Texas does not license roofing contractors at the state level. That means anyone with a truck and a ladder can print business cards, and it puts the entire burden of vetting on you. Here is how to do it properly.
The warranty is only as good as the company behind it
Every new roof carries two warranties. The manufacturer covers defects in the shingle. The contractor covers the installation: flashing, fastening, valleys, ventilation.
The overwhelming majority of new-roof failures are installation failures, not product defects. So the warranty most likely to matter to you is the one backed by the company that did the work.
Which means the single most important question is not about price or materials. It is: will this company exist, at this address, in three years? Everything below is a way of answering that.
Questions worth asking every bidder
Including us. Any contractor who is annoyed by these questions has told you something useful.
- How long have you been operating under this business name, at this address, in this area?
- Can I see your certificate of insurance, both general liability and workers compensation? Ask for it to be sent by the insurer directly.
- Are you certified by the manufacturer whose shingles you are installing, and at what level?
- Is the workmanship warranty in writing, how long is it, and is it transferable if I sell?
- Are your crews employees or subcontractors, and who supervises the job day to day?
- Can I see recent local work, addresses in this area rather than a generic gallery?
- What is the payment schedule? A large deposit up front is a warning sign.
- Will you put the full scope in writing, including decking rate, flashing, and ventilation?
Things that should end the conversation
“We will cover your deductible.” Your deductible is your obligation under your policy. A contractor absorbing it misrepresents the loss amount to your carrier, and that exposes you, not just them.
Pressure to sign today. Roofs do not work that way. Urgency is a sales technique, not a structural condition.
Door-knocking after a storm. Not automatically disqualifying, but it should raise the bar on everything else you verify.
A large cash deposit up front. Materials are ordered on account by established contractors.
No physical local address. A PO box, a magnetic truck sign, and an out-of-area phone number is a pattern.
“We fight your insurance company for you.” Adjusting a claim on your behalf requires a public adjuster licence, which roofing contractors do not hold.
Why manufacturer certification is a useful filter
Manufacturer certifications are not all equal, and most mean little more than “this company buys our product.” The top tiers are different because the manufacturer does the verifying for you.
GAF’s Master Elite level, which we hold, requires demonstrated proper licensing, verified insurance, and a documented reputation that GAF checks independently, then ongoing training to keep it. GAF certifies only a small fraction of contractors at this level.
The reason to care is not the logo. It is that a storm-chasing operation structurally cannot hold it, because it requires a verifiable local business with a track record. It is a third party doing the background check you would otherwise have to do yourself.
More detail on our warranties page. If you want to put us through these questions, get in touch.