Roofing is one of the highest-scam home services, especially after storm events. Storm chasers and unqualified contractors cause billions in additional damage annually. Here's how to hire a legitimate roofer.
Verify license and insurance before anything else
Roofing contractor license requirements vary by state -- some require specific roofing licenses, others just a general contractor license. Verify on your state's licensing board. More importantly, verify liability insurance (minimum $1M per occurrence) and workers' compensation insurance. An uninsured roofer working on your roof creates homeowner liability if they're injured.
Get at least three written quotes
Roofing prices legitimately vary by 20-40% between contractors for the same job. Three quotes helps you understand market pricing and identify outliers in both directions -- both suspiciously low (cutting corners) and inflated. Each quote should specify: shingle brand and warranty, underlayment type, how flashing will be handled, and cleanup.
What the contract must include
Before signing: confirm the contract specifies the exact materials (shingle manufacturer, product line, and color), states that all old material will be torn off (not roofed over), includes a workmanship warranty (minimum 2 years, best contractors offer 5-10), specifies payment terms (never more than 10-20% upfront), and lists the permit responsibility.
- ✓Exact shingle manufacturer, product, and color
- ✓Tear-off of existing material confirmed
- ✓Workmanship warranty length
- ✓Permit responsibility clearly stated
- ✓Payment terms -- no large upfront payments
Storm chaser red flags
After any major storm, door-to-door roofers appear offering free inspections. Red flags: high-pressure same-day signing demands, offers to 'waive your deductible' (insurance fraud), out-of-state or no local business address, large upfront payment demands, and pressure to sign before getting other quotes.
- ✓High-pressure same-day decisions
- ✓Offering to waive your deductible
- ✓No local business address or reviews
- ✓Large upfront deposit demanded
- ✓Refuses to provide license number
Bottom line
Hire a local contractor with a verifiable license, active insurance, and real reviews. The two or three hours spent vetting saves tens of thousands in potential problems.
Need roofing work done?
Novum sends its own licensed crew. Flat upfront quote before we touch anything.