How to choose a roofer
What to verify, what to compare and what to ask before you hire a roofing contractor.
Hire Best Pros Editorial Team · Updated August 24, 2026
Choose a roofer the way you would choose anyone working on the part of your house that keeps water out: verify that they are licensed where your state or city requires it, confirm they carry liability and workers compensation insurance, read the scope of work closely, and prefer the contractor who explains their decisions rather than the one who pressures you toward a signature. Hire Best Pros connects you with professionals who handle this type of work. You decide which one is the right fit for you.
Key points
- Verify insurance directly with the insurer, not from a photocopy.
- Compare scopes of work, not just totals.
- Be skeptical of pressure tactics and same-day-only pricing.
- Get the payment schedule and warranty terms in writing before work starts.
Verify before you compare
- Licensing where your state or municipality requires it for roofing work
- General liability insurance and workers compensation, confirmed with the carrier
- A physical business address and a history you can look up
- Who will actually be on your roof: employees, a regular crew, or a subcontractor you have not met
Questions to ask a roofer
- What does your estimate assume about decking replacement, and what is the price per sheet beyond that?
- Are tear-off, disposal and permits included?
- Is the flashing being replaced or reused?
- What is your workmanship warranty, and is it separate from the manufacturer warranty?
- Who is my point of contact while the crew is here?
- How do you protect landscaping, gutters and driveways, and how is cleanup handled?
- What happens if weather interrupts the job midway?
Warning signs worth walking away from
- A price that is only valid if you sign today
- A large deposit demanded before materials are ordered
- An offer to absorb or waive your insurance deductible
- No written scope of work, or a one-line estimate
- Refusal to provide insurance details
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Find roofing helpHow to compare the finalists
Once two or three contractors have quoted the same material and the same scope, the decision is usually about communication and accountability rather than price. The contractor who answered your questions clearly, documented what they saw and put their assumptions in writing is usually the one who will handle a surprise well, and roofing projects produce surprises.
Common questions
- How many roofing quotes should I get?
- Two or three is enough for most homeowners. More than that tends to add confusion rather than information, especially if the scopes are not written the same way.
- Should I hire the roofer my insurance company suggests?
- You are generally free to choose your own contractor. A recommended contractor may be perfectly good, but the choice, and the responsibility for verifying them, is yours.
- Is a deposit normal?
- A reasonable deposit toward materials is common. A large payment before anything has been ordered or delivered is not. Tie payments to milestones and keep the final payment until the job passes your walkthrough.