Twenty Questions to Ask Every Roofer You Call

Print one copy per roofer. Write their answers next to each question. The patterns become obvious by the third roofer.

Time to use: 15 minutes on the phone, per roofer

About the company

1. How long has your company been doing residential roofing in NC?
2. What is your NC general contractor license number?
3. Are you a manufacturer-certified installer? Which manufacturer?
4. Can you email me your Certificate of Insurance today?
5. Do you carry workers comp? Can the COI show both?

About the people doing the work

6. Are the crews your employees or subcontractors?
7. Will the same crew start and finish my job?
8. Who is the on-site foreman, and how do I reach them on install day?
9. How many roofs has that foreman done?

About what is on the estimate

10. What specific shingle product is on the estimate? Brand and line, not just "architectural".
11. What underlayment, ice and water shield, drip edge, and starter strip are you using?
12. Are you replacing flashing around the chimney and walls, or reusing it?
13. What ventilation are you installing or upgrading?
14. How is decking handled if you find bad spots? What is the per-sheet price?

About warranty and paperwork

15. What manufacturer warranty will be filed in my name? Send me the warranty document.
16. What workmanship warranty do you carry, and is it in writing?
17. Will I have a written contract before any work starts? Can I see a sample today?

About what happens after

18. What is your magnet-sweep and nail-cleanup process?
19. Who handles a warranty call in five years if there is a leak?
20. Can you give me two recent customers I can call this week?

Any roofer who is annoyed by these questions is a roofer who should not be on your roof. Ours answer all twenty without flinching, because we built the company expecting them.