Before you read this: The roofing industry has more unlicensed and underinsured contractors than almost any other trade. Every year, PA homeowners lose thousands of dollars to contractors who disappear, do shoddy work, or leave them liable for on-site injuries. These 10 questions take five minutes to ask. They can save you from years of regret.
In Pennsylvania, any contractor performing home improvement work valued at over $500 must hold a valid Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license issued by the PA Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. This is not optional. It is the law.
Ask for the number and verify it at the PA Attorney General’s website ↗. If a contractor cannot give you a number, or if the number doesn’t verify, stop the conversation there.
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing two types of coverage: General Liability and Workers’ Compensation. Do not just take their word for it — ask them to send the COI directly from their insurance provider, naming you as the certificate holder.
Why it matters: If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor has no workers’ comp, you — the homeowner — can be held liable. A contractor without general liability means you personally absorb the cost of any property damage they cause.
In most Pennsylvania municipalities, a permit is required for a full roof replacement. Permits exist to ensure the work is inspected and meets code — protecting you when you sell the home and protecting your insurance coverage if something goes wrong later.
A contractor who suggests skipping permits to “save time” is putting that risk on you, not themselves. The finished work is on your house. The liability is yours.
There should be two separate warranties: a manufacturer’s material warranty covering defects in the roofing product, and a workmanship warranty from the contractor covering the quality of the installation. Get both in writing before work begins.
Be skeptical of vague verbal promises. A workmanship warranty is only as good as the contractor’s ability to honor it — which means they need to still be in business when you call. Ask how long they have been operating under this name and license number.
Many larger roofing companies act as brokers — they sell you the job and then hire a subcontractor or day-labor crew to do the actual installation. The person you met during the estimate may never appear again.
Ask directly: “Will your company’s own employees do the work, or will this be subcontracted?” There is nothing inherently wrong with subcontracting, but you have a right to know who is on your roof and whether they are covered by the same insurance.
A legitimate contractor will give you a written estimate that itemizes materials, labor, scope, and total cost — before you sign anything. If you get a verbal quote or a vague single-line estimate, that is a warning sign.
The written estimate also creates a paper trail. If the final invoice is higher than the estimate without a documented change order, that is a contract dispute you can pursue. Without written documentation, you have no recourse.
Be cautious of any contractor requiring more than 10-15% upfront before work begins. Some legitimate contractors require a deposit for material ordering — that is standard. But a contractor demanding 30-50% upfront before a shingle has been touched is a red flag.
Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act limits contractor deposits to 1/3 of the total contract price. Know your rights.
Before-and-after documentation matters more than most homeowners realize. If a warranty issue arises years later, or if you go to sell your home and a buyer’s inspector questions the installation, you want a photographic record of exactly what was done and when.
Ask what documentation the contractor provides. The answer reveals a lot about how seriously they take their work.
A roof tear-off generates significant debris — old shingles, nails, felt paper, flashing scraps. Ask who is responsible for cleanup and how it is handled. A professional contractor will have a dumpster or debris management plan and will run a magnet over the driveway and yard to collect nails.
Nails left in your lawn are a liability risk and a sign of carelessness. Do not accept “we’ll clean up at the end” as a complete answer — get specifics.
This is the most powerful question of all. A contractor’s Google rating is the one rating they cannot fake — every review is tied to a real Google account and is subject to Google’s verification. Ask for the name under which they operate on Google and look them up yourself.
Also ask for the names of 2-3 recent customers you can call directly. A contractor who cannot provide references should not be trusted with your home.