Verify before you compare price
Price only means something once you know the company can stand behind the work in five years.
- Active state, provincial or municipal licence number — ask for it and look it up
- Certificate of insurance sent directly from the insurer, covering liability and workers' compensation
- A physical local address, not just a mobile number and a magnet sign
- Manufacturer certification if a long system warranty is being promised
- Recent reviews tied to completed jobs, with photos
Questions that expose a weak bid
- How did you measure my roof, and can I see the measurements?
- What happens if you find rotten decking — what is the per-sheet price?
- Which underlayment and ice-and-water coverage are included?
- Is the crew employed by you or subcontracted, and who supervises daily?
- What exactly does your workmanship warranty cover, and is it transferable?
Contract red flags
- A deposit above 30% of contract value, or full payment up front
- Pressure to sign today for a discount that expires tonight
- No written scope, no itemisation, no start and completion dates
- An offer to "cover your deductible" — that is insurance fraud in most jurisdictions
- Refusal to provide the insurance certificate directly from the carrier
Shortcut the vetting
Roofsy verifies licence, insurance and completed-job ratings before a contractor can receive a lead, and matches a maximum of three companies that actively serve your ZIP code. You still choose — you just start from a shortlist that already passed the checks above.
Get your free roof report
Satellite measurements, a 0-100 condition score and your own price range — from just your address.
Free · About 60 seconds · No phone call · Matched with 3 top-rated roofers
Frequently asked
- How many roofing quotes should I get?
- Three. Fewer and you cannot see the market; more and the quotes start blurring together without new information.
- Should I hire the cheapest roofer?
- Rarely. The cheapest bid is usually cheap because it skips tear-off, uses builder-grade underlayment or omits flashing replacement. Compare scope, then price.
- Are storm-chasing roofers always bad?
- Not always, but out-of-town crews are gone when a workmanship issue appears in year three. Prefer companies with a permanent local presence.
Keep reading
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