Roofing is one of the most physically dangerous trades, and one of the least regulated in terms of barrier to entry. Anyone can call themselves a roofer, buy some shingles, and start knocking on doors — especially after a major storm. The homeowner has almost no way to distinguish a skilled, insured, licensed professional from an opportunist unless they ask the right questions and verify the answers.
Licensing and insurance are your first filter. They don’t guarantee quality, but they establish a minimum standard of accountability.
“After a hailstorm, we see dozens of out-of-region roofing companies flood into affected neighborhoods. Most of them aren’t registered locally, many don’t carry adequate insurance, and some don’t intend to honor their warranties. Homeowners who verify credentials before signing avoid almost all of those situations. The ones who don’t are the ones who call us two years later with a leaking roof and no contractor to call back.”
— Ben @ Moderna Roofing, Engineer and leading roofing contractor in Peterborough, On.
Table of Contents
Licensing Questions
Are you registered or licensed as a roofer in this region?
Roofing licensing requirements vary in many regions. In many regions, roofers performing residential work above a certain threshold are required to be registered with the relevant trade licensing body as a Residential Roofing Mechanic. In some regions, the BC Industry Training Authority oversees trades certification. Other regions have equivalent bodies.
Ask for the registration or licence number and verify it through the relevant regional authority. This takes two minutes and can save you enormous grief.
What a good answer looks like: A specific registration number, the issuing body, and no hesitation in providing it.
Red flag: “We don’t need a licence for roofing” or “We’re registered in another region.” Neither is an acceptable answer for work being done in your jurisdiction.
Are you a member of the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association or a regional equivalent?
CRCA membership isn’t a licence, but it signals a company that takes the trade seriously. Members are held to a code of ethics, have access to ongoing training, and can be reported to the association if they behave unprofessionally. Ask whether the company belongs to a professional association and verify the membership.
What a good answer looks like: Active membership in the CRCA or a regional roofing association, verifiable on the association’s website.
How long has your company been in business under this name?
This question is particularly important in roofing, where storm-chasing companies appear quickly, collect deposits, and dissolve just as fast. A company with five or more years of operating history under the same name has a track record you can actually research. A company formed last month — especially in the wake of a major storm — is a much higher risk.
What a good answer looks like: Verifiable business history of five or more years in your area, with a fixed local address.
Insurance Questions
Do you carry general liability insurance?
General liability insurance covers damage the roofer causes to your property during the job — a ladder through a window, debris that damages siding or landscaping, a misplaced nail that punctures an HVAC unit. Ask for a certificate of insurance showing the policy is current and the coverage limits are adequate.
For a residential roof replacement, a minimum of $2 million in liability coverage is a reasonable expectation.
What a good answer looks like: A current certificate of insurance with adequate coverage limits, provided promptly on request.
Do you carry workers’ compensation coverage for your crew?
A worker falling from a roof is not a hypothetical — it happens. If the roofing crew isn’t covered by workers’ compensation coverage (or equivalent workers’ compensation in other regions), and a worker is injured on your property, you could be held liable for their medical costs and lost income.
Request a workers’ compensation coverage Clearance Certificate and verify it directly at your workers’ compensation board’s website. In other regions, the equivalent clearance is available through the regional workers’ compensation authority.
What a good answer looks like: A current workers’ compensation coverage Clearance Certificate verified independently, showing the account is in good standing.
If subcontractors are doing the work, are they covered under your insurance?
Many roofing companies use subcontracted crews for the actual installation. Ask specifically: are those crews covered under your liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage, or do they carry their own? Either answer can be acceptable — but there must be documentation confirming coverage for every person who will be on your roof.
What a good answer looks like: Written confirmation that all workers on site are covered — either under the roofing company’s policy or through their own verified coverage.
What happens to the warranty if you go out of business?
A workmanship warranty is only as good as the company backing it. Ask what happens to your warranty if the roofing company closes or changes ownership in the next five years. Some companies purchase warranty insurance — a third-party product that honours the warranty even if the original contractor is no longer operating. Ask whether they offer this.
What a good answer looks like: Either a third-party warranty insurance product, or a frank acknowledgment of the limitation and a strong enough business track record to make it a low concern.
How to Verify What You’ve Been Told
Registration/licence: Check the relevant trade licensing body at collegeoftrades.Ca, or the equivalent body in your region. Search by company name or registration number.
CRCA membership: Search the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association member directory at roofingcanada.Com.
Workers’ compensation coverage clearance: Go to your regional workers’ compensation board’s website and use its clearance/verification tool,” and enter the company’s name or account number.
Insurance: Call the insurer listed on the certificate of insurance and confirm the policy is active and covers the dates of your project.
Business history: Search the company name on Google, check when their website domain was registered (a free lookup at who.Is), and look for reviews dated over several years.
Related Questions
- Questions to Ask a Roofer Before You Hire One
- Red Flags When Hiring a Roofer
- Questions to Ask a Roofer About Warranties
- What to Do If a Roofer Does Bad Work
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