Hiring a roofer is easier than it feels. Roofers who do good work welcome the same few questions, and homeowners who ask them end up with a roof they never have to think about again. We even made a song about it. Below are the checks to make, the 12 questions to ask, what a roof bid should include, and what to check during and after the job, for a repair, a new roof or storm damage.
The song: Raise the Roof (Do It Right)
The whole guide in two minutes, with a hook you won't forget:
Raise the roof, do it right,
put it in writing, sleep tight tonight.
Three bids, same list, side by side,
raise the roof, raise the roof, do it right!Go get that roofer bid!
Every line is a real tip. Here they are, one by one.
Before you call: what to check
- License where your state or city requires one for roofing
- Insurance: liability and workers' compensation; ask for the certificate
- Reviews from your area, and photos of roofs like yours
- A local address and a phone number that answers
- Who does the work: the roofer's own crew or a subcontractor, and who is in charge on site
12 questions to ask a roofer
- Are you licensed (where required) and insured? Can I see the certificate?
- Will your own crew do the work, and who runs the job day to day?
- What exactly does the price include?
- Will you tear off the old roof, or go over it?
- What happens if you find rotten wood under the shingles, and what is the price per sheet?
- Is the flashing new or reused? What about the drip edge and the vents?
- How will you protect the yard, the plants and the driveway?
- How long will it take, and what happens if it rains?
- Do you pull the permit where one is needed, and who schedules the inspection?
- What warranties do I get, from the manufacturer and from you, in writing?
- How and when do I pay?
- Will you do a magnet sweep and a walk-through with me at the end?
Put it in writing: what a roof bid should include
| Item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Tear-off | Removing the old layers so the wood deck can be checked |
| Decking | The price per sheet for rotten wood, and photos of each sheet replaced |
| Underlayment | The water barrier under the roof, and any ice and water shield in valleys and at the edges |
| Flashing | New or reused, around chimneys, walls and valleys |
| Drip edge | The metal edge that sends water into the gutters |
| Vents | Attic airflow, so the roof lasts |
| The roof itself | Brand, product line and color, or the metal panel type |
| Cleanup | Haul-away, protection for plants, and a magnet sweep for nails |
| Warranty | The manufacturer's and the roofer's workmanship warranty, in writing |
| Schedule and payments | Start date, how long it takes, and when each payment is due |
Three bids, same list, side by side
Ask two or three roofers to price the same list. Then lay the bids side by side and compare them line by line. Totals only compare when the work compares: one roof might include new flashing and a better underlayment, another might not. The right roofer is the one whose bid is clear, complete and fair, not only the lowest number.
After a storm: photos first
If a storm brought you here, start with photos of every side of the house, the gutters, the screens and the AC unit, cover any leak, and call your insurance company yourself. Then compare written bids; nothing has to be signed on the porch. The full steps are in hail or storm damage on your roof.
During the job
- Move the cars and cover things stored in the attic; dust and nail tips come through
- Keep pets and kids inside while the crew works
- Ask for deck photos once the old roof is off, before the new one goes on
- Agree on how you'll hear about surprises, like rotten wood, before more work is added
After the job: the last payment comes last
- A magnet sweep of the lawn, the beds and the driveway
- A walk-through together: flashing, vents, gutters, the roof line and the cleanup
- The final inspection, where your city requires a permit
- The warranty in writing, registered with the manufacturer if needed
- The lien release, then the last payment
For roofers: why good pros like these questions
Clear questions mean clear bids, fewer surprises and happy customers who send their neighbors. Roofers who show their deck photos and put their name on the warranty stand out every time a homeowner compares bids side by side.
Go get that roofer bid on BidHandyman
Post your roof once, free, with a few photos, and local roofers send you bids. Only pros approved by BidHandyman can bid. Compare what each bid includes side by side, message the roofers and hire the one you trust, with no obligation. Request roofing bids, or read repair or replace your roof.