Learn About Roof Selection

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Completed Over 10,000 Roofing Projects

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How to Select the Right Professional Roofer

Replacing your roof can be costly, so you want to choose the right roofing contractor for the job. DDR Quality Roofing & Sheet Metal advises that the five most important things you should check when choosing a roofing contractor are:
  • Do they have a valid and active roofing contractor’s license?

    Ask to see a copy of the license and check on the Florida Department of Professional Regulation website to see if it is active and if there have been any complaints at: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp 

  • Do they have worker’s compensation and general liability insurance?

    Ask them to have their insurance company send you copies, then call the phone number of the insurance company or agent to verify that the insurance coverages are still in force.

  • Are the employees fully employed by the contractor and not “sub-contracting” from the roofing contractor?

    There are roofing contractors that sub-contract to others that are not licensed by the State of Florida. This is illegal. If they are subbing the work out, then more than likely those subs are not covered under worker’s compensation insurance. If someone is injured on the job, guess who may end up paying for the medical costs and more? You, the owner.

  • How is the company financially? Do they pay their bills on time?

    Ask the roofing contractor where they purchase their materials. Give the supplier a call to see how they pay their bills. Are they on time, late, or really late? You don’t want the material supplier putting a lien on your home or building because the supplier didn’t get paid by the roofing contractor.

  • Is their work covered under a written contract?

    Always ask for a written proposal or contract. When the roof is being installed, make sure you are getting the materials that the contractor said he would be installing.

Only Hire Licensed Roofing Contractors

Your first step should be asking if the contractor is licensed in the State of Florida. Request their state-issued roofing license number. All contractors are required by Florida law to be registered or certified by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board, and to have their licensing number displayed in their advertisements. 

You can call the Department of Business and Professional Board of Regulation at (850) 487-1395 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM to check if a contractor has a valid and current license or find out if they have any complaints filed against them. You can also go to https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp to obtain this information.

Hiring an unlicensed contractor is a violation of state law and you can face civil penalties and fines ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Ask for Proof Insurance

Insist on seeing copies of the contractor's liability coverage and worker's compensation certificates. Make sure the coverage runs through the duration of your project. If a contractor is not properly insured, you may liable for injuries and property damage that occurs during the job.

Smaller one-man proprietor contractors are exempt from worker's compensation laws and can have an exemption for up to three corporate officers or partners. They must, however, have documents signed stating they are insuring themselves when they pull a permit. 

Verify that these documents have been signed and check for a contractor's permanent place of business, telephone number, tax ID number, and business license. Professional contractors will have these items readily available upon request.

Rely on References From Previous Customers

Ask for references from the contractor and personally check them. Talk with other homeowners who are previous customers. Check with your city and county building departments. If a contractor offers the fastest, cheapest job on a "you must act now" basis, you should be suspicious of their services. Don't let a contractor pressure you to hire them immediately, as you'll most likely end up with poor workmanship and an unfinished job that you'll have to pay more to correct.



Also, ask the roofing contractor for the phone number of the material supplier. You can check if they pay their bills on time, or at all. This may help protect you against having a lien placed on your house if your contractor doesn't pay their supplier.



Beware of any request for unusually large amounts of up-front money before work is begun.