Who should I hire, and how do I know they're honest?
Picking the wrong roofer is more expensive than picking the wrong shingle. Five things to verify, twenty questions to ask, the red flags that mean walk away, and a reference check that catches what the rest misses.
Five things to verify. No exceptions.
If any roofer on your list is missing any of these five, cross them off. The whole list takes about an hour to verify across three roofers. That hour is the most valuable hour you will spend on this project.
NC general contractor license
Required at $30k+ jobsSearch by company name. The license must be active and unsuspended. No license, no $30k+ replacement. Period.
General liability + workers comp
Get the COI by email$1M minimum general liability. Workers comp required for any NC company with 3+ employees. Call the broker listed on the Certificate of Insurance to confirm it is current. Roofers sometimes hand out old ones. Never let anyone climb your roof until you have a current COI in hand — if an uninsured worker falls on your property, your homeowner's policy can end up paying.
Manufacturer certification
GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, or FortifiedGAF Certified or Master Elite, CertainTeed Credentialed or SELECT ShingleMaster, Owens Corning Preferred or Platinum Preferred, Fortified-trained for storm-resilient roofing. Verify on the manufacturer site, not the roofer site. These certifications unlock the longest warranty tiers and prove a roofer met the manufacturer's training and insurance requirements.
Real local reviews
4.7+ across 50+ reviewsRead the 3-star reviews. Skip the 5-stars and 1-stars. Look for replies from the company within a week. Cross-check with the BBB. A+ with one or two resolved complaints is normal. Unresolved complaints are a problem.
Two real references on the phone
Same city, last 90 daysA roofer who hesitates to give two references is telling you something. We will give you four if you ask. Pick any.
Twenty questions to ask every roofer.
Print one copy per roofer. Write the answers next to each question. The patterns become obvious by the third call. Any roofer who gets annoyed by these is a roofer who should not be on your roof.
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
- 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 the estimate
- 10.What specific shingle product is on the estimate?
- 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
- 15.What manufacturer warranty will be filed in my name?
- 16.What workmanship warranty do you carry, and is it in writing?
- 17.Will I have a written contract before any work starts?
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?
How to spot a storm chaser.
After every big storm in NC, hundreds of out-of-state crews show up. Most leave inside a year. Some leave behind worse roofs than they started with. If any of these come out of someone's mouth in the first 60 seconds, walk back inside.
Lines that mean stop
- ×"I was working in the neighborhood and noticed your roof has damage."
- ×"We can get you a new roof and your insurance will pay for the whole thing."
- ×"I can waive your deductible. We do it all the time."
- ×"Sign this so I can get on the roof and start the inspection."
- ×"This price is only good today."
- ×"I just need a small deposit to hold the spot."
Paperwork that means stop
- A “contingent agreement” that signs them onto the job before any inspection is done
- An “Assignment of Benefits” or “AOB” that hands them your insurance check directly. Never sign one of these.
- A blank or partial estimate that says “additional charges as needed”
- No license number, no insurance certificate, no manufacturer certification listed
If you already signed something
NC consumer protection gives you a 3-day “right to cancel” on door-to-door sales. Send written cancellation within 3 business days. If you signed an AOB, contact your insurance carrier and your attorney immediately. Call us if you want a second set of eyes. We will tell you straight, no charge.
The reference check that catches the rest.
Call two real customers, last 90 days, same city if possible. Twenty minutes total. The patterns become obvious. Here are the eight questions.
- When did they do your roof?
- Did the final price match the original estimate? If not, by how much?
- How long did the job take? Was that what they said it would?
- Was the same crew there the whole time? Was the foreman around?
- How did they leave your property at the end of each day?
- Have you had any issues since? If so, how did they handle it?
- Did you have to chase them for anything? Warranty paperwork, magnet sweep, anything?
- If you had to do it again, would you hire them again?
The tell
The most important moment is the pause before question 8. A real “yes” comes fast. A hesitant “well, I mean, mostly…” is your answer.
Hiring a roofer is the most important decision on this project. Run the five checks. Ask the twenty questions. Call two references. If we are on your short list, ask us anything on this page. We built the company expecting these questions.
Tools to help you hire.
Four printable references to keep with you through the estimate process. Free, useful even if you never call us.
Five non-negotiables
A one-page list of what to verify before hiring anyone. License, insurance, certification, reviews, references. Pull it out on every estimate visit.
Twenty questions
Print three copies. One for each roofer. The patterns become obvious by the third call.
Reference check
Eight questions to ask a roofer's past customer. Twenty minutes of calls saves years of regret.