How to Choose a Roofing Contractor

Choosing a roofing contractor comes down to a few checks that take an afternoon: get written estimates from more than one company, confirm the business details and any license your state or local government requires, read the proposal and warranty line by line, and walk away from pressure. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises getting several estimates and not automatically choosing the lowest bid ², and the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) tells homeowners to be skeptical of the lowest bid because price is only one factor ¹.

This guide goes through those checks in order, with what each official or trade source says. It does not rank roofing companies, and nothing here tells you which one to hire.

Step 1: Get several written estimates

Ask at least two or three companies to look at the roof and give a written estimate for the same scope. The FTC says a written estimate should describe the work to be done, the materials, the completion date and the price, and that you should ask for an explanation when estimates differ by a lot ². A roof that has been measured and looked at gives a more useful estimate than a figure given over the phone.

To make estimates comparable, ask every company to price the same things: tear-off or recover, the shingle or panel line, underlayment, flashing, how decking replacement is priced if damaged boards are found, disposal, and who pulls the permit. Our roofing quote comparison guide has a line-item checklist, and the roof replacement cost guide shows what published surveys report for each part of the job.

Step 2: Check the business

NRCA suggests prequalifying roofing contractors before you invite bids ¹. Its checklist includes:

• a permanent office location, a phone number and a tax identification number ¹;
• a business license where one is required ¹;
• copies of the company's liability insurance and workers' compensation certificates, in effect for the whole job ¹;
• references and a list of completed projects, and a call to some of those clients ¹;
• whether the company belongs to a local, regional or national roofing association ¹;
• whether complaints have been filed with your local Better Business Bureau ¹.

The FTC adds two more checks: ask people you know and trust for recommendations, and search the company's name online with words such as "complaint", "review" or "scam" ². It also suggests checking with consumer protection officials for complaints ².

Step 3: Check the license, where one exists

Licensing rules for roofers differ from state to state, and sometimes from one city or county to the next. The FTC's advice works everywhere: confirm the contractor's license with your state or county government, and ask for proof of insurance ².

Florida is an example of a state that licenses roofing statewide. Its Department of Business and Professional Regulation lists roofing among the contractor categories that require state registration or certification, says roofing work cannot be subcontracted to unlicensed roofers, and lets anyone look up a license by name or license number ⁴. Florida contractors must also put their license number on permit applications ⁴.

Questions worth asking any roofer: Do you hold the license this job needs here, and what is the number? Who will pull the permit? Are your workers employees or subcontractors? State-by-state notes are on our pages for Texas, Florida, Colorado and Oklahoma. Permit rules are covered in do you need a permit to replace a roof.

Step 4: Read the proposal and contract

NRCA tells homeowners to insist on a written proposal with a complete description of the work and specifications, start and completion dates, and payment procedures ¹. The FTC says to get a written contract even where your state does not require one, and lists what it should include: the contractor's name, address, phone number and license number; estimated start and completion dates; and any verbal promises about the scope of work and the labor and material costs ². It also says to make sure every blank space is filled in before you sign ².

On a roofing job, look for these in writing as well:

• whether the old roof will be torn off, and how many layers;
• the brand and line of shingles or panels, and the underlayment and flashing;
• the price per sheet or per square foot for any decking replacement;
• cleanup, disposal and protection of landscaping;
• who supervises the job and how many workers will be on site, which NRCA suggests asking about ¹.

Step 5: Understand the warranties

A new roof usually comes with two different warranties. NRCA explains that the manufacturer's warranty generally covers defects in the roofing material itself, with terms ranging from 20 years to a lifetime, and suggests getting a certificate from the contractor for your records ⁵. The contractor's warranty typically covers installation; NRCA says many contractors offer one or two years and that there is no industry standard ⁵. NRCA also advises reading the warranty carefully, including the provisions that could void it ¹. For low-slope roofs, manufacturers may not offer material warranties to homeowners, so the contractor's warranty may be the only one ⁵. More in roof warranties explained.

Step 6: Pay in stages

The FTC advises against paying the full amount up front, notes that some states limit how large a down payment a contractor can ask for, and suggests checking with your state or local consumer agency ². It also says not to make the final payment until the work is done and you are satisfied with it ². A contract that ties payments to stages of the job (materials delivered, tear-off done, roof complete) keeps payments in step with the work.

Red flags

The FTC lists warning signs of a home improvement scam ²:

• a contractor who knocks on the door because they are "in the area";
• an offer to use materials left over from another job;
• pressure to decide immediately;
• a demand to pay everything up front, or cash only;
• a request that you get the building permit yourself;
• a suggestion to borrow from a lender the contractor knows.

If you sign a contract at home or somewhere other than the seller's permanent place of business, the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule may give you until midnight of the third business day after the sale to cancel; it covers sales of $25 or more made at your home and $130 or more at temporary locations ³. The contract should include a written statement of your right to cancel ². More in roofing contract red flags.

Step 7: During the job

NRCA does not recommend that homeowners walk on a roof unless they have the experience and equipment to do so safely; on a steep roof, a maintenance check can usually be done from the ground or a ladder ⁶. Ask the contractor to explain its supervision and quality control and who will oversee your project ¹, and keep a copy of every document: the contract, change orders, permit, warranty certificates and receipts.

The most common mid-job surprise on a reroof is damaged decking found once the old roof is off. If that happens, ask to see the damaged boards, and get the added work and its price in writing, at the unit price in the contract, before the crew continues. The FTC's advice to put any verbal promises about scope and costs into the written agreement applies to changes made during the job too ².

Frequently asked questions

How many roofing quotes should I get?

The FTC advises getting several estimates ². Two or three written estimates for the same scope are easier to compare than one.

Should I hire the lowest bidder?

Not automatically. The FTC says not to pick the lowest bid without understanding why estimates differ ², and NRCA says to be skeptical of the lowest bid ¹.

What should a roofing estimate include?

At least a description of the work, the materials, a completion date and the price ², plus the roofing-specific lines above: tear-off, underlayment, flashing, decking pricing and disposal.

How do I check whether a roofer holds a license?

Use your state licensing board's lookup where your state licenses roofing, such as Florida's search by name or license number ⁴, and ask your city or county building department where licensing is local. The FTC says to confirm the license with your state or county government ².

What warranty should a roofer offer?

There is no single standard. NRCA says contractor workmanship warranties are often one or two years and that there is no industry standard, while manufacturer warranties on the materials range from 20 years to a lifetime ⁵. Compare the terms in writing, including what voids them ¹.

About these figures

• ¹ Reported: NRCA's checklist for selecting a roofing contractor (prequalification, business details, insurance certificates, references, written proposal, warranty, lowest-bid caution), checked November 11, 2026.
• ² Official record: FTC advice on estimates, license and insurance checks, contract contents, payments and scam warning signs, checked November 11, 2026.
• ³ Official record: FTC Cooling-Off Rule (three business days; sales of $25 or more at home and $130 or more at temporary locations), checked November 11, 2026.
• ⁴ Official record: Florida DBPR on roofing as a licensed category, the ban on subcontracting roofing to unlicensed roofers, license lookup and license numbers on permit applications, checked November 11, 2026.
• ⁵ Reported: NRCA on manufacturer warranties (20 years to lifetime) and contractor warranties (often one or two years, no industry standard), checked November 11, 2026.
• ⁶ Reported: NRCA guidance in Professional Roofing (October 2013) on homeowners not walking on roofs, checked November 11, 2026.