Exterior contracting — siding, soffit, fascia, and eavestroughs — sits in a regulatory gray zone in many regions. Unlike electricians or plumbers, exterior installers don’t always face the same licensing requirements. That makes verification more important, not less. A contractor who operates without proper insurance or business registration has no accountability to a regulatory body — and when something goes wrong, your recourse is limited to whatever you can prove in court.

“The most common situation I see when homeowners call me after a bad exterior job is that they hired whoever knocked on their door or gave the lowest quote, and they never verified a single credential. Insurance, workers’ compensation coverage, business registration — these take five minutes to verify and they tell you almost everything you need to know about whether a contractor takes their business seriously.”

— Oleg Rira, licensed exterior contractor with 18 years of experience in residential siding, soffit, and eavestrough installation in the local area

Licensing and Registration Questions

Are you a registered business with a valid tax-registration number?

In many regions and in many regions, any contractor performing work above a de minimis threshold must be registered as a business and registered for sales tax. Ask for the company’s tax-registration number. A contractor who operates cash-only with no tax-registration number is operating outside the formal economy — and has no accountability to your national tax authority, no business registration to look up, and no paper trail if things go wrong.

What a good answer looks like: A registered business name, a business registration number, and a tax-registration number — all verifiable independently.

Are you registered with the relevant trade licensing body or the relevant regional authority?

Depending on the region and the scope of work, exterior contractors may be required to hold trade certifications or business licences. In many regions, renovation contractors working above certain thresholds may need to be registered. Ask specifically what registrations or certifications they hold and verify them.

What a good answer looks like: Any applicable registration numbers, offered without hesitation.

Are you a member of any professional associations?

Membership in associations like a recognized home builders’ association (OHBA), the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), or a regional siding and cladding association signals a contractor who takes professional standards seriously. Members are held to codes of conduct and can be reported to the association if they behave unprofessionally.

What a good answer looks like: Active membership in a relevant professional association, verifiable on the association’s website.

Insurance Questions

Do you carry general liability insurance?

Exterior work involves ladders, scaffolding, and power tools operating at height across the full perimeter of your home. If a ladder damages a window, if falling debris damages a vehicle, if a worker drops a tool onto a neighbor’s property — liability insurance is what covers the cost.

Ask for a certificate of insurance showing current coverage. For exterior renovation work, a minimum of $2 million in coverage is a reasonable expectation.

What a good answer looks like: A current certificate of insurance with adequate limits, provided promptly on request.

Do you carry workers’ compensation coverage for your crew?

Workers on ladders and scaffolding face real fall risk. If a worker is injured on your property without workers’ compensation coverage, you could face liability 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.

What a good answer looks like: A current workers’ compensation coverage Clearance Certificate verified independently, confirming the account is in good standing.

Are subcontractors covered under your insurance?

Many exterior contractors use subcontracted crews for installation. Ask whether those crews are covered under the contractor’s liability policy and workers’ compensation coverage, or whether they carry their own. Every person working on your property should be covered by documented insurance.

What a good answer looks like: Written confirmation that all workers on site are covered — either under the contractor’s policy or through verified independent coverage.

How to Verify What You’ve Been Told

Business registration: Search your local business registry (your local business registry) or equivalent regional registry. You can confirm a company’s name, registration date, and status.

Sales tax registration: You can verify a tax-registration number through your national tax authority’s business registry.

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 the coverage dates encompass your project.

Association membership: Search the relevant association’s member directory directly — CHBA, OHBA, or regional equivalents.

Why This Matters More Than Homeowners Think

An exterior contractor without proper insurance is not just a risk on the day of the job. They’re a risk for years afterward. If their work causes moisture infiltration that damages your walls over two years, a contractor without liability insurance has no mechanism to compensate you. If they go out of business — as companies without proper registration often do — your warranty is worth nothing.

The five minutes spent verifying credentials are the most valuable five minutes in the hiring process.

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