Step 1: Compile Your List of Candidates
Begin with personal referrals from neighbors, friends, and colleagues who have recently had roofing work done. Online platforms like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau, and neighborhood community groups can supplement your referral list. Aim for four to six candidates before beginning the screening process.
Step 2: Verify Licensing and Insurance
Check your state’s contractor licensing database to confirm that each candidate holds a valid, active license. Call the insurance agencies listed on their certificates to verify that general liability and workers’ compensation coverage is current and will remain active throughout your project. This step takes fifteen minutes and can save you enormous trouble. A qualified roofing contractor will have no hesitation providing this documentation.
Step 3: Assess Experience with Your Specific Roof Type
Not all roofing experience is equivalent. A contractor who has installed thousands of asphalt shingle roofs may have limited experience with metal roofing, tile, or low-slope flat roof systems. Confirm that the contractor has significant, documented experience with the specific roofing system your project involves.
Step 4: Request and Compare Detailed Written Estimates
Solicit written estimates from at least three contractors. Each estimate should specify the exact materials to be used (manufacturer and product line), the scope of preparation and old material removal, decking repair procedures, timeline, payment schedule, and both manufacturer and workmanship warranty terms. Compare them line by line. If one estimate is significantly lower, find out why before proceeding.
Step 5: Check References
Ask each contractor for three to five references from projects completed in the past two years that are similar to yours in scope and material type. Contact these references directly and ask about the quality of the work, adherence to schedule, crew professionalism, and how any issues were resolved. A contractor who cannot provide references or provides contacts who cannot be reached is a contractor to avoid.
Step 6: Review the Contract Carefully
Before signing, read the contract carefully and make sure it includes everything discussed — materials specification, scope of work, timeline, payment schedule, change order procedures, and warranty terms. If anything important is missing or vague, ask for it to be added in writing before you sign. Never proceed based on verbal assurances.
Step 7: Confirm the Permit Process
Ask which party is responsible for pulling the permit and who will coordinate with the building department. The contractor should handle this — if they suggest that permits are not necessary or that you should pull the permit yourself, treat this as a warning sign. The permit and inspection process is your protection, not an inconvenience.