The strongest protection when hiring a roofer is a short list of specific questions and a written contract that records the answers. Use the list below with every contractor who contacts you, and compare the answers side by side. Each section links to the official source behind it. If a contractor gets defensive about any of these, that is information too.
Before you call
- Write down what you know: the roof type (tile, shingle, flat or foam), its approximate age, and the symptom (a stain, a leak after a storm, a missing tile). Take photos from the ground.
- If it is storm damage, call your insurer before repairs, as the Arizona Department of Insurance advises. See Monsoon Roof Damage in Arizona.
- Plan to get estimates from more than one contractor. The Federal Trade Commission also advises not automatically choosing the lowest bid (FTC (opens in a new tab)).
About the contractor
- What is your Arizona contractor license number and classification? Look it up yourself on the Registrar of Contractors’ Contractor Search (opens in a new tab). Roofing has its own classifications (R-42 residential, C-42 commercial, CR-42 dual), and the contractor’s license must be in good standing (A.R.S. 32-1151 (opens in a new tab)). The full walk-through is in How to Check an Arizona Roofing Contractor’s License.
- Is the name on the license the name on the contract and the estimate? If a different company will do the work, ask who and why.
- Do you use subcontractors? If so, for which parts of the job, and are they licensed for that work? (The R-42 scope limits how much roof deck a roofing licensee may replace; more must go to a properly licensed subcontractor.)
- Can you provide proof of insurance? The FTC advises asking for it.
- Can I see recent local work or contact recent customers? A license is not an endorsement of the work.
About the work
- What exactly will you do, layer by layer? Tear-off down to the deck, new underlayment, flashing, vents, and the finish roof should each be named. For a tile roof, see tile roof underlayment. For a flat roof, see foam and coated roofs.
- What did you find, and can you show me? Ask for photos of the damage or the worn areas, not just a verbal description.
- How many layers are on the roof now? Several Valley cities treat two or more layers as a trigger for a permit or a full tear-off, as Mesa, Phoenix, and Chandler documents show (permit guide).
- What if you find rotted or damaged decking? Ask how it will be handled, who does the repair, and how any change to the contract will be put in writing. Mesa’s guide says damaged or deteriorated sheathing “must be repaired or replaced.”
- Will you follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions? Mesa’s guide says roof coverings must comply with the building code and manufacturer instructions.
- What will you do about my attic ventilation? See cool roof options for the questions to ask.
- How will you protect the house and landscaping, and clean up? Ask who is responsible for damage.
About permits
- Does this job need a permit in my city, and who is pulling it? Ask your city as well. Rules differ by city and the guidance is not always current. See Do You Need a Permit to Re-Roof in Phoenix?.
- When will inspections happen, and will you be present?
- If you suggest skipping a permit, why? If your city requires one, that is a reason to stop and call the city yourself.
About the contract and payments
Arizona law lists what a written contract above $1,000 must include (A.R.S. 32-1158 (opens in a new tab)). Check your contract against this list:
- The contractor’s name, business address, and license number
- Your name, mailing address, and the job site address
- The date of the contract and an estimated completion date
- A description of the work
- The total price, including taxes
- Any advance deposit
- Each progress payment and the stage of work at which it is due
- A notice, in 10-point bold type, of your right to file a complaint with the Registrar, with the Registrar’s phone number and website
Then ask:
- Is everything we discussed in the contract? Put what you agreed in writing. The law also requires the contractor to give you a legible copy of everything you sign, and a signed receipt for any cash you pay.
- What is the deposit, when is each payment due, and what does each one pay for? The FTC’s advice is blunt: “If they want cash up front, walk away.”
- Will you accept an insurance check directly? The FTC says never to sign your insurance check over to a contractor.
- What is the start date and the estimated completion date?
- How are changes handled? Change orders should be written and signed before the extra work starts.
- Do I have a right to cancel? Arizona’s three-business-day right applies to “home solicitation sales,” where a seller who was not invited solicits you and you sign at your home, and it has an emergency exception. It may not apply if you called the contractor. See the cancellation section of the license guide.
About the warranty
- What warranty comes with the work, and who stands behind it? Ask for it in writing, and ask what you have to do to keep it in force (for example, maintenance or inspections on a foam or coated roof).
- Is there a separate manufacturer warranty, and does the contractor’s work need to meet certain conditions to qualify for it?
- What happens if the contractor closes? Ask how the warranty would be honored.
If there is a problem later, you can file a complaint with the Registrar within two years after the project is completed (A.R.S. 32-1162 (opens in a new tab)).
Valley Roof & Repair is a free referral service that passes your request to independent local contractors, and it does not perform roofing work. Whoever contacts you, the questions above are yours to ask.
