Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Roofing Contractor

Hiring a roofing contractor is one of the larger home decisions you’ll make — and in Texas, where there’s no mandatory state licensing requirement for roofers, the quality gap between companies is wider than most homeowners realize. The right questions, asked before you sign anything, protect you from a lot of the problems we see homeowners run into after the fact.

Here’s what to ask — and what good answers look like.

Are you licensed and insured?

Start here. Ask for proof of general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage before any work begins. General liability protects your property if something goes wrong during the job. Workers’ comp protects you from liability if a crew member is injured on your roof.

A reputable contractor provides this documentation without hesitation. If a company is vague, unresponsive, or asks you to just trust them on this one — move on.

Are you a local company with a physical address?

After every major storm in Houston, out-of-town crews arrive looking for quick work. They’re here this week and gone next month — along with whatever warranty they promised you.

A local company has a reputation to protect in the community it operates in. Ask for a physical business address, not just a phone number or a website. Verify they’ve been operating in your area for more than a year or two. Longevity in a local market is one of the simplest and most reliable signals of a trustworthy company.

What does your workmanship warranty cover and for how long?

The manufacturer warranty covers the materials. The workmanship warranty covers how the roof was installed — and that’s the one that matters most in the early years, because most early roof failures are installation problems, not material defects.

A one-year workmanship warranty is essentially nothing. Look for a minimum of five years. Ten or more is a meaningful commitment. Get it in writing before you sign.

Also ask: what happens to the workmanship warranty if your company closes? There’s no perfect answer, but a company that’s been around for a decade is a significantly better bet than one that started last year.

Are you a certified installer for the materials you’re using?

Major manufacturers like GAF, CertainTeed, and Owens Corning offer enhanced warranties — longer terms, broader coverage — but only when their products are installed by contractors who meet their certification requirements.

GAF’s Master Elite program, for example, is held by only about 2% of roofing contractors in the country. Certified installers follow manufacturer specifications and have access to warranty tiers that uncertified contractors simply can’t offer their customers. Ask what level of certification the contractor holds, and verify it directly on the manufacturer’s website.

At RCI Roofing, we’re GAF Master Elite certified — a designation we’ve held and renewed for over ten years — and we’re proud recipients of the GAF President’s Club Award. That certification means qualifying installations are eligible for GAF’s Golden Pledge warranty: 50 years of material coverage and 25 years of workmanship coverage backed by the manufacturer, not just by us.

Will you do a full tear-off or roof over the existing shingles?

The right answer is a full tear-off. Roofing over existing shingles is cheaper upfront and almost always costs more in the long run — it traps heat, adds weight to the structure, and prevents anyone from seeing what the decking underneath actually looks like.

A contractor who proposes roofing over your existing shingles without a clear, specific reason is either cutting a corner or doesn’t want you asking about the deck condition underneath. Ask directly.

Will you replace the flashing?

Flashing is the metal that seals every transition point on your roof — chimneys, vents, valleys, walls. It’s one of the most common sources of leaks when it’s done poorly, and one of the most common corners cut on low-bid jobs.

All flashing should be replaced on a full roof replacement. If a contractor plans to reuse existing flashing, ask why — and get the explanation in writing.

Will you pull the necessary permits?

Roof replacements require permits in most Houston-area municipalities. Permits protect you — they ensure the work is inspected and meets local building codes, and they create a record of the work that matters when you sell the home.

A contractor who suggests skipping permits to save time or money is saving themselves the accountability, not doing you a favor.

How will you protect my property during the job?

A roof replacement generates a significant amount of debris — old shingles, granules, nails. Ask specifically how your landscaping, vehicles, and any pool or outdoor furniture will be protected during the tear-off.

At RCI Roofing, we use GAF tarps to cover landscaping and pools before work begins, and we run a magnetic roller over your yard and driveway at the end of the job to collect any nails that came down during tear-off. Cleanup is part of the job, not an afterthought.

Can you provide local references?

A confident contractor with quality work isn’t shy about pointing you to recent jobs in your area. Ask for two or three homeowner references you can actually call — not just a link to their Google reviews page.

A note on the estimate itself

When you’re comparing quotes, the lowest number on the page deserves the most scrutiny, not the least. Ask each contractor to walk you through every line item. What materials are being used? What’s included in the labor? What’s the warranty? What happens if you find damaged decking once the old roof comes off?

A contractor who can’t answer those questions clearly probably can’t execute the job well either. A contractor who walks you through the whole thing patiently — that’s someone worth trusting with your roof.

We’re always glad to do exactly that. Free inspection, no pressure, honest conversation.