someone is injured6.
A good answer: the roofer hands over the papers without fuss and gives a license you can check with the state or county1.
What the roofer should put in writing
Ask for a written explanation of the work, a list of the materials, a timeline, a breakdown of the costs and the warranty details2. Then get at least three written estimates3 that spell out the scope of work, the materials, start and completion dates, and payment terms. The point of three is that you can line them up and see what one bid includes that another leaves out.
A good answer spells out exactly what you're paying for, from what comes off your roof to what goes on. If a bid leaves out a line the others have, ask why before you ask about the total. Also ask what happens if the crew finds rotted wood under the old shingles. Get a price per sheet of replacement decking (the boards the shingles sit on) in the estimate, and ask them to tell you before they do that work. The checklist below writes a message for you to send, from your answers.
Want to know what a complete replacement quote should list, line by line? What is included in a roof replacement.
How should payment work?
Ask how much is due before the work starts and when each later payment is due. The payment terms belong in the written estimate3. Be wary of a roofer who demands full payment upfront7.
In California, a down payment cannot exceed 10 percent of the project price or $1,000, whichever is less8. Check your own state's rule before you treat that as your limit.
Unsure whether a roofer's story and payment terms add up? Red flags and how to tell a real roofer.
Who pulls the permit?
A permit is the city's or county's approval for the work. Ask who will pull it. The answer changes who carries the risk: in one Texas city, a homeowner who pulls the permit becomes 100% responsible for the project9.
Ask your local building office what applies to a roof job. Then have the roofer's answer written into the estimate.
Warranty: what it covers and what voids it
Read the warranty before you sign, and make sure you understand the provisions that will void it5.
Ask three things: what it covers, who pays if something fails, and what voids it. Expect thorough answers in writing, in plain words you can repeat back.
References, and how the roofer answers
A roofer should readily offer client references and a list of completed projects5. Ask for both. Call a reference or two and ask about work like yours.
How the roofer handles your questions is information too. One reply in a thread said: "Ask as many questions as you like and expect thorough answers." A roofer who gets defensive, or won't put an answer in writing, has told you something.
With written answers from several roofers in hand, how do you line them up? How to compare roof estimates that don't match.
Compare the answers, then book the visit
Lay the written estimates and your notes side by side. Compare the same items in each: license, insurance, scope, materials, dates, payment terms and warranty. A bid that skips one needs a question before it gets a yes. Take the papers home; you don't have to pull the trigger at the visit.
Before the roofer arrives, have these ready:
- Your note with the seven topics and room under each one for the answer.
- A pen, or a note open on your phone.
- Photos of what you have noticed, taken from the ground or from inside, with the dates.
- The roofer's name, phone number and the time of the visit.
Before you sign: what to get in writing
Answer a few quick questions. You'll get a list of what to ask for in writing, what to do if anyone pushes you, and a message you can send. Nothing you choose leaves this page.
Quick questions
Can I ask these if I know nothing about roofing? Yes. Every question here is about paper, not shingles. If you don't understand something the roofer says, ask what it means and write the answer next to the question.
How do I know if a quote is too high? One total can't tell you. Put the estimates side by side, scope against scope, and ask about any line that appears in only one. Also don't choose based on price alone7.
How can I tell a roofer isn't on my side? Pressure is the first sign: high-pressure sales tactics7 are on the list to avoid. After that, watch what happens when you ask. Dodged questions and answers that never reach paper are a sign to keep looking.
Should I ask a roofer I already trust? Yes. The same list works for a roofer you've used many times. Trust is a reason to expect easy answers, not a reason to skip the paper.
Sources
1. Federal Trade Commission, How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam
2. North Carolina Department of Insurance, Avoiding predatory roofing scams
3. Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, Tips for Hiring a Roofing Contractor
4. State of Georgia, Consumer Ed, How do I know if a roofer is reputable or not?
5. National Roofing Contractors Association, Selecting a Contractor
6. Iowa Attorney General, Home Improvement & Contractor Tips
7. Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, Tips on Hiring a Roofing Contractor (hail)
8. California Contractors State License Board, What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor
9. City of Universal City, Texas, Roofers
Also cited by the Before you sign tool on this page:
10. California Contractors State License Board (CSLB): Terms of Agreement: A Consumer Guide to Home Improvement Contracts
11. Oklahoma Insurance Department (Strengthen Oklahoma Homes program): Change Order Information (template)
12. Maine Office of the Attorney General: Home Construction and Repair
13. California Contractors State License Board (Department of Consumer Affairs): Tips for Hiring a Roofing Contractor
14. Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): Hail damage to your home or car? What to do next.
15. IBHS (Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety): Is It Hail Damage?
16. New York State Attorney General: Contractors and home maintenance
17. Federal Trade Commission: How To Avoid Scams After Weather Emergencies and Natural Disasters
18. North Dakota Insurance Department: Beware of contractor scams and fraud following recent storms
19. Texas Department of Insurance: Do you know the signs of a contracting scam?
20. North Carolina Department of Insurance: Prepare your home, be wary of roofing scams as Hurricane Dorian approaches the East Coast
21. Texas Department of Insurance: Will my premium go up if I file a claim?
22. Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner: Filing a homeowner insurance claim
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