Roofing Work: Questions to Ask a Roofer Before Hiring

We’ve put together 17 questions to ask roofing companies as you look for the right roofer for your project. Questions may vary by the project and the contractor, and you might have some of your own to add. Use these questions as a guide to start thinking about the factors you need to consider. A new roof is a major investment that should last for many years. A roofing contractor should expect questions and be willing to answer them. If they’re not, you might want to consider looking elsewhere.

1) Is your company licensed to do the work? 

Your roofing contractor should have a license to do roofing work in your state, and in some cases may need to be licensed for your city, village or town. Licensing demonstrates that the contractor understands the requirements of doing roofing work in your area and has taken any required testing.

2) Where is your business physically located? 

A reputable roofing contractor will be able to give you a street address for the company location. It’s a good idea to consider local companies since they'll be the most familiar with codes in your area. They will also be the easiest to contact, particularly if there are problems after installation or you need warranty service. If a roofer isn’t local or can only provide a post office box number, you may want to keep looking.

3) Do you have insurance?

A contractor’s insurance protects you. Without this insurance, you might bear responsibility for any damages and injuries that might occur dooring the work. Your roofing contractor will most likely use subcontractors on the job, so ensure that the contractor’s insurance covers the subcontractors as well.

4) Are you bonded?

Bonding represents another type of insurance. If the contractor is bonded, they have insurance that protects you financially if they don’t finish the work or if they can’t pay their subcontractors. In most states, a contractor must be bonded to be licensed, but it’s good to check.

5) What type of inspection will you do of the roof? 

To know what products are necessary and what type of work to quote, the roofer or contractor should do a thorough inspection of your roof. For example, if your roof leaks, the decking may be damaged and in need of replacement along with the shingles.

6) Will you check to make sure the roof’s ventilation is working as it should? 

Ideally when the contractor inspects the roof, they'll ensure that the ventilation system is correct for your roof and that it’s working correctly, but it’s a good idea to ask to be sure. If the roof isn’t able to vent properly, heat buildup might damage the decking and shorten the effective life of new shingles.

7) Can you explain the different products you’ll be installing? 

You should understand the functions of the products necessary for the work. There might be different options for underlayment, an ice and water barrier, shingle or panel types, etc. Your roofing contractor should be able to explain the options. You should have options for shingle color and your contractor should be able to outline the differences. For example, darker shingles may coordinate well with your home trim and siding, but a lighter shingle color may keep more heat out of your home.

8) How much experience do you have with this type of roofing work? 

Roofing projects might involve several different types of work, including replacing decking, installing shingles or panels, upgrading roof ventilation and more. Make sure your contractor has experience with the work you need them to do and make sure they’ve vetted any subcontractors to ensure they have experience as well. This is also a good time to find out how long they’ve been in the roofing business.

9) What references do you have for your work? 

A contractor should be happy to show you references from satisfied customers. You might also want to check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if any customers have lodged complaints against them and, if so, how the contractor addressed them. If the contractor is subcontracting some of the work to another company, check that company’s BBB listing as well.

10) Will you create a written estimate for the job? 

A detailed written estimate will help you know exactly what you’ll be getting for the quoted price, and your contractor should be able to provide one. It should break down the costs for the work and the materials. If you don’t understand the estimate, the roofer should be willing and able to explain it and answer any questions.

11) Do you offer a labor warranty? 

The roofing products themselves will have warranties from the manufacturers, but your contractor should offer a warranty on the work itself. Before you accept a quote, be sure you understand all of the warranties, their limits and exclusions and how to make a claim on them.

12) When will the work start, when will it end and what might delay it? 

A roofing project can be very disruptive to you and your neighbors, so you need to know when it will start, how long it will take and what might cause delays. Weather can be a major factor in the work. If weather halts work before the roof is complete, make sure you understand the steps the contractor will take to protect your home.

13) Will you pull necessary permits and set up inspections? 

Building permits and an inspection might be necessary for some roofing work. Your contractor should know what’s required and should tell you if getting the permits and arranging the inspection is included in their quote.

14) What will you do to protect my landscape during the work? 

From debris falling on flowers and shrubs to heavy foot traffic and heavy materials, a roofing project can be tough on your yard. Find out what steps the roofers will take to minimize the potential for damage.

15) What happens during the roofing work? 

Know when to expect the roofers, what they’ll be doing and more. Some exits might be off limits at certain times to protect you from falling debris. There will be some things you need to do ahead of time, such as removing items from shelves and walls. Be clear on cleanup when the work is complete. It’s normal for roofing nails to end up in your yard, driveway and even in the street, and removing your existing roof will create lots of additional debris. Make sure you know what steps the roofers will take to clean everything up and what they’ll do with any materials they didn’t use.

16) How can I communicate with you before, during and after the project? 

Your roofing contractor probably won’t be on site throughout the project. Make sure you’re able to get in touch with them if you have questions or if there’s a problem with the work. In some cases, the onsite workers won’t be able to or have the authority to answer your questions or address your concerns. And, if problems develop after the work is complete, you should have a way to contact the roofing company.

17) What are your payment options and down payment requirements? 

Before you accept a quote, be sure you understand and are comfortable with how and when you’ll need to pay for the job.

If you let Lowe’s handle your roofing work you won’t need to ask many of the questions above. Here’s why: 

• A project specialist will inspect your home and review material options with you and answer your questions.
• The project specialist will talk with you about your budget and requirements and will let you know what products the job requires.
• We’ll give you a quote for the products and labor necessary and provide financing options.
• Once you accept the quote, we’ll let you know the timeline for the project.
• We select licensed, insured and background-checked independent installers, so you can be comfortable you’re working with an experienced, professional installer.
• The independent contractor will pull any required permits for the work.
• The installers will haul away debris from the roofing work.
• We provide a two-year labor warranty with roofing installation.

A new, long-lasting roof is a major expense, so you need to decide on what you can afford. Consider different types of shingles or roofing and decide how you want to balance cost, appearance, durability, energy efficiency and the product warranties. You may want to set up a roof inspection to give you accurate information to base your budget upon.

Set aside 10% to 20% of your budget for unexpected expenses. Once the existing roof is off, your roofers may find damaged roof decking or structural damage to the roof. Addressing these issues will add cost and time to the project.

Unless you need a new roof as soon as possible due to damage or leaks, plan ahead. You may want to start setting aside money to cover the costs for a new roof if your existing roof is within a few years of needing replacement. For example, if you have a roof of asphalt shingles, you can expect it to last about 15 to 20 years. As you approach the 15-year mark you could start planning for the expense. This planning can make budgeting easier and give you plenty of time to research your options.

Even if you can’t plan years in advance, you may be able to plan the season for your project. Here are some factors to think about:

• If you’re planning for a fall replacement, be aware that this is typically the busiest times for roofers, so start researching companies as early as possible. 
• Spring can be a good time to schedule roof work since the temperatures are mild and the busy season may not have started for roofers in your area. However, the weather isn't as predictable in spring as other seasons, so you may experience delays from rain and storms.
• Roofing work is possible in summer and winter, but temperature extremes can restrict the working time for roofers and may make the materials more susceptible to damage. Summer is a popular time for homeowners to get roofing work done, so again, planning ahead is a good idea. Winter is often the least busy season for roofers, so scheduling should be easier and wait times shorter.

While installing a new roof is usually a job for the professionals, you might want to learn a bit about the work before you start looking for a roofing contractor. Being familiar with the work involved with installing a roof helps you understand a roofing contractor’s recommendations, the products that are part of the work and the labor that’s part of a quote. Some roofing knowledge can also help you ask better questions and better understand the answers. Take a look at our roofing how-to guides:

• How to Install Roofing Underlayment
• How to Install Roof Shingles
• Install a Ridge Vent
• How to Repair a Leaky Roof