Questions to ask a roofing contractor before you sign
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7 min read
You do not need to know roofing to hire a roofer well. You need a short list of direct questions and a sense of what a straight answer sounds like. A contractor who answers these clearly and in writing is easy to compare against the next one. A contractor who gets vague or annoyed is telling you something too.
Licensing, insurance, and who actually does the work
Ask for the license number and proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and verify the license yourself against your state or county's public record — it takes a minute. Ask whether the roof will be installed by the company's own employees or by subcontractors, and if subs, who carries the insurance and the workmanship warranty.
A good answer is specific and offered without hesitation: a number you can look up, a certificate of insurance sent by email, a clear yes or no on subcontracting.
Materials and the actual scope
Ask which shingle brand and product line, which underlayment, and whether the price includes tearing off the old roof or laying over it. Ask how they handle rotten decking found after tear-off — you want a per-sheet price in writing, not "we'll let you know." Ask what ventilation, flashing, and drip edge are included.
A good answer names products and puts the scope on paper. "Standard architectural shingles" with no brand is not an answer.
Permits, timeline, and the property
Ask who pulls the permit and whether its fee is in the price. Ask how many days the job takes, what happens if weather delays it, and how they protect landscaping, gutters, windows, and the driveway. Ask how they clean up — magnetic nail sweep, dumpster placement, debris haul-off.
A good answer treats the permit as their job, gives a realistic day count, and has a specific cleanup routine.
Warranty, payment, and getting it in writing
Ask for the manufacturer's material warranty and the contractor's own workmanship warranty, both with their lengths, in writing. Ask for the payment schedule — a large deposit before any material is delivered is worth questioning — and whether it is tied to milestones you can see.
A good answer separates the two warranties, ties payments to completed work, and results in a written contract you can read before signing.
Ask every roofing contractor
- ✓What is your license number, and can I verify it myself?
- ✓Do your own employees install the roof, or subcontractors?
- ✓Which shingle brand, product line, and underlayment?
- ✓Is tear-off included, and how is rotten decking priced?
- ✓Who pulls the permit, and is the fee in the price?
- ✓How long is the job, and how do you handle weather delays?
- ✓How do you protect the yard, gutters, and driveway, and clean up nails?
- ✓What are the material and workmanship warranties, in writing?
- ✓What is the payment schedule, and is it tied to milestones?
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Frequently asked questions
Is it rude to ask a contractor to verify their license?
No. Licensed, insured roofers expect it and put the number in writing. Hesitation or pushback on a basic verification question is itself useful information.
How big a deposit is normal for a roof?
It varies by state and contractor, and some states cap it. A deposit that covers material before delivery can be reasonable; a large share of the total before any work or material is worth questioning and comparing against other bids.
What if two contractors give very different answers to the same question?
That is the point of asking. Write the answers down next to each other. The gaps show you what each bid actually includes and which contractor is being straight with you.
Should the answers be verbal or written?
Written. A verbal promise about warranty, cleanup, or hidden-damage pricing is hard to enforce. Ask for the scope and the terms on paper before you sign.