How do I verify a roofer's license?

Most states publish an online contractor license lookup through the state licensing board or department of labor. Search the contractor's name or license number and confirm the license is active, covers roofing work, and is not suspended or expired. Some states don't require a separate roofing license — in those cases, check for a general contractor license and proof of insurance instead.

What insurance should a roofing contractor carry?

At minimum, a legitimate roofer should carry general liability insurance (typically $1 million per occurrence) and workers' compensation for all employees. Ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as an additional insured, and call the insurer to confirm the policy is active before work begins.

Is it legal for a roofer to waive my insurance deductible?

No. In most states it is illegal for a contractor to waive, absorb, or rebate an insurance deductible. A roofer who offers to 'cover your deductible' is either inflating the claim to compensate — which is insurance fraud — or cutting corners on materials and labor to absorb the loss. Walk away.

How many estimates should I get for a roof replacement?

Getting two to three estimates is standard practice and gives you a baseline for fair pricing. Be cautious of any estimate that is dramatically lower than the others — it often signals thinner materials, underpaid labor, or a contractor planning to disappear before the punch list is complete.

What is a storm chaser and why should I avoid them?

Storm chasers are out-of-state or transient roofers who follow severe weather events and go door to door offering quick inspections and low prices. They often lack local licenses, carry inadequate insurance, and leave before warranty issues surface. A local roofer with a fixed address is accountable long after the check clears.

What should a roofing estimate include?

A written estimate should itemize materials (brand, product line, color), labor scope, permit responsibility, debris removal, start and completion dates, payment schedule, and warranty terms for both materials and workmanship. Vague one-page quotes with no line items are a warning sign.

How to Vet a Roofing Contractor Before You Sign

Key takeaways

License and insurance come first. Never let a roofer start work without verifying an active state license and a current certificate of insurance covering liability and workers’ comp.
Local accountability matters. A contractor with a fixed local address, a real office, and references from nearby jobs has skin in the game long after your roof is finished.
A written, itemized estimate protects you. Verbal promises and one-line quotes leave you with no recourse if the job goes sideways.
Deductible-waiver offers are illegal in most states — and a reliable signal you’re talking to someone who will cut corners or inflate your claim.
Pressure to sign today is a red flag. Legitimate contractors don’t manufacture urgency; storm chasers do.

What should I check before hiring a roofer?

Before you agree to anything — an inspection, a contract, or even a verbal commitment — confirm three things: an active state license, proof of current insurance, and a verifiable local address. These three checks alone eliminate the majority of bad actors.

A quick verification checklist:

Check	Where to verify	What to confirm
State contractor license	State licensing board website	Active, covers roofing, not suspended
General liability insurance	Certificate of insurance (COI)	At least $1M per occurrence, current dates
Workers’ compensation	Same COI or separate certificate	Covers all employees on your job
Physical business address	Google Maps, BBB, Secretary of State	A real office, not a P.O. box or out-of-state address
Local references	Ask for 2-3 nearby jobs from the last 12 months	Call them — don’t just read the testimonials page

How do I verify a roofing contractor’s license?

Most states publish a searchable contractor license database online — look for your state’s licensing board, department of labor, or contractor registration portal. Enter the contractor’s name or license number and confirm the license is active, covers the work type (roofing or general contracting), and is not expired or suspended.

A few important caveats:

Some states (Texas, for example) do not require a state-level roofing license. In those cases, check for a local municipality license and extra-careful insurance verification.
License requirements sometimes differ for residential vs. commercial work. Confirm the license class matches your project.
If a contractor can’t produce a license number on the spot, that’s a dealbreaker — not a minor paperwork issue.

What does a legitimate roofing estimate look like?

A trustworthy estimate is detailed enough that a different contractor could bid the same job from it. Vague language like “roof replacement per insurance scope” is not acceptable as a standalone document.

Your written estimate should specify:

Materials: manufacturer, product line, shingle class (Class 3 or Class 4 impact-resistant if relevant), color
Labor scope: tear-off layers, decking inspection and repair allowance, underlayment type, ice-and-water shield coverage
Permits: who pulls them and who pays (the contractor should pull their own permits — it protects you legally)
Cleanup and disposal: debris removal, magnet sweep for nails
Timeline: estimated start date, projected completion
Payment schedule: deposit amount, draw milestones, final payment on completion — never pay in full upfront
Warranty: separate terms for manufacturer materials warranty and contractor workmanship warranty

If a roofer balks at providing this level of detail, walk away. A contractor who won’t put specifics in writing before the job won’t honor promises after.

What red flags should I watch for?

Some warning signs are subtle; others are obvious. The following patterns appear repeatedly in storm-chaser complaints filed with state attorneys general and insurance departments.

Immediate red flags:

Unsolicited knock on your door immediately after a storm
Offer to waive, cover, or absorb your deductible
Pressure to sign a contract or assignment of benefits (AOB) the same day
“We’ll handle everything with your insurance” with no detailed explanation of what that means
No physical address, only a cell phone and an out-of-state plate on the truck
Request for a large cash deposit (30–50%) before any materials are ordered

Slower-burn warning signs:

License or insurance “in process” or “being renewed” with a promise to send later
No permit pulled — they’ll tell you it’s not required (it almost always is for a full replacement)
Subcontractor crew you’ve never met shows up with no introduction or oversight from the contractor you hired
No written warranty, or a warranty from a company that was formed this calendar year

How do I compare multiple roofing estimates fairly?

Getting two to three estimates is standard, but comparing them fairly requires that each quote covers the same scope. Ask every contractor to bid the same shingle line and the same underlayment spec so you’re looking at apples to apples.

Factor	What to compare
Shingle class	30-year architectural vs. Class 4 impact-resistant — not interchangeable
Underlayment	Felt 30 vs. synthetic — cost and longevity differ
Decking repair	Per-sheet allowance vs. “as needed” vs. included — huge variance
Workmanship warranty	1 year vs. 5 years vs. lifetime — ask what voids it
Permit responsibility	Included vs. billed separately vs. skipped entirely

A bid that comes in 20–30% below the others typically means something is being left out. Ask exactly what was removed, and get the answer in writing.

Does a local roofer really matter that much?

Yes — especially for insurance-related work. A local contractor has a physical address, a business reputation in your community, and ongoing relationships with local building departments and insurance adjusters. When a warranty issue surfaces six months after installation, they’re reachable.

Out-of-state storm chasers often dissolve their business entity or simply stop answering calls once they’ve moved on to the next weather event. Your manufacturer’s materials warranty may still be valid, but the workmanship warranty — which covers the installation errors most likely to cause leaks — is only as good as the contractor standing behind it.

Storm Roof Radar connects homeowners with a single vetted local roofer — not a list of bidders, not a lead reseller. The roofer we match you with has an active license, confirmed insurance, and a local track record. Enter your address to see whether your home is in a recent storm footprint, and we’ll make the introduction at no cost to you.