Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Roofer

Short Answer: Verify the roofer's registration, bond and insurance first. Then ask about tear-off vs overlay, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, permits, warranties and cleanup, and be extra careful with door-to-door roofers after storms.

Quick Facts

A roof is one of the largest and most weather-critical projects on any home, and roofing attracts more than its share of storm-chasers. These questions help you compare roofers on what actually matters.

Credentials

1. What Is Your Washington Registration Number?

Check it before anything else. Roofers may be registered as roofing specialty contractors or as general contractors. Use the steps in How to Check a Contractor License in Washington, or browse Licensed General Contractors in Washington.

2. Is Your Bond and Liability Insurance Current?

Roofing has a higher accident risk than many trades. Confirm insurance dates on L&I Verify and ask for a certificate; see How to Verify a Contractor’s Insurance.

3. Do Your Workers Have Workers’ Comp Coverage?

Falls are a serious risk. Ask whether the roofer has employees and an active L&I workers’ comp account.

4. Are You Certified by the Shingle or Membrane Manufacturer?

Manufacturer certification can affect which warranties are available.

The Roof Itself

5. Will You Tear Off the Old Roof or Overlay It?

Tear-off lets the roofer inspect the deck. Overlays may be allowed in some cases but can limit warranties and hide problems.

6. What Happens If You Find Rotten Decking?

Get a per-sheet price for replacement in the contract.

7. What Underlayment Will You Use?

Ask about ice and water barrier in valleys and at eaves where appropriate.

8. How Will You Handle Flashing?

Chimneys, skylights, walls and valleys are where leaks start. Ask whether flashing is replaced or reused.

9. Is the Attic Ventilation Adequate?

Poor ventilation shortens roof life and can void warranties. Ask about intake and exhaust.

10. What About Gutters and Drip Edge?

Clarify whether they are included.

Permits and Schedule

11. Who Pulls the Permit?

Many jurisdictions require a permit for reroofing. The roofer should pull it.

12. How Long Will the Job Take, and What If It Rains?

Washington weather matters. Ask how the roof is protected overnight and during rain.

13. Who Will Supervise the Crew?

Know who to call on the day.

Money and Paperwork

14. What Does the Price Include?

Tear-off, disposal, underlayment, flashing, vents, decking allowance and cleanup.

15. What Is the Payment Schedule?

Keep the deposit modest and the final payment after the final inspection and your walkthrough.

16. Will I Get the Notice to Customer and a Written Contract?

Required for most residential jobs of $1,000 or more.

17. Will You Provide Lien Releases from Your Supplier?

Roofing materials are often bought on account. Lien releases protect you; see Lien Release Explained for Washington Homeowners.

Warranty and Cleanup

18. What Workmanship Warranty Do You Give?

Get length and terms in writing.

19. Which Manufacturer Warranty Applies, and Who Registers It?

Some warranties must be registered after installation.

20. How Will You Protect My Property and Clean Up?

Ask about tarps, protecting landscaping and magnetic sweeps for nails.

Watch out: After windstorms, out-of-area roofers may knock on doors offering free inspections. Be cautious of anyone who asks you to sign over insurance proceeds or pressures you to sign on the spot.

Insurance Claims and Roofers

If storm damage is involved:

• Contact your own insurer first and understand your policy.
• Get the adjuster’s assessment before signing a roofing contract.
• Be cautious of contracts that make the roofer your representative with the insurer.
• Make sure the scope matches what the insurer approved, or that you agree to pay the difference.

Comparing Roofing Bids

Put bids side by side on materials, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, decking allowance, warranty and schedule. A lower bid that overlays instead of tearing off, or reuses flashing, is not the same job.

Red Flags

• No registration number or a mismatched name.
• Cash-only or large upfront deposits.
• Pressure to sign today.
• No permit.
• Vague, one-line estimates.

More are covered in Contractor Scam Red Flags. The general list of questions to ask before hiring a contractor applies to roofers too.

How to Judge the Answers

Good roofers answer these questions easily and specifically. Listen for:

• Specific products, not “good quality shingles”.
• A clear explanation of tear-off versus overlay for your roof, including any effect on the warranty.
• A plan for problems: a written price per sheet of decking, and a description of how they protect an open roof from rain.
• Willingness to put everything in the contract.

Vague answers, irritation at being asked or reluctance to write things down are signals in themselves.

A Worked Example

Two roofers quote a reroof on the same house. Roofer one quotes a lower price for an overlay, reusing existing flashing, with no mention of ventilation. Roofer two quotes a tear-off, new underlayment, new step and counter flashing, an ice and water barrier in the valleys, added ridge ventilation and a per-sheet decking price.

These are not two prices for the same job. They are two different jobs. Ask roofer one to price the same specification, or ask roofer two what could be safely removed, and only then compare totals.

After the Job

• Walk the property with the roofer and check for nails and debris.
• Get copies of the permit sign-off and any manufacturer warranty registration.
• Keep photos of the finished roof and the attic.
• File the contract, invoices and lien releases together.
• Note the workmanship warranty expiry date in your calendar.

Seasonal Timing in Washington

Many Washington roofers are busiest in late summer and early autumn, before the wet season. Booking early gives you more choice and less pressure. If your roof must be replaced in winter, ask how the crew will stage the work so that only small sections are open at a time, what temporary protection they use, and how they decide to stop work when rain is forecast. A roofer who has a clear answer to these questions has probably done winter work before. Put the agreed approach in the contract, together with what happens if weather delays the job for an extended period.

Bottom Line

Verify the roofer, understand exactly what system you are buying and put it all in writing. The details under the shingles decide how long your roof lasts.