10 questions to ask before hiring a roofing contractor in California.

A new roof is a $10,000–$40,000 decision that you'll live with for the next 20 to 50 years. The wrong contractor (one who's unlicensed, underinsured, or cutting corners on installation) can void your manufacturer warranty, leave your home exposed to leaks, or disappear when problems appear a year later. In California's roofing market, especially in the Central Valley where storm chasers and out-of-area contractors regularly move through after wind and hail events, knowing how to screen contractors is genuinely protective. These ten questions give you everything you need.

Question 1. Are you licensed with the California CSLB?

California requires all roofing contractors to hold a valid Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license, specifically a C-39 Roofing classification. This is not optional, performing roofing work without a C-39 license is illegal in California, and homeowners who hire unlicensed contractors lose access to CSLB dispute resolution and certain legal protections.

Ask for the license number and verify it yourself at cslb.ca.gov. The verification takes 30 seconds and confirms that the license is active, not suspended, and that the bond and workers' compensation insurance are current. Any contractor who hesitates to give you their license number is telling you something important.

Question 2. Do you carry liability and workers' compensation insurance?

Two separate coverages matter here. General liability insurance protects your property if the contractor damages it during the job. Workers' compensation insurance protects you from legal liability if a worker is injured on your roof: without it, that liability can fall to the homeowner in California.

Request a certificate of insurance and verify that coverage is current. The certificate should name you as an additional insured during the project period. A roofing contractor bidding $15,000 for your roof with no insurance is a contractor who's self-insured, meaning they have nothing to cover a claim if something goes wrong. Econo Roofing carries full liability and workers' comp coverage, verifiable on request.

Question 3. Do you pull permits for roofing work?

In most California jurisdictions (including Stanislaus and Merced Counties) a permit is required for a full roof replacement. Permits trigger inspections that verify the work meets current building codes. Many contractors skip permits to reduce overhead and avoid scrutiny. This is illegal, and it creates serious problems for you at resale.

When you sell your home, the disclosure process requires you to report unpermitted work. A buyer's inspector who finds an unpermitted roof can kill a sale or reduce your selling price by more than the cost of the original permit. A contractor who says "permits aren't required for roofing" in a jurisdiction that requires them is a contractor worth walking away from.

Question 4. What manufacturer certifications do you hold?

Manufacturer certifications are not marketing labels. They're credentialing programs that determine which warranty tiers a contractor can offer. GAF's Master Elite designation covers roughly 3% of roofing contractors. Owens Corning's Platinum Preferred designation is the top 1% of their installer network. CertainTeed's Select ShingleMaster is similarly selective.

The practical consequence: only certified contractors can offer manufacturer's enhanced warranties. A GAF Master Elite contractor can offer the Golden Pledge warranty (50 years on materials, 25 years on workmanship). An OC Platinum Preferred contractor can offer the Platinum Protection warranty. A non-certified contractor (even using the same shingles) can only offer standard material warranties with no workmanship coverage.

Econo Roofing holds OC Platinum Preferred, GAF Master Elite, CertainTeed Select ShingleMaster, and GAF Gold Elite. The full slate of top-tier certifications in the industry. We're the only OC Platinum Preferred contractor in Stanislaus and Merced County. See the full breakdown at our certifications page. For a detailed comparison of the two leading certifications, read our post on OC Platinum Preferred vs. GAF Master Elite.

Question 5. What warranties come with the installation?

Every roof should come with two distinct warranties: a manufacturer's material warranty (covering defects in the shingles or membrane itself) and a workmanship warranty (covering the quality of installation). These are separate, and both matter.

A 30-year material warranty doesn't help you if the roof leaks because of improper flashing, that's a workmanship issue. Ask specifically: "What is your workmanship warranty, and what does it cover?" Short workmanship warranties (1–2 years) from a non-certified contractor signal limited confidence in the installation. Econo Roofing installations include lifetime manufacturer warranties plus a separate workmanship warranty. For a full explanation of how these two warranties work together, see our guide on roof warranties explained.

Question 6. Will you tear off the existing roof or install over it?

California code allows a second layer of shingles over an existing layer in some cases, but most quality contractors recommend against it, and most manufacturer warranties require tear-off for their enhanced coverage to apply. A second layer adds weight, hides existing damage, and makes future inspection and repair more difficult. It also traps more heat against the decking, accelerating deterioration in Central Valley conditions.

The contractor who offers to "go over" your existing roof at a lower price is often offering a shortcut, not a value. Ask specifically whether tear-off is included in the quote and what the warranty terms are for over-installation versus full replacement. Econo Roofing provides written quotes detailing exactly what's included (tear-off, disposal, underlayment type, and all components) before any work begins.

Question 7. Who does the actual installation?

Many roofing companies act as general contractors: they sell the job, then subcontract the installation to the lowest-bidding crew. The homeowner meets the salesperson, signs with the company, and then meets a subcontract crew on installation day. A crew the company may not have worked with before.

This isn't automatically a problem (some large companies manage subcontractors well) but it's worth asking. Who specifically will be on your roof? Are they employees or subcontractors? Are they certified installers for the material being installed? Certification programs like OC Platinum Preferred require trained installation crews, not just certified sales offices. When you hire Econo Roofing, the people installing your roof are the people the company is accountable for.

Question 8. Can you provide local references from the past 12 months?

Not a reference from five years ago. A recent one. Roofing companies change ownership, lose key installers, and shift quality over time. You want to talk to someone who hired them in the last year, in your area, on a similar project.

When you call a reference, ask: "Did they finish on time? Were there any issues after installation? Did the contractor return promptly to address them?" A contractor who can't provide recent local references (or who provides a list of references that don't answer or don't remember the job) is telling you something. Econo Roofing has a 99% GuildQuality satisfaction rating across 30+ years of Central Valley installations. Our why choose us page explains what drives that number.

Question 9. How do you handle unexpected damage found during tear-off?

When a crew tears off old shingles, they sometimes find damaged decking, rotted fascia, or compromised underlayment that wasn't visible from the ground inspection. How a contractor handles this moment reveals a lot about their integrity.

The right answer: they document the damage with photos, communicate it to you before proceeding, and provide a written change order with a specific price before any additional work. The wrong answers: they proceed without telling you, they call you mid-job with a vague upsell, or they refuse to provide a written scope for the additional work. Econo Roofing operates on flat-rate pricing with written change orders. No surprises during the job.

Question 10. What is your payment schedule?

California law (B&P Code 7159) limits contractor down payments to 10% of the contract price or $1,000 (whichever is less) for home improvement contracts. A contractor asking for 30%, 50%, or full payment upfront before work begins is either operating illegally or planning to disappear.

Standard practice: a small deposit at signing (within legal limits), a progress payment when materials arrive, and a final payment upon job completion and your inspection. Never pay the final amount before you've walked the job and confirmed satisfaction. If a contractor offers a significant discount for full upfront payment, that discount is priced into every job for a reason. Econo Roofing offers transparent payment schedules and financing options for those who need them.

Red flags to watch for in the Central Valley.

Beyond the ten questions, a few specific patterns deserve attention in our region:

Storm chasers. After high-wind events in Stanislaus and Merced Counties, out-of-area contractors arrive in force. They're not licensed in California, have no local accountability, and may be gone within weeks. Always verify a contractor's CSLB license, out-of-state licenses don't qualify.

Insurance assignment pressure. If a contractor insists on being the primary contact with your insurance company and asks you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) form, be cautious. AOB transfers your claims rights to the contractor, limiting your control over the settlement. California has specific regulations around this practice.

Pressure for same-day signatures. Any contractor who tells you an offer expires today is using a sales tactic, not a business reality. A roof estimate is valid as long as material prices hold, typically 30 days. Take the time to get multiple quotes and verify credentials. If you're facing genuine urgency after storm damage, see our emergency roof repair and storm damage insurance resources for how to protect your home while making a careful decision.

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