The right questions to ask a roofer are not the ones that get a polished answer. They are the ones a bad contractor cannot answer with paperwork. Any roofer can promise quality work. Only a legitimate one can hand you a current workers’ compensation certificate, a state license number that checks out, and a written scope of work before you pay a deposit. This guide gives you the 12 questions that matter, and for each one, the green-flag answer to listen for and the red-flag answer that should end the conversation.
We built the list around a simple idea: most homeowner regret in roofing does not come from choosing the wrong shingle color. It comes from hiring someone who was uninsured, unlicensed, or gone before the warranty was tested. So we weighted these questions toward proof, not promises.
Key takeaways
- Three questions screen out most bad actors: proof of a valid license, a current workers’ compensation certificate, and the deposit terms. If a roofer stumbles on any of these, stop.
- Roughly two-thirds of U.S. states require a state-level roofing license or registration. A handful, including Texas and Colorado, have no statewide roofing license, which shifts the burden onto you to verify local permits and insurance instead.
- Roofing is one of the most dangerous trades in America. That is exactly why a workers’ compensation certificate is non-negotiable: without it, an injured worker can become your financial problem.
- Manufacturer certification is genuinely selective. GAF Master Elite is held by an estimated 2 to 3 percent of roofing contractors, and Owens Corning Platinum Preferred by roughly 1 percent, so it is a useful (not mandatory) trust signal.
- Never pay in full up front. Reputable roofers do not demand the entire cost, or a large cash payment, before materials arrive.
The 12 questions to ask a roofer, by what they protect
We grouped the questions into four layers. Work through them in order. The first layer decides whether a contractor is even eligible for your money; the later layers decide whether the job goes well.
Layer 1: Legitimacy and protection
1. “Can I have your license number, and are you insured for both liability and workers’ compensation?”
This is the single most important question, and it is really two. Licensing tells you the contractor met your state or locality’s baseline. Insurance tells you that an accident on your roof does not become a claim against your homeowner’s policy.
Licensing rules vary widely. Roughly two-thirds of states require some form of state license or registration for roofing work, while a handful, including Texas and Colorado, have no statewide roofing license and leave it to city or county permitting (see the state-by-state breakdowns from Fixr and Jobber). Because the rules differ, the answer you want is specific: a number you can verify with your state licensing board or local building department, not a laminated card waved at you.
The insurance half matters even more than most homeowners realize. Roofing is consistently ranked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics among the occupations with the highest fatal-injury rates in the country. If a roofer without workers’ compensation is hurt on your property, you can be exposed to the medical and liability costs. General liability insurance separately covers damage the crew causes to your home.
Green flag: “Here is my license number and a certificate of insurance; I can have the carrier send proof of coverage directly to you.” Red flag: “We’re licensed and insured, don’t worry about it,” with no documentation, or a certificate with an expired date.
2. “How long have you operated under this business name, and what is your physical address?”
Storm-chasing outfits reincarnate under new names to shed bad reviews and dodge warranty claims. A verifiable local address, a business name that has existed for several years, and a track record you can look up are all cheap to ask for and expensive for a fly-by-night operation to fake.
Green flag: A permanent local address, years in business, and a company name that matches their license, insurance, and reviews. Red flag: A P.O. box, a brand-new company name, or out-of-state plates right after a hailstorm.
3. “Will you pull the permit, and does the job need an inspection?”
A legitimate roofer pulls the permit in their own name, which puts them on the hook for code compliance. When a contractor asks you, the homeowner, to pull the permit yourself, it usually means they cannot, or do not want their name attached to the work.
Green flag: “We pull the permit and schedule the municipal inspection.” Red flag: “You can pull the permit,” or “This job doesn’t need one,” when your jurisdiction clearly requires it.
Layer 2: The work itself
4. “Who actually does the work: your own crew or subcontractors?”
Neither answer is automatically wrong, but the answer changes the follow-up questions. If subcontractors do the work, you need to confirm that they are covered by insurance and that the workmanship warranty still applies to their work.
Green flag: A clear answer either way, plus confirmation that everyone on your roof is insured and that the warranty covers subcontracted labor. Red flag: Vagueness about who shows up, or “we sometimes use day labor.”
5. “Are you tearing off the old roof or laying over it?”
A layover (installing new shingles over the old ones) is cheaper and faster, but it can hide rotted decking, add weight, and shorten the new roof’s life. Most codes limit a roof to two layers. You want a contractor who inspects the decking and tells you honestly whether a tear-off is needed.
Green flag: “We tear off and inspect the decking so we can replace anything rotted before the new roof goes on.” Red flag: Pushing a layover to win on price without inspecting what is underneath.
6. “What underlayment, flashing, and ventilation are included, and is that in the written scope?”
Cheap bids win by quietly leaving out the parts that make a roof last: new flashing, ice-and-water shield in valleys and at eaves, and proper ventilation. If these are not itemized in writing, assume they are not included.
Green flag: A written scope that names the underlayment, flashing plan, and ventilation. Red flag: “Standard install” with no detail, or reusing old flashing to cut cost.
7. “Are you a certified installer for the manufacturer whose warranty you’re selling?”
Enhanced manufacturer warranties usually require a certified installer. These credentials are meaningfully selective: GAF Master Elite is held by an estimated 2 to 3 percent of North American roofing contractors, and Owens Corning Platinum Preferred by roughly 1 percent (per contractor and industry sources such as this certification comparison). Certification is a trust signal, not a hard requirement, but it is the only way to unlock the strongest system warranties.
Green flag: A named certification that matches the warranty being offered, which you can verify on the manufacturer’s contractor locator. Red flag: Promising a “lifetime manufacturer warranty” without the certification that a manufacturer requires to issue it.
Layer 3: Money and paper
8. “What is the deposit, and what is the payment schedule?”
This question quietly separates real contractors from scammers. Reputable roofers do not require payment in full up front, and they do not insist on a large cash payment before materials are delivered, as consumer guidance from Angi and Owens Corning both stress. A modest deposit with the balance tied to milestones is normal.
Green flag: A reasonable deposit with the balance due on material delivery or completion, and multiple payment methods. Red flag: “Full payment up front,” “cash only,” or a demand to sign over your insurance check on the spot.
9. “Can I get the full estimate in writing, and how are change orders handled?”
A verbal quote is not a contract. You want a written estimate that lists materials, quantities, labor, cleanup, and total price, plus a clear process for change orders so a surprise (“we found rot”) does not turn into an open-ended bill. If you want a sense of what a complete document should contain, our roofing proposal template breaks down every line a proposal should include.
Green flag: A detailed written estimate and a written change-order policy. Red flag: “I’ll text you a number,” or blank spaces on the contract.
10. “If this is an insurance job, how do you handle the claim and the deductible?”
On storm-damage work, a good contractor documents the damage and bills your insurer for the approved scope, and you pay your deductible. Be wary of anyone who offers to “waive,” “eat,” or “absorb” your deductible; in many states that is insurance fraud, and it signals a contractor comfortable cutting corners elsewhere. If financing comes up, our guide to roofers that finance covers how to vet the terms.
Green flag: “We document the damage, work with your adjuster on the approved scope, and you cover your deductible.” Red flag: “We’ll cover your deductible,” or pressure to sign an assignment of benefits before you understand it.
Layer 4: After the job
11. “What warranties do I get, and what is the difference between them?”
There are two distinct warranties, and conflating them is a classic trap. The manufacturer’s warranty covers defects in the materials. The workmanship warranty covers the contractor’s installation, which is where most leaks actually originate. A strong manufacturer warranty is worthless if the roofer who installed it disappears in year two.
Green flag: A written workmanship warranty of several years or more, plus the manufacturer warranty, with both terms in the contract. Red flag: “The roof is under warranty” with no distinction, or a workmanship warranty measured in months.
12. “How do you protect my property and handle cleanup?”
Tear-offs create a surprising amount of debris and stray nails. A professional protects landscaping, siding, and vehicles, and runs a magnetic sweep of the yard and driveway for nails afterward. This is a good proxy for how carefully they treat the whole job.
Green flag: Tarps over landscaping, a dumpster plan, and a magnetic nail sweep at the end. Red flag: “We’ll clean up as we go” with no specifics.
The Roofing Brief Vetting Filter: the 3 questions that do the heavy lifting
You do not always get to ask all 12. When you have a contractor on the phone and 60 seconds, ask these three, because they are the ones a bad actor cannot pass with words alone:
- License: a verifiable number (or, in no-license states, confirmation they will pull the local permit in their name).
- Workers’ compensation: a current certificate the carrier can send you directly.
- Deposit terms: no full payment up front, no large cash demand before materials arrive.
Here is a simple way to score a contractor before you go further:
| Filter question | Pass (proceed) | Fail (walk away) |
|---|---|---|
| Verifiable license or permit responsibility | Gives a number or agrees to pull the permit in their name | Evades, or asks you to pull the permit |
| Current workers’ comp certificate | Carrier will send proof directly to you | “Trust me, we’re covered,” no document |
| Reasonable deposit terms | Small deposit, balance on delivery or completion | Full or large cash payment demanded up front |
How to read the score: three passes means the contractor clears the eligibility bar and you can move on to the workmanship questions. Even one fail on this filter is enough to stop, regardless of how good the price looks.
Red-flag answer key
Print this and keep it next to you during the conversation. If you hear the phrase on the right, treat it as a warning, not a detail.
| Topic | What a good roofer says | What should worry you |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | “The carrier will send you a certificate of insurance.” | “We’re insured, don’t worry about the paperwork.” |
| Permit | “We pull the permit in our name.” | “You can pull the permit,” or “it doesn’t need one.” |
| Deposit | “Small deposit, balance when materials arrive.” | “Full payment up front,” or “cash only.” |
| Deductible | “You pay your deductible.” | “We’ll cover your deductible for you.” |
| Warranty | “Here’s the workmanship warranty and the manufacturer warranty.” | “The whole roof is under warranty.” |
| Timing pressure | “Take your time; the estimate is good for 30 days.” | “This price is only good if you sign today.” |
Printable pre-hire checklist
- □ License number given and verified with the state board or local building department
- □ Certificate of insurance (liability + workers’ comp) sent directly by the carrier, unexpired
- □ Business name, physical address, and years in operation confirmed
- □ Permit pulled by the contractor; inspection scheduled if required
- □ Written scope naming underlayment, flashing, and ventilation
- □ Tear-off vs. layover decided after a decking inspection
- □ Manufacturer certification confirmed if an enhanced warranty is promised
- □ Deposit reasonable; no full or large cash payment demanded up front
- □ Written estimate and change-order policy in hand
- □ Deductible handled honestly on insurance jobs
- □ Workmanship and manufacturer warranties both in writing
- □ Property protection and magnetic nail sweep confirmed
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important question to ask a roofer?
Ask for proof of a valid license and a current workers’ compensation certificate. Roofing has one of the highest injury rates of any trade, so an uninsured worker hurt on your property can become your financial liability. A legitimate roofer can have their carrier send proof of coverage directly to you.
Should I be worried if a roofer isn’t licensed?
It depends on your state. Roughly two-thirds of states require a state-level roofing license or registration, but a few, including Texas and Colorado, have no statewide roofing license. In those states, verify that the contractor will pull the local permit in their own name and carries insurance, since there is no state license to check.
How much deposit should a roofer ask for?
A modest deposit with the balance tied to material delivery or completion is normal. Reputable roofers do not require payment in full up front, and a demand for a large cash payment before any materials arrive is a common warning sign.
Does a roofer need to be manufacturer-certified?
No, but certification is a useful trust signal and is required for the strongest system warranties. The top tiers are genuinely selective: GAF Master Elite is held by an estimated 2 to 3 percent of contractors and Owens Corning Platinum Preferred by roughly 1 percent. If a roofer promises an enhanced manufacturer warranty, confirm they hold the certification that manufacturer requires to issue it.
What is the difference between a workmanship warranty and a manufacturer warranty?
The manufacturer warranty covers defects in the materials. The workmanship warranty covers the contractor’s installation, which is where most leaks begin. You want both in writing, and a workmanship warranty measured in years rather than months.
Cite this
The Roofing Brief, “Questions to Ask a Roofer: The 12 That Actually Screen Out Bad Contractors” (2026), theroofingbrief.com. Licensing counts are drawn from state-by-state roofing-license references; certification percentages from manufacturer and industry sources; occupational-risk context from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.
Data notes and limitations
State licensing requirements change and often overlap with local permitting, so the “roughly two-thirds of states” figure is a directional summary, not legal advice; verify your own state and municipality before hiring. Manufacturer-certification percentages (GAF Master Elite ~2 to 3 percent, Owens Corning Platinum Preferred ~1 percent) are drawn from contractor and industry sources and are best treated as estimates, as the manufacturers do not publish live counts. Occupational-risk statements reflect the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consistent ranking of roofers among the highest-fatality occupations; we cite the ranking rather than a single year’s rate because the exact figure changes annually.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (occupational fatality ranking for roofers)
- Fixr, State-by-State Breakdown of Roofers’ License Requirements
- Jobber, How to Get a Roofing License in Every US State
- OC Platinum Preferred vs. GAF Master Elite certification comparison
- Angi, Questions to Ask a Roofing Contractor When Hiring
- Owens Corning, Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Roofing Contractor