17 Important Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Roofing Contractor
Verify your roofer can answer questions about their location, insurance, and more
There is a reason people often use the phrase “a roof over your head.” Roofs are synonymous with the home, offering protection from the elements and security from the outside world. That’s why it is important to hire the right roofing contractor to conduct any repairs or replacements. Before signing a contract, we recommend speaking with at least three local roofers and asking these 17 questions to ensure they are the best fit.
1. What is your full company name and physical address?
If the roofing company uses a Post Office box, ask for the physical location. A roofing company that doesn't have a physical location is a cause for concern, and you should move on. As an added step, take that name and address information and plug it into the Better Business Bureau, social media sites, and other online databases. You’ll likely find any potential red flags during these web searches.
2. Can you tell me about your insurance?
Roofing contractors should have workers’ compensation and liability insurance to protect the homeowner in the event of an accident. Workers' compensation covers the homeowner in the case of a contractor injury, and liability protects you from damage caused by the roofers during repair or replacement.
Without workers' compensation insurance, the homeowner may be responsible for medical bills and other costs associated with the injury. In addition, your homeowners insurance may not cover these types of accidents.
3. Do you have the appropriate license to do the work?
Ask the roofing contractor for license information in your state, city, and county, as licensing requirements vary by location. Ask for some specifics here, including the name of the license holder. After that, check with your local licensing offices to ensure that the roofer’s license is up-to-date and free of outstanding violations.
A business license is not the same as a roofing contractor license. A business license is for tax purposes and identifies the company. It does not mean the person has passed a test or has the qualifications to work as a roofer.
4. Do you offer a warranty for your roofing work?
Most roof warranties last for a year, but some roofers offer longer warranties. The manufacturer covers the materials, and the roofer covers the work. These are two separate warranties, so ask the roofer for the coverage and length of each warranty. As a warning, an extended warranty could add to the overall cost of your estimate.
5. Do you use roofing subcontractors?
Ask the roofing company whether they outsource parts of the job to a team of subcontractors under their purview. If so, make sure these subcontractors have insurance and the licenses to complete the work. Remember, when deciding who to hire to fix your roof, the term roofer is not always synonymous with the term roofing contractor.
You should also ask for the physical address and name of the subcontractors, running this info through the Better Business Bureau and social media sites to find any red flags. A reputable company should explain to you exactly what tasks they outsource to a subcontractor and why.
6. How long have you been in business?
Inquiring about the roofing company’s history is not the only way to tell if they provide good work at a decent price, but it certainly helps paint a picture. If your contractor has been around the block a few times, they will likely have plenty of customer references to hand out and multiple examples of their work for you to peruse.
7. Do you provide written estimates?
You don’t want any costly surprises when it comes time to pay the bill. The contractor should provide a written estimate that takes into account labor, materials, and anything else that may come up during the job. You can help improve the accuracy of this estimate by taking photos of any damage, writing down the size of your roof, and keeping tabs on project materials.
8. What do you do to ensure the project is on time?
Hurdles may come up that could impact the project’s completion time. The roofing contractor should outline contingency plans to address any potential obstacles that threaten to extend the roofing job. Do they have enough employees to pick up the slack in the case of an emergency? Do they have backup materials, tools, and supplies? What will they do in the event of inclement weather? Some contracts may even include a “no later than” clause, which renders it null if the job takes too long to complete. Keep in mind that the timeline to replace a roof is often 12 days at most once the work begins, and general repairs should take much less.
9. How will you protect my lawn during this project?
Ideally, your lawn and landscape exterior should look exactly the same after the roofing job as they did before the job started. Ask your pro what steps they take to ensure lawns do not receive a beating. Some contractors institute mandatory foot traffic patterns, for instance, so the crew doesn't step on your bushes or cause ruts in your yard. Others ensure that heavy equipment rests on the sidewalk and not the grass.
“Ask your roofer what they do to ensure debris that falls off the roof isn't left behind during the process, causing injury to children or pets,” says Ezra Laniado, founder and president of Landmark Construction Crew in Los Angeles, CA. “Many roofers use a heavy-duty magnet to pick up any nails that end up on the floor around the house—find out if this is included.”
10. What do you do with refuse material?
The last thing you want to deal with after repairing your roof is a yard filled with junk and debris related to the job. Ask your roofer what they do with roof-related refuse material to ensure it gets disposed of properly. Most qualified contractors bring along a large refuse container—like a dumpster—for damaged materials, packaging debris, and anything else that needs disposal after finishing the job. This way, they’ll deal with the garbage, and you won’t have to.
11. Will you secure the required building permits?
Contractors often have experience securing building permits for major projects, even though you will pay for the permit itself. The process of filing for permits, proving that the project meets local building codes, and handling complex paperwork should almost always fall to your roofer.
It’s always best to ask a roofer before hiring them, as these details can get swept under the rug if a non-reputable team rushes the process.
12. What are your payment terms?
Every roofing company will have a different set of preferred payment methods, terms, and timing. In most cases, you'll pay a roofer a small percentage—often less than 30%—of the project as a down payment.
Credit cards, checks, and online payments are standard, but you should always use a traceable form of payment with a receipt. Be sure to inquire about how to handle potential changes in the estimate and how you may need to cover additional charges throughout the process.
13. Do you offer financing options?
Financing your roof repairs or replacement is a common route for homeowners. Talk to your prospective roofer about financing partnerships they may have with lending companies. While this may not be the best bet for your project, working directly with your contractor can streamline the process.
14. Where do you source your materials?
Ask your contractor about the type of roofing materials they plan to use to repair or replace your roof and their access to local wholesalers. Check if they plan to reuse any roofing materials, and if so, how this could affect the look of your roof or the total cost of the project.
A great roofing team will also help you choose materials that qualify for tax rebates, particularly for those that lower your home's temperature or provide better insulation.
15. How will we communicate during the project?
Hiring a professional to work on your home is always a bit of a disruption, and it's best to plan for it properly. Ask your roofer before hiring how they will communicate any changes to the schedule, updates on their progress, and instructions for keeping their home safe during the project.
Contractors may need to tarp your roof and store materials in between work days, so it's important to know the best way to help them through the process.
16. Will you account for drainage and ventilation?
Don't be afraid to ask for clarification about your new roof's design. A well-thought-out roof includes proper ventilation to prevent moisture and mold in your home. The many types of roof vents will also affect the final look of your home and how it works with your attic and upper floors. Roof drainage and your gutter design may also change, particularly if you live in an area prone to ice dams.
17. Will you perform a final inspection?
Roofing contracts should provide a thorough final inspection after the team completes the work. They should inspect the roof, attic, gutters, and surrounding exterior walls to ensure all work was done to code and in line with your original agreement. Speak with your roofer about how they play to close up the job and who to contact about issues after they've left.
Lawrence Bonk contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Verify that your roof is licensed and insured by visiting your state's contractor's licensing association. Most states have a database to double-check your contractor's name and address against the information provided. The contractor should also display both their license and insurance on their website with links to the related agencies.
After you've chosen the best roofer for you, schedule an inspection and review the final contract. Your roofing company should be able to provide options for scheduling the work and a potential timeline for obtaining the permits and starting the job. Remember to always request everything in writing before work begins.
Asking questions before hiring a roofer ensures you receive the best quality for your investment upfront and in the long term. Roofers with minimal experience, unfamiliar with local building codes, or minimal access to great materials can lead to both structural and financial problems down the line. You should also be able to easily communicate and collaborate with your roofer during extensive projects.