21 Questions to Ask a Roofing Contractor Before You Sign Anything
What would actually happen if a tree fell on my roof tomorrow and this contractor disappeared in the middle of the repair? That’s the question behind every other question on this list. Every item below is designed to surface the answer before you sign, not after.
The right questions to ask a roofing contractor separate confident, competent crews from salespeople who’ve memorized four scripts. They also save you from paying for a roof twice — once for the install, and again when the leak from year two turns into a ceiling rebuild in year four.
You don’t have to ask all 21 in one breath. Pick the 8-10 most relevant to your situation and work them into the estimate conversation. Bring a notebook. Write down the answers. If a contractor gets irritated at being asked — congratulations, you just got a free preview of their communication under pressure.
Licensing, insurance, and legitimacy: the questions to ask a roofing contractor first
Before anything else, verify the contractor is who they say they are. These five questions take six minutes and filter out roughly 30% of the problem cases in the Twin Cities market.
- What’s your full legal business name and Minnesota contractor license number? Write it down. Verify it yourself on the MN DLI lookup before the estimate. More on this in our guide to licensed roofing contractors in Minnesota.
- Will you email me certificates of insurance directly from your insurer? Not a forwarded PDF. Direct from the agent.
- How long has your company operated under this exact name? Minnesota roofing companies that rename themselves every 18 months are rebranding around bad reviews.
- Where is your physical office? Drive past it. If it’s a mailbox in a strip mall, ask more questions.
- Do you pull the permit, or do I? The licensed contractor should always pull. If they ask you to pull, they’re probably not licensed.
These are non-negotiable. If any of the five answers are soft, evasive, or cross you to the marketing materials instead of a specific fact, skip to the next bid.
Questions to ask a roofing contractor about your specific roof
These are the questions that force the salesperson to either demonstrate they understand your house, or visibly start guessing. A good contractor welcomes them.
- Did you go in my attic? If the answer is no, the estimate is incomplete. Attic ventilation and deck integrity are invisible from the ground.
- What ventilation configuration does my roof need? MN code and manufacturer specs require a specific intake-to-exhaust ratio. The contractor should be able to cite it for your square footage.
- How far up the roof will you install ice-and-water shield? MN code minimum is 24 inches past the inside wall line. Good contractors often install more in valleys and around penetrations.
- What underlayment do you use and why? Synthetic felt is now standard; 30# felt is old-school. The answer tells you whether the crew keeps current.
- How do you re-flash my chimney / skylights / pipe boots? Lazy crews re-use old flashing or smear caulk and call it done. You want counter-flashing cut into masonry where applicable.
- What happens if you find rotten decking? Answer should be a specific per-sheet price (usually $60–$90 in 2026) with photo documentation before replacement.
If the sales rep can’t answer 6 through 11 without pulling out their phone, they’re probably reading from a script. A project manager who actually installed roofs will answer these from memory, with confidence.
Scope, warranty, and money: the questions that protect your wallet
- Can you give me a line-item written estimate, not just a total? Required. See our roofing estimate checklist.
- What’s your workmanship warranty length, what does it cover, and is it transferable to the next homeowner? 5 years is the low bar; 10-25 years is strong. Transferability adds resale value.
- Which manufacturer-backed system warranty will I get? This requires a certification — see our explainer on roofing certifications.
- What’s your payment schedule? Standard: deposit (never more than 30%), progress after dry-in, balance at completion and walk-through.
- What’s your change-order process? In writing, signed by you, before any scope change or extra charge.
- What’s the price if I cancel after signing? MN law gives you a 3-day right of rescission. Legit contractors put this in writing.
| Answer you might hear | What it really means |
|---|---|
| “We’ll cover your deductible” | Insurance fraud in MN. Walk immediately. |
| “50% down to schedule” | Too high. Standard is 10-30% deposit max. |
| “We’ll write up a change order if anything comes up” | Good answer — ask to see the blank form they use. |
| “The warranty is through the manufacturer” | Incomplete. Ask specifically about workmanship warranty, which is separate. |
| “We’re 100% in-house, no subs” | Strong signal — verify by asking for the project manager’s cell number. |
The contractors who hate being asked questions are almost always the contractors who should be asked the most questions. Confidence under scrutiny is a better signal than any review star rating.
— Consumer Reports, Home Improvement Contractor Hiring Guide
Final questions to ask a roofing contractor about crew and communication
- Who’s my primary point of contact during the job? Get their cell number. Not the sales rep’s — the project manager’s.
- Is the crew in-house W-2, or 1099 subcontractors? In-house is usually (not always) better quality and liability exposure.
- How do you protect my landscaping, siding, and HVAC equipment? Tarps, magnetic nail sweep, AC covers, plywood on windows — the answer should be specific.
- Can I talk to two customers from jobs completed in my zip code in the last year? A good answer produces names within 24 hours. No answer, or stalling, is a red flag.
These last four are the ones that predict how the job will actually feel. Technical competence matters, but project management is what separates a one-week-stress-free job from a month-long saga of “I’ll call you back tomorrow.” For a wider list of what not to accept from a roofer, see roofing contractor red flags, and for the financial side, how to use these answers when you compare roofing bids.
One more thing, as you finalize your list of questions to ask a roofing contractor: pay attention to the non-answers. A good contractor is comfortable saying “I don’t know, let me confirm that.” A bad one makes up an answer on the spot. Both are useful information. Independent review of a contractor’s workmanship warranty language by a third party like the National Roofing Contractors Association is also a solid tiebreaker for homeowners comparing otherwise-similar bids.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important questions to ask a roofing contractor before signing?
License number (with direct verification), full insurance certificates from the insurer, workmanship warranty in writing, payment schedule, and whether the crew is in-house or subcontracted. Those five answers knock out about 80% of contractor risk before any shingle gets delivered.
Is it rude to ask a roofing contractor this many questions?
A professional roofing contractor expects it and usually respects you more for it. If your questions annoy them, you’ve learned something important: they’re going to be a pain to work with the moment anything goes sideways on the job.
What should I ask about a roofing warranty specifically?
Ask three things: length of the workmanship warranty (not just the manufacturer’s), exactly what it covers (leaks only? labor? second-tier damage?), and whether it transfers to the next owner of the home. Written answers, always. See our full roofing warranty guide.
How do I ask a roofing contractor if their crew is really licensed?
Ask for the company’s MN contractor license number on the phone, then verify it yourself on the DLI lookup. The license covers the company, not the individual installers — so also ask whether the on-site crew carries OSHA-10 training.
What’s one question almost no one asks, but should?
‘What’s your average response time when a customer calls two years after the install?rsquo; The answer distinguishes contractors who intend to be around from ones who view the job as a one-time transaction. More on this in our piece on reputable roofing company response times.
Looking for a Minneapolis roofing contractor you'd recommend to your neighbor?
We’re Minneapolis Roofing Company — a licensed, insured, local crew that shows up when we say we will, documents every step with photos, and backs our workmanship in writing. If you’re looking for a Minneapolis roofing contractor you'd recommend to your neighbor, we’d love to be the name you recommend to your neighbor.
Further research on contractor screening questions
- FTC — Hiring a Contractor — federal consumer-protection guidance on vetting home-improvement pros
- MN Attorney General — Home Improvement — Minnesota-specific contractor screening guidance
