What if a roofer says permits aren't necessary on a re-roof?

Walk away. In most jurisdictions, re-roofs require a permit and a final inspection. A contractor who avoids permits is dodging municipal scrutiny — usually because their work won't pass it. The $200-400 permit fee is not where you save money on a roof.

What's a fair deposit and payment schedule?

A 10-30% deposit, materials payment on delivery, and the balance on completion plus final inspection. Some contractors structure it as deposit / dry-in / completion, which is also fine. Anything asking 50%+ up front is a red flag — most state consumer-protection statutes effectively cap pre-work deposits below that.

What does a real warranty look like?

Two layers. The manufacturer warranty covers material defects (typically 25-50 years on architectural shingles, 50-lifetime on standing-seam metal). The workmanship warranty covers installation labor — usually 5-10 years from a quality contractor. A 1-year workmanship warranty signals the contractor doesn't expect to be reachable past that.

Why do manufacturer certifications matter?

Certified contractors (GAF Master Elite, Owens Corning Platinum, CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster) qualify their installs for extended manufacturer warranties — often 25-50 years on labor and material together. The certifications themselves require the contractor to maintain insurance, training, and a clean complaint record. Treat them as a useful screen.

Should I get the answers in writing?

Yes. Every answer to these twelve questions belongs in the written contract — license number, insurance carriers, payment schedule, change-order policy, warranty terms, and timeline. A verbal commitment from the foreman doesn't bind the company. If they won't put it in writing, it isn't binding.

What Questions Should I Ask a Roofer Before Hiring?

The honest answer is that the right twelve questions, asked at the bid stage, do more to filter out a bad roofer than any number of online reviews. Each question has a green-flag answer and at least one red-flag answer that should send you to the next bidder. The questions don't take long — most roofers can answer all twelve in 20 minutes. A roofer who can't, or won't, has told you what you needed to know.

The twelve questions and the answers to listen for

Ask each one. Take notes. Cross-reference the answers against the contract you're given.

State contractor license number. Green: a number, on the spot, matching the legal entity on the contract. Red: "My state doesn't require one." Some genuinely don't — verify against the licensing rule for your state.
General liability carrier and policy limit. Green: carrier name, policy number, at least $1M per occurrence. Red: hesitation or "I'd have to look it up."
Workers compensation carrier. Green: a carrier and a policy number. Red: "Our crew are subcontractors, we don't carry it." Walk away — a fall on your roof can be filed against your homeowners policy.
Manufacturer certifications. Green: GAF Master Elite, Owens Corning Platinum, CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster, or equivalent. Red: none — meaning your install won't qualify for the extended manufacturer warranty.
Three local references over two years old. Green: names, phone numbers, addresses, all in your county. Red: "We don't share customer information." The references agreed to disclosure the moment they were given as references.
Payment schedule. Green: 10-30% deposit, balance on completion plus final inspection. Red: 50%+ up front. Most state statutes cap deposits in the lower range — California is 10% or $1,000 (lesser); Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Jersey have similar caps.
Written change-order policy. Green: any unanticipated cost (rotted decking, damaged underlayment) is documented in writing and signed before work proceeds. Red: "We just call you" — meaning the change hits the invoice without your sign-off.
Warranty terms. Green: manufacturer material warranty (25-50 years on architectural; 50-lifetime on metal) plus a workmanship warranty (5-10 years). Red: "1-year workmanship" — the contractor isn't planning to be reachable after that.
Permit responsibility. Green: "We pull it. Fee is included." Red: "You can save $300 if we skip it." Walk away. Re-roofs require permits in most jurisdictions; skipping signals the work won't pass inspection.
Debris removal. Green: a written commitment to remove all old material, nails, and packaging. Red: "We can do it for an extra fee" — meaning it isn't actually in the bid you're comparing.
Daily cleanup protocol. Green: evening magnet sweep of the yard and driveway, tarps over landscaping, final sweep on completion. Red: "We clean up at the end."
Project timeline. Green: a 3-5 day window tied to weather contingencies, with a clear start date. Red: "We'll fit you in" — meaning the contractor is overbooked or thin on crew.

What goes in writing

Every answer above belongs in the written contract — not in a verbal commitment from the salesperson, not in a text exchange with the foreman. The contract should name the license number, both insurance carriers (with policy numbers), the payment schedule, the change-order procedure, both warranty layers, the permit responsibility, the debris commitment, the cleanup protocol, and the timeline. If the contract is missing any of these, ask for an amendment before you sign.

The "we'll start tomorrow" pressure tactic

A reputable roofer in your market is booked at least two weeks out, sometimes longer in the post-storm spike. A roofer pressing you to sign today and start tomorrow — especially in the days after a hail or hurricane event — is signaling either an out-of-state storm-chaser operation or a small local contractor whose schedule just opened because somebody else canceled. Either way, the pressure is a screen.

When the answers don't match the paperwork

Compare the verbal answers against the contract, the certificate of insurance, and the state license lookup. If the foreman quotes a $1M GL policy but the COI shows $500K, surface the gap before signing. If the salesperson names a carrier that doesn't appear on the COI at all, the contractor is uninsured for the work. This is where the verification work pays off — you already know what the right answers look like.

This is reference, not a quote — and these twelve questions take about 20 minutes to ask. Run the replacement through this filter no matter which contractor you choose.

What Questions Should I Ask a Roofer Before Hiring?