Short answer
Verify liability insurance, check recent local references and actually call them, and get the full scope in writing — tear-off, decking rate, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, and the workmanship warranty. Compare a few pros on equal scope, never pay in full upfront, and trust the assessment that matches what you see.
Start with insurance and legitimacy
Any roofer working on your home should carry general liability insurance — and workers' comp if they have employees. Ask for proof; a legitimate contractor provides it without drama. Roofing is high-risk work, and an uninsured crew on your roof is a liability you don't want.
Check that the company is actually local: a physical presence, local references, and a track record in DFW. Storm-chasing outfits that appear after hail season and vanish after it are the industry's recurring problem — verify before you sign.
Get the scope in writing
A written quote should spell out exactly what will be done: tear-off scope, decking replacement rate, underlayment type, whether all flashing is replaced, ventilation work, cleanup, and the workmanship warranty. 'New roof: $X' is not a scope.
Understand what the warranties actually cover. The shingle manufacturer's warranty covers material defects — and is often prorated. The contractor's workmanship warranty covers installation errors, which cause most early roof failures. Get the workmanship warranty in writing with its term and what's included.
Questions to ask before work starts
How many roofs like mine have you done this year? Who pulls the permit? Is all flashing being replaced or reused? What happens if you find rotted decking — what's the per-sheet rate? Who supervises the crew on-site? How do you protect landscaping and clean up nails?
Also ask about timing and communication: when does the job start, how long will it take, and who do I call with questions during the job. Vague answers to direct questions are a signal.
- Proof of liability insurance (and workers' comp with employees).
- Local references from the last year — call them.
- Written scope: tear-off, decking rate, underlayment, flashing, ventilation.
- Workmanship warranty terms in writing.
- Payment schedule — never full payment upfront.
Red flags
Door-to-door pressure after a storm, demands for full payment upfront, no written contract, no proof of insurance, a quote far below everyone else's, or anyone who wants you to sign your insurance benefits over to them. Any one of these is reason to walk away.
Trust the assessment that matches reality. If three roofers say repair and one says full replacement — or vice versa — ask the outlier to explain the discrepancy in detail. The one whose reasoning matches what you can see is usually right.
Frequently asked questions
Three is the sweet spot — enough to see the real market range and spot the outlier, but not so many that the process drags on. The key is comparable scope: every quote should cover the same tear-off, materials, flashing, and warranty terms so the prices actually mean something.
Price matters, but compare what's included before you compare the bottom line. The cheapest bid often cuts real scope — reused flashing, no decking allowance, thin underlayment, a short or vague workmanship warranty. A low price for less work isn't a bargain.
A deposit at signing plus progress payments as milestones are completed is normal, with the final payment due after the finished job and your walkthrough. Never pay in full upfront — once the contractor has all the money, you've lost your leverage if anything goes wrong.
Yes — recent local references, and actually call them. Ask about communication during the job, whether the crew finished on schedule, how clean they left the property, and what happened when any issue came up afterward. How a roofer handles problems tells you more than a smooth job does.