Hiring

Before You Hire: Ten Questions to Ask Any Roofer

By Alpharetta Roof Repairs · September 8, 2026 · 7 min read

There are more roofing companies working North Fulton than there are Waffle Houses, and the number doubles the week after a storm. Most are fine. Some are a truck, a magnetic sign and a subcontracted crew from three states away. The way to sort them isn't a star rating — it's ten minutes of questions, asked before you sign anything. Here they are, with what a good answer sounds like.

The paperwork and the people

1. "What license do you hold?"

This is the trick question, and it's the one to ask first. Georgia has no separate state license for roofing-only work — check current rules with the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors. A contractor who says "we're state licensed roofers" and gives you a number should be able to tell you which license and which board, so you can look it up. If the answer is vague, you've learned something.

A good answer sounds like: "Georgia doesn't have a separate roofing license. We're registered with the Secretary of State as a business, we hold an occupational tax certificate from the city, and we carry general liability and workers' comp — here are the certificates." A roofer who works here regularly knows this and says it plainly.

2. "Can you send the insurance certificates from your insurer?"

Not a photocopy from the contractor. A certificate of insurance emailed to you directly by the insurance agent, naming you as certificate holder, for both general liability and workers' compensation. A crew without workers' comp is a crew whose fall from your 12/12 roof can end up involving your homeowners policy — ask your agent how yours handles it.

3. "Who is actually doing the work?"

Most roofing companies use crews rather than employees. That's normal. What you want to know is whether the crew is one the company uses every week and supervises, or whoever was available. Ask who will be on site the day of the job and whether a company foreman will be there.

4. "Will you go in the attic?"

A good estimate comes from the roof and the attic. Satellite measurements are useful for a shingle count; they don't show the decking, the ventilation, or the water trail. A roofer who quotes a $25,000 replacement without opening the attic hatch is guessing at the part of the job that changes the price most.

The job itself

5. "What exactly is in the quote?"

You want a written, itemized scope: tear-off, underlayment type, where the ice-and-water membrane goes, the named shingle product and wind rating, nails per shingle, a per-sheet decking allowance, new flashing and boots, ridge vent, cleanup, and both warranties in years. The cost page has the full list. A quote that says "replace roof, 40 sq, $19,500" isn't a scope, it's a number.

6. "How do you handle the HOA?"

Most Alpharetta subdivisions require architectural review for a color or profile change, and the golf communities in Johns Creek review everything. A roofer who works here regularly has a submittal package ready — spec sheet, physical sample, photos — and knows not to order material until it's approved. One who says "HOAs don't usually care" hasn't worked in Windward.

7. "What happens if it rains?"

Summer afternoon storms are the schedule risk here. The answer you want: the crew tears off only what it can dry in before the forecast turns, and no deck is left open overnight. The answer you don't want: "we'll tarp it."

8. "What's the payment schedule?"

Reasonable: a modest deposit when material is ordered (many roofers take none for a repair), the balance on completion after you've walked the job. Not reasonable: 50% up front, or full payment before the shingles arrive. Deposit scams are common after storm seasons — someone collects a deposit to "order materials" and is never seen again.

9. "Can I see the last two roofs you did near here?"

Not a testimonial — an address. Drive past. Look at whether the ridge line is straight, whether the flashing at the chimney is a clean step-and-counter job, and whether the yard has nails in it. A company that works in Alpharetta regularly should have a recent job not far from you.

10. "Do I have to decide today?"

If the answer is yes — the price only holds today, the crew is only available tomorrow, the storm-damage window is closing — walk away. A written estimate should be good for 30 days. Roofs that have lasted 22 years last another week.

Storm-specific questions

After a thunderstorm or hail event, add three more:

• "Are you asking me to sign an assignment of benefits or a contingency agreement?" These hand control of your insurance claim to the contractor. Don't sign one at the door.
• "Will you absorb my deductible?" The only right answer is no. Never accept an offer to pay, waive or rebate your deductible. Insurers treat it as fraud, and it can put your claim at risk.
• "Where is your office?" A street address in North Fulton or the surrounding counties, not a P.O. box and a phone number with an out-of-state area code.

If it's a repair, not a new roof

A small job deserves a few questions too. Ask what caused the leak, and to see a photo of it. Ask whether the fix addresses the cause or just the symptom; caulk over old flashing is a symptom fix. Ask whether nearby parts from the same year, such as the other pipe boots, are close to failing. And ask how long the roofer expects the repair to last on a roof this age. A straight answer here tells you a lot about how they'd handle a bigger job.

Before the final payment

When the crew packs up, walk the job before you pay the balance. Questions to ask on that walk:

• Can I see photos of the decking that was replaced, and how many sheets?
• Was every pipe boot and piece of flashing replaced as written?
• Has the yard and driveway been swept for nails with a magnet?
• When will the manufacturer warranty be registered, and will I get a copy?
• Where is the workmanship term written, and for how many years?

Get the answers in an email or on the final invoice. That paper is what you'll need if a problem shows up in year three.

A question people forget: who do I call if it leaks?

Ask for a name and a direct number for warranty calls, not just the main office line. Ask how quickly they usually come out for a leak on a roof they installed. A clear answer now saves a lot of phone tag later.

How to keep track of the answers

Write the answers down during each visit, or ask for them by email afterward. Use the same list for every roofer so the answers line up side by side. Note who came out, how long they spent, and whether they went on the roof and into the attic. When you sit down to choose, the notes will tell you more than your memory of a friendly conversation.

The one-page version

Georgia has no separate state license for roofing-only work — check current rules with the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors. What you can check: the company's Georgia Secretary of State registration, its city business license (occupational tax certificate), and its insurance certificates, sent by the agent. Beyond that: attic inspection before the quote, an itemized written scope, a sensible payment schedule, an HOA plan, a local address, and no pressure. The about page explains how this guide works and what to check on any roofer yourself. The storm-chaser section of the storm damage page covers what happens after the door-knockers leave.