Colorado weather
is brutal.
Your roof shouldn't be.

Due Diligence

Questions to Ask Before You Sign Anything

A contractor who gets uncomfortable with any of these is telling you something.

• Are you licensed in this county — and can I verify that number? Colorado has no statewide roofing license. Licensing is handled locally, jurisdiction by jurisdiction. Ask for the specific license number and verify it directly with your local building department. Out-of-town contractors sometimes borrow a legitimate local number to appear compliant — confirm the name on the license matches exactly who you're signing with.
• Do you carry general liability and workers' comp — and are your subs covered too? Ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as additionally insured. Then ask specifically whether subcontractors carry their own coverage or fall under the general contractor's policy. If a sub gets hurt on your roof and isn't covered, that liability can land on you.
• Do you have a local, verifiable address? A P.O. box is not a business address. A legitimate contractor has a physical location you can find and verify. If something goes wrong six months after the job, you need to know they'll still be reachable — not in another state chasing the next storm.
• Will you pull the permit? In most Colorado jurisdictions, any roofing project over a certain square footage requires a permit. If they suggest skipping it, or tell you it's extra, that's your answer. A legitimate contractor pulls the permit in their own name without hesitation.
• What nailing pattern do you use? This matters more than most homeowners realize. Manufacturer warranties specify nailing requirements — wrong pattern, wrong nail length, or wrong placement can void the warranty entirely. A roofer who knows their craft answers this without blinking.
• Do you use starter strip — and where? Starter strip should go on both the eaves and the rakes. It's a small material cost that dramatically improves wind resistance at the edges. A roofer who skips it or only does the eaves is cutting a corner that costs you down the road.
• Will you install ice and water barrier — and where? In Colorado's climate, ice and water barrier is not optional. Ask where they plan to install it — valleys, eaves, and penetrations at minimum. If the answer is vague or they're trying to minimize it, that's a flag.
• What is your plan for my ventilation? Ask this and let it sit. A roofer who knows what they're doing will talk about intake and exhaust balance, net free area, and your attic square footage. A roofer who doesn't will say something like "we'll replace what's there." That's not a plan. That's an answer designed to end the conversation.
• Are you going into the attic? A thorough roof assessment includes an attic inspection. Staining, wet insulation, daylight coming through — these tell you things the exterior can't. Damage that hasn't caused a visible leak yet often shows up in the attic first. A contractor who skips this is giving you half an inspection.
• What decking condition do you check for — and what's your per-sheet price if boards need replacing? Soft spots, rot, and delaminated OSB need to come out before new shingles go down. Ask upfront what they look for and what they charge per sheet to replace. "We'll handle anything we find" is not an answer. Get a number before you sign.
• What do your pipe boots and penetrations look like — new or reused? Rubber pipe boots have a lifespan of roughly 5–10 years. If your roofer is planning to reuse old boots on a new roof, you may be looking at a leak within a few years. Ask specifically whether penetrations are part of the scope and what materials they use.
• What happens if you find additional damage once the roof is open? This is where a lot of homeowners get surprised at invoice time. Ask how they communicate unexpected findings — do they stop and call you, or keep going and add it to the bill? The answer tells you a lot about how they operate when things don't go exactly to plan.
• What's your cleanup process — do you magnet the yard? Roofing jobs leave nails. A contractor who runs a magnetic sweep after the job is one who's thinking about your family, your pets, and your tires. It's a small thing that separates professional operations from ones just trying to get to the next job.
• Will you do a final walkthrough with me when the job is complete? A confident contractor walks the finished roof with you. They show you what was done, point out anything notable, and answer questions before they cash the check. A contractor who's in a hurry to leave before you've had a chance to look isn't one you want on your roof.
• What does your workmanship warranty cover and for how long? Get this in writing before you sign anything. "We stand behind our work" is not a warranty — it's a phrase. A real warranty has a specific number of years, a defined scope of coverage, and a process for filing a claim. If they can't put it in writing, assume there isn't one.
• What manufacturer warranty comes with the shingles, and does your installation qualify? Many manufacturer warranties — especially the enhanced or lifetime versions — require certified installer status. Not every contractor qualifies. Ask for the specific warranty document and confirm your contractor's certification status with the manufacturer if the warranty matters to you.