17 Questions to Ask Your Roofing Contractor Before Signing

A roofing estimate appointment usually takes 45 to 60 minutes. Most of that time is the contractor measuring, climbing, and showing you photos. The last 10 to 15 minutes is when the real information flows, if you ask the right questions.

Here are 17 questions that filter out bad contractors and give you a much better read on the good ones. Pick the 10 that matter most for your situation.

Company basics (questions 1 to 4)

1. How long have you been in business in this specific town?

You want at least 5 years locally, ideally 10+. A company that has been "in business 20 years" but just moved from another state is a different risk profile than a company rooted in your community.

2. What is your full legal business name and license number?

The name on the estimate should match the name on the contract, the license, and the insurance certificate. Mismatches are a flag. Verify the license on your state's contractor board website after they leave.

3. Do you have a physical office I can visit?

You may never visit, but the answer tells you whether they have a local base of operations. PO Boxes and "executive suites" with no actual staff are signs of a pop-up operation.

4. How many employees and subcontractors do you use?

Most residential roofers use a mix. What you are listening for is whether the crew on your roof is employed by the company or is a one-off subcontractor crew the salesperson has never met.

Insurance and safety (questions 5 to 7)

5. Can I see a current certificate of insurance with my address as additional insured?

Two policies: general liability ($1M minimum) and workers compensation. Call the insurance agent on the certificate to confirm the policy is active.

6. What is your safety record and OSHA history?

A company with frequent OSHA violations is a company that cuts corners. You can search your state's OSHA database.

7. If a worker is injured on my property, who is responsible?

The correct answer is: their workers compensation policy. If they answer anything else, walk away. Without workers comp, you can be sued directly.

Experience and expertise (questions 8 to 10)

8. Are you certified by the manufacturer of the shingles you are quoting?

Major manufacturers (GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Malarkey) certify contractors through training and quality programs. Certified contractors can offer enhanced warranties (typically 30 to 50 years vs the standard 25).

9. Who will be on site during my project?

Ask for the foreman's name. A good contractor will introduce you to the foreman before the job starts. You want a single point of contact, not a rotating cast.

10. Can you give me 3 addresses of jobs you completed in the last 12 months?

Drive by one. Look at the roof. A well-installed roof looks uniform, with straight lines, clean valleys, and consistent shingle spacing. If you can, knock on the door and ask how the experience was.

Scope and materials (questions 11 to 13)

11. Will you itemize the estimate?

Tear-off, decking, underlayment, drip edge, starter, shingles, ridge vent, flashing, labor, permit. Itemized estimates let you compare bids. Lump-sum estimates hide substitutions.

12. What specific shingle brand, line, and color are you quoting?

"Architectural shingle" is not enough. "GAF Timberline HDZ Charcoal" is specific. Brand and line matter because warranty terms and cost vary. Color matters so you do not end up with a different shingle than you picked.

13. Will you install ice and water shield, synthetic underlayment, and new flashing?

All three should be "yes." Reusing old flashing or using 15# felt instead of synthetic underlayment are the most common cost-saving shortcuts in low bids. Both will void most manufacturer warranties.

Payment and warranty (questions 14 to 17)

14. What is your payment schedule?

A normal schedule is 0 to 10% deposit, balance on completion. For insurance jobs: ACV check on material delivery, depreciation check on completion. Never pay more than 25% up front. Never pay cash or wire.

15. Do you pull the permit or do I?

The contractor should pull the permit. If they ask YOU to pull the permit, they may not be licensed or may be avoiding liability. Walk away.

16. What is your written workmanship warranty and what does it cover?

Workmanship warranties cover installation defects. Industry standard is 5 years. Top contractors offer 10 to 25 years. Get the terms in writing, read the exclusions, and understand what happens if the company goes out of business (manufacturer warranty typically survives, workmanship does not unless the manufacturer enhanced warranty picks it up).

17. What happens if the project goes over the original timeline?

Good contractors acknowledge that rain and material delays happen. They should have a policy (daily tarp coverage, project management calls, rescheduling logic). Vague answers here often predict communication problems later.

Questions to ask yourself after the appointment

1. Did they show up on time?
2. Did they walk the roof and provide photos?
3. Did they pressure you to sign today?
4. Did they provide a written estimate within 3 business days?
5. Did they answer follow-up questions by email or phone?

If you answered "no" to any of those, move on. Our post on choosing a reputable roofing contractor covers the full verification process.

Red flag answers

QuestionRed flag answer How long in business locally?"Just started this spring" or vague "many years" Can I see a COI?"We will get you one" and then never do Do you pull the permit?"Permits are not required" (false in most cases) Payment schedule?"50% deposit, balance on start" Warranty?"Everything is covered forever" with no written terms

Compare against our post on red flags for roofing scams for the full list of warning signs.

Printable question checklist

Save or print the 17 questions above. Bring the list to each estimate appointment. Fill in answers on the spot so you can compare contractors side by side.

Most homeowners only replace a roof 1 or 2 times in their life. Taking 30 extra minutes to ask these questions is the highest-leverage thing you can do on a $15,000 decision.

FAQ

Q: What if a contractor refuses to answer one of these questions?
A: That IS the answer. A legitimate contractor welcomes the questions because good questions filter out tire-kickers and lowball shoppers.

Q: Should I ask for references?
A: Yes, but treat them as a supplement, not a primary filter. Every contractor has 3 happy customers to share. Drive-by inspections of recent jobs and Google reviews are more objective.

Q: What if the estimate is much higher than a competitor?
A: Ask what is different. Usually the higher bid includes items the lower bid skipped: better underlayment, new flashing, ridge vent, higher-tier shingle, longer workmanship warranty.