Why the Right Questions Protect Your Investment
Hiring a roofer without a checklist is like buying a car without a test drive. In Roswell, GA — where spring hailstorms and summer wind events send roofing crews door to door — the ability to evaluate a contractor in a single conversation can save you from a bad contract, an unfinished job, or a failed warranty claim years down the road.
This guide gives you seven specific questions to ask roofer Roswell GA candidates before you sign anything. For each question, you will find why it matters, what a trustworthy answer sounds like, and what red-flag responses tell you about a contractor. Use these alongside our complete guide to finding a trusted roofer in Roswell to build a complete evaluation process.
Question 1: Are You Licensed and Insured in Georgia?
Why it matters: Georgia requires roofing contractors to carry a state residential contractor license for permitted work, plus a local business license in cities like Roswell, Alpharetta, and Marietta. Without proper insurance, you as the homeowner can be held liable if a worker is injured on your property.
What a good answer sounds like: A trustworthy contractor answers immediately with their license number, offers to provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing both general liability and workers’ compensation, and mentions their insurer by name. They may even hand you the COI before you ask for it.
Red flag answers:
- “We’re a subcontractor under a licensed company” — verify the license applies to your specific project
- Hesitation, vague responses, or “we can get you that later”
- Offering only liability without workers’ comp
- A COI with an expiration date that has already passed
For a full breakdown on how to verify credentials, see our detailed post on verifying a licensed roofer in Roswell GA. You can also contact the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance to confirm any insurance certificate is legitimate.
Question 2: Will You Pull the Permit?
Why it matters: In Roswell and across Fulton County, roofing work typically requires a permit from the city or county. Permitted work is inspected — meaning an independent building inspector verifies the installation meets code. Unpermitted work can create problems during home sales, void your insurance, and leave you with no legal recourse if the work fails.
What a good answer sounds like: “Yes, we pull all required permits and handle that process for you. We will give you the permit number and let you know when the inspection is scheduled.” Some contractors include the permit cost in their bid; others invoice it separately. Either is acceptable as long as it is documented.
Red flag answers:
- “You do not need a permit for a reroof” — in most Georgia municipalities, you do
- “We can skip the permit to save you money” — this transfers all legal risk to you
- Suggesting you pull the permit yourself while they do the work — this is a major warning sign
Per Georgia DCA building regulations, work requiring a permit must be performed by a licensed contractor who is responsible for pulling that permit. Always confirm the permit is pulled before work begins — you can verify it through Roswell’s building department portal.
Question 3: Are You a Manufacturer-Certified Installer?
Why it matters: GAF Master Elite, CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster, and Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractors can issue significantly stronger warranties than uncertified installers. These warranties cover both labor and materials — the uncertified version typically covers materials only. For a full comparison of these programs, see our guide on roofing manufacturer certification comparisons.
What a good answer sounds like: The contractor names their specific certification level and manufacturer. They offer to show you the certification document and explain exactly which warranty you will receive. Bonus: they walk you through how to verify their certification on the manufacturer’s website.
Red flag answers:
- “We’re certified” without naming the manufacturer or tier
- “We use GAF shingles” — using a brand’s materials is not the same as being certified by them
- No documentation available, or the certification is expired
Our manufacturer-certified roofing service gives homeowners in Roswell, Woodstock, and Milton access to the top-tier warranty products. We verify our certification status annually.
Question 4: What Does Your Written Warranty Cover?
Why it matters: Roofing warranties are one of the most misunderstood parts of a roofing contract. There are two types: the manufacturer’s material warranty and the contractor’s workmanship warranty. Many homeowners assume they are the same — they are not. The specifics of what is covered, for how long, and under what conditions vary significantly between contractors.
What a good answer sounds like: The contractor produces a written warranty document — or explains exactly where to find it — and walks you through both the material and labor coverage periods, what voids the warranty (improper maintenance, third-party modifications), and what the claim process looks like. For certified contractors, the answer includes the specific name of the manufacturer warranty: Golden Pledge, SureStart Plus, or Platinum Protection.
Red flag answers:
- “We guarantee our work” with nothing in writing
- A verbal 1- or 2-year workmanship promise with no documentation
- Inability to explain what voids the coverage
- Material warranty only — no labor coverage
Question 5: How Do You Handle Decking Damage Found During the Tear-Off?
Why it matters: When an old roof is removed, damaged sheathing (decking) is often discovered. This is common in homes throughout Roswell, Marietta, Sandy Springs, and Kennesaw — especially in properties with older roofs or previous storm damage. How a contractor handles this unexpected cost tells you a lot about their integrity and transparency.
What a good answer sounds like: “We price decking repair separately, typically by the sheet. Before we replace any decking, we will document the damage with photos, notify you immediately, and get written approval before proceeding. The per-sheet cost is clearly disclosed in our contract.” A good contractor includes a decking policy in the written contract.
Red flag answers:
- A contract that says “decking replacement as needed” with no unit price disclosed
- Contractors who say “we will just take care of it” — this is how surprise invoices happen
- Refusal to photograph and document damage before replacing
- Pressure to replace all decking without evidence of damage
Our team at Gibbs Roofing & Siding documents all decking conditions with photos before any replacement occurs. This is part of our standard roof inspection services process on every project.
Question 6: Who Actually Does the Work — Your Employees or Subcontractors?
Why it matters: Many roofing companies sell jobs and then hand them to subcontracted crews. This is not automatically bad — but it affects accountability and insurance coverage. If a subcontractor crew is on your roof and they are not covered by the contractor’s workers’ comp policy, you may have exposure. It also affects quality consistency, since subcontracted crews may have varying training and standards.
What a good answer sounds like: The contractor is transparent about whether they use employees, subcontractors, or both. If subs are used, they explain that all subcontractors are required to carry their own insurance and are vetted before assignment. They can provide proof of subcontractor insurance certificates upon request.
Red flag answers:
- “Our team” — vague language that avoids the question
- Confirmed subcontractors, but no insurance certificates available for those subs
- Day laborers hired off-site without background or insurance verification
The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that homeowners always ask who will be performing the work and verify that all crews on their property are covered by active workers’ compensation policies.
Question 7: What Is Your Payment Schedule and Do You Require Full Payment Upfront?
Why it matters: Payment terms reveal a contractor’s financial stability and their confidence in their own work. Requiring full payment before work begins is one of the most reliable red flags in the roofing industry — and it is a common tactic used by storm chaser crews in Alpharetta, Woodstock, and the broader North Georgia area after severe weather events. Our guide on how to spot a storm chaser roofer in Roswell GA goes into more detail on this tactic.
What a good answer sounds like: A reasonable payment schedule looks like a deposit (10-30%) at contract signing, a progress payment at material delivery or mid-project, and a final payment upon completion and your satisfaction. The contractor accepts multiple payment methods and does not demand cash only.
Red flag answers:
- Full payment required upfront, before any work begins
- “Cash only” or “we need a check made out to a person, not a company”
- Pressure to pay immediately to “lock in a price” that expires today
- Refusal to provide a written contract before collecting money
If you are unsure whether a quote is fair, use our instant roof quote tool to get a baseline before your contractor conversations. It gives you a reference point so you know if a bid is reasonable before you sign.
Summary Checklist Before You Sign
- Verified state license number through Georgia Secretary of State
- Certificate of Insurance showing general liability AND workers’ comp — both active
- Confirmed permit will be pulled before work begins
- Manufacturer certification level documented and verified online
- Written warranty terms in hand — both material and labor coverage explained
- Decking replacement policy documented with unit price in the contract
- Crew and subcontractor insurance confirmed
- Payment schedule in writing — no full upfront payment required
- Start date and estimated completion in the contract
- Cleanup and debris disposal terms included
When to Walk Away
Some situations make walking away the right call, regardless of how compelling the price is:
- The contractor cannot produce a license number or insurance certificate within 24 hours
- They require full payment before work starts and will not negotiate terms
- They have no verifiable local address or physical office
- They cannot explain the warranty beyond “we stand behind our work”
- Their reviews are absent, very recent, or suspiciously uniform
- They pressure you to sign the same day without time to review
- They speak negatively about every competing contractor without specific, verifiable facts
Trust your instincts. A contractor who is genuinely good at their job does not need high-pressure tactics. They let their credentials, their references, and their transparency do the work. Read our customer reviews to see what that looks like in practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important question to ask a roofer before hiring?
Licensing and insurance verification is the single most important starting point. If a contractor cannot produce a current Certificate of Insurance showing both general liability and workers’ compensation, and cannot verify their state license number, no other factor matters enough to justify hiring them. Everything else — price, materials, warranty — only matters if the contractor is properly credentialed.
How many quotes should I get before choosing a roofer in Roswell GA?
Three quotes is the standard recommendation for most roofing projects. This gives you enough data to identify outliers — bids that are suspiciously low (often a sign of cut corners) or unusually high. When comparing quotes, make sure each one specifies the same scope of work, materials, warranty terms, and payment schedule so you are comparing equivalent proposals.
Should I ask for references from a roofing contractor?
Yes, and actually call them. Ask references specific questions: Was the project completed on time? Were there any unexpected costs, and how were they handled? Did the crew clean up thoroughly? Would you hire them again? References who give vague positive answers without specifics are less valuable than those who describe the experience in detail.
What should be in a roofing contract before I sign?
A complete roofing contract should include: contractor name and license number, full scope of work, materials list with brand and product names, warranty terms, payment schedule, project start and estimated completion dates, permit responsibility, decking policy with unit pricing, debris removal terms, and a process for handling change orders. If any of these are missing, ask for them to be added before you sign.
Get Straightforward Answers from Gibbs Roofing & Siding
At Gibbs Roofing & Siding, we welcome every question on this list — and we have clear, documented answers for all of them. We serve homeowners across Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, Marietta, Sandy Springs, Kennesaw, and Woodstock with full transparency, licensed crews, and manufacturer-certified installations.
Call (404) 545-6900 to talk with our team, or schedule your free inspection and we will walk through every one of these questions together. You can also schedule a professional roof inspection if you want an independent assessment of your roof’s current condition before getting replacement quotes.