J.J. 'LL Do It

What to ask when you call

Every roofer in this directory is a real company with a working number. What separates a good call from a wasted one is the questions you bring. Ask for the state contractor license number and the C-39 Roofing classification. Ask whether the crew doing the work is on staff or subcontracted. Ask who pulls the permit and who handles the city inspection.

California licenses roofing contractors through the Contractors State License Board. Look up a license before you hire.

Then ask for the quote in writing with the roof area in squares, the material by product name, a price per sheet for any bad plywood, and the labor warranty in months. A company that gives you all of that on the first call has done this a lot.

Before you sign anything

In California, keep the deposit inside the state cap of one thousand dollars or ten percent. If a bid comes in far under the others, find out what got left out of the scope rather than assuming you found a deal.

Our guide to reading a roofing estimate walks through the lines that belong on every quote. Checking a contractor license takes about ten minutes.