Roofing guide
How to choose a roofing contractor
What a licence actually covers, how quoting should work, and the questions worth asking before anyone gets on your roof.
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The short answer
Verify insurance and business registration first, get three itemized quotes that each specify tear-off, decking and ventilation, and insist on written workmanship warranty terms before you sign. In states that do not license roofers, manufacturer certification and documented local projects do most of the work that a licence would do elsewhere.
Key takeaways
- Insurance certificates matter more than a licence in states that do not license roofers
- Three quotes only help if all three cover the same scope of work
- Manufacturer certification is verifiable; a logo on a truck is not
- Workmanship and material warranties are separate, and both should be in writing
- Anyone offering to cover your insurance deductible is proposing something illegal
Start with insurance, not the estimate
Ask for a certificate of insurance sent directly from the insurer rather than a PDF from the contractor. You are looking for general liability and, if crews are involved, workers compensation. A homeowner whose roofer is uninsured can end up carrying an injury claim.
Licensing varies more than most people expect. Florida licenses roofers through the DBPR and the register is public. Texas does not license the trade at all. Ontario leaves it to insurance and WSIB coverage. Find out what applies where you are before you assume a licence number means anything.
Make the quotes comparable
Two roofing quotes for the same house routinely differ by thousands, and usually the reason is scope rather than margin. One includes a full tear-off, the other lays over the existing shingles. One replaces rotten decking at a stated per-sheet rate, the other leaves it open.
- Tear-off of existing layers, and how many layers are there now
- Decking replacement rate per sheet, and who decides what needs replacing
- Underlayment type, and ice and water shield at the valleys and eaves
- Ventilation changes, which affect both the warranty and the attic temperature
- Flashing replacement rather than reuse
- Disposal, permits and final cleanup including magnetic nail sweep
The seven checks before you hire
Confirm the business is real and local
A verifiable street address in the metro, a registration you can look up, and a phone number that reaches the company rather than a call centre.
Verify insurance directly with the insurer
Ask for the certificate to come from the agent. Check the coverage dates cover your project window.
Check manufacturer certification
GAF Master Elite, CertainTeed SELECT and Owens Corning Preferred all publish contractor directories. If the certification is claimed, it is checkable.
Ask for three recent local addresses
Comparable roofs completed nearby within the last year. Drive past one.
Read the warranty before the price
How long is the workmanship coverage, what voids it, and does it transfer when you sell?
Settle the payment schedule
A deposit plus payment on completion is normal. A demand for the full amount up front is not.
Get the change order process in writing
Decking surprises are common. Agree in advance how they are priced and approved.
The bid that looks cheapest is usually the one that left something out. Line them up item by item and the gap almost always explains itself.
Marcus Reed, expert reviewer
Frequently asked questions
How many quotes should I get?
Three is the usual advice and it holds up, as long as all three cover the same scope. Two carefully compared quotes tell you more than five that each describe a different job.
Should I pay a deposit?
A deposit is normal, typically a portion of the material cost. Paying the full amount before work starts is not, and neither is paying cash with no written contract.
What if I find damage after the crew leaves?
Report it in writing immediately, with photographs and the date. This is what the workmanship warranty is for, and a reputable company will come back.
Ready to compare roofing companies?
Sources and references
- Florida DBPR licensee searchFlorida DBPR · Read August 2, 2026
- Texas Department of Insurance consumer guidance on hail claimsTDI · Read August 2, 2026
- Manufacturer certified contractor directoriesGAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning · Read August 2, 2026
About this guide
- Originally published
- July 2026
- Last reviewed
- July 2026
- Written by
- Marcus Reed
- Reviewed by
- Dana Whitfield
- Reading time
- 11 min
- Sources cited
- 3
About the author
Marcus Reed
Expert reviewer, exteriors and structure
Marcus spent nineteen years in residential roofing and exterior contracting before moving into editorial review. He reads every exteriors ranking and cost guide before it publishes, checking that the criteria match how the trade actually works and that nothing on the page overstates what we verified.
View all articles →Expert review
Dana Whitfield
Senior editor, home services
Reviewed this guide for technical accuracy. Review does not imply endorsement of any company named on TenBestFind.
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