The Questions You Need Answered Before You Hire Any Roofing Contractor
Every question below must have a satisfactory answer before you sign. This is the complete vetting checklist.
These 47 questions cover the six areas that determine whether a contractor is safe to hire. Answers come from free public records — state licensing boards, Secretary of State filings, court databases, OSHA records, and review platforms. Plan 2–4 hours to work through all of them properly.
Category 1Licensing & Credentials25% of total score
1.Does your state require roofing contractors to hold a license — and does this contractor hold one?Check: your state's contractor licensing board
2.Is the license currently Active and In Good Standing — not expired, suspended, or revoked?
3.Does the license classification specifically cover roofing, or only general contracting or another trade?
4.How long have they held the license continuously — and does that match how long they claim to have been in business?
5.Are there any disciplinary actions, fines, or conditions on the license record?
6.Has the license ever lapsed or been reinstated? If so, what was the reason?
7.If they claim to operate in multiple states, are they licensed in each one?
8.Do they hold a manufacturer certification (GAF Master Elite, Owens Corning Platinum Preferred, CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster)?Verify directly on the manufacturer's contractor directory — not on the contractor's own website
9.If they claim a manufacturer certification on their website, can you actually find them in that manufacturer's directory?
Category 2Business Identity & Stability15% of total score
10.What is the contractor's legal registered business name — not the truck name, the legal entity?Check: opencorporates.com or your state's Secretary of State search
11.Is the entity currently Active and In Good Standing with the state — not Delinquent, Dissolved, or Revoked?
12.When was the entity formed? Does that date match how long they claim to be in business?
13.Who are the listed principals or officers? Do those names match who came to your door?
14.Have those same principals dissolved a different roofing LLC in the last 2 years and then formed this one?
15.Are the same principals running multiple active roofing companies under different names?
16.Is the registered business address a physical location — or a UPS Store, mail forwarding service, or virtual office?
17.Does the contractor claim to be locally or family owned? If so, does state-filing ownership match that claim?
Category 3Complaints, Legal History & Court Records20% of total score
18.Are there complaints on file with your state's Attorney General consumer protection office?Search: "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint search"
19.What is the BBB complaint count, and were complaints resolved — or closed without resolution?bbb.org
20.Are there complaints filed with the state contractor licensing board directly?
21.Are there civil court cases where the contractor or its principals are named as the defendant?Your state or county civil court case search
22.Do any of those court cases involve homeowners alleging incomplete work, a kept deposit, or fraud?
23.Are there outstanding court judgments against the contractor that have not been paid?
24.Are there liens filed against the contractor by material suppliers — meaning they're not paying their own vendors?
25.Does the OSHA enforcement record show any willful or repeat violations in the last 2 years, especially involving fall protection?osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.html
26.Do any principal owners have criminal history relevant to contracting — fraud, theft, operating without a license?
Category 4Customer Reviews & Reputation15% of total score
27.What is the aggregate star rating across Google, Yelp, BBB, and Angi — not just one platform?
28.How many reviews exist in total, and how far back do they go?
29.Were the reviews posted steadily over months and years, or in suspicious bursts of 10–20 in a short window?
30.Do the reviewers have other review history, or are these single-review accounts with no activity elsewhere?
31.Do multiple reviews use the same phrases or describe the contractor in identical ways?
32.Do multiple negative reviews allege the same specific failure — for example, "took the deposit and never came back"?
33.How does the contractor respond to negative reviews — professionally and specifically, or defensively and with personal attacks?
34.Has Yelp filtered out a significant number of reviews? (Check the "Not Currently Recommended" section.)
Category 5Insurance, Bonding & Workers Comp15% of total score
35.Does your state's licensing board show general liability insurance on file — and is it current?
36.Does the contractor carry workers compensation? If a worker is injured on your roof without it, you could be liable.
37.Is the contractor bonded? For what amount — and does it meet your state's minimum?
38.If a manufacturer certification is claimed, does that manufacturer's directory confirm the certification is current — not revoked or expired?
39.Will the contractor provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) issued directly from their insurer, with you named as additional insured?This is the only way to confirm current coverage. Get it before signing.
Category 6Online Presence & Credibility10% of total score
40.How old is the contractor's website domain — and does that age match their claimed years in business?lookup.icann.org or who.is
41.Are the portfolio photos on their website original work — or stock images appearing on dozens of other contractor sites?Reverse image search: images.google.com
42.Are the phone number, address, and owner name consistent across the website, Google Business Profile, and state records?
43.Does the website show specific local knowledge — real job photos, named crew, local references — or is it generic template content?
44.Is there a Google search for "[contractor name] scam" or "[contractor name] complaint" that surfaces consumer warnings?
45.Does their "About" page history align with what public records show about when the company was actually formed?
46.If the website is unusually polished for the size of the operation, does anything else about their record support that level of professionalism?
47.Has the website changed substantially in the last year? (Check: web.archive.org)
⛔ Hard Stops — Walk Away Regardless of Everything Else
▸License suspended, revoked, or nonexistent in a state that requires one for this type of work
▸Three or more unresolved court judgments from homeowners in the last 5 years
▸Pattern of complaints alleging deposit taken, work not completed, contractor disappeared
▸Evidence principals dissolved a prior LLC with unresolved complaints and re-formed under a new name
▸Willful or repeat OSHA citations involving fatalities or serious injuries in the last 24 months
▸Refusal to provide a Certificate of Insurance with you named as additional insured
▸Felony conviction of a principal owner for fraud, theft, or contracting without a license as a repeat offense