Before you sign anything or shake anybody's hand, ask these questions. Every legitimate roofer will answer them without hesitation. If someone gets defensive or vague, that tells you something.
I am giving you these because I genuinely believe an informed homeowner makes better decisions. And selfishly, I want you to ask us these same questions. We are happy to answer every one of them.
1. Are you licensed in Utah?
Utah requires roofing contractors to hold a valid contractor's license. Specifically, that means an S280 Roofing Contractor license issued by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. Ask for the license number and verify it through DOPL's website. It takes about two minutes online. If a company cannot produce a license number, do not let them on your roof. It is that simple.
2. Do you carry liability insurance and workers' compensation?
This one protects you. If a worker gets hurt on your property and the company does not carry workers' comp, you could be liable. If a crew member damages your property and they do not have liability insurance, you are paying for it. Ask for a certificate of insurance. A legitimate company will hand it over without blinking.
In Utah, roofing contractors are required to carry general liability insurance with a minimum of $100,000 per incident and $300,000 total. If they have employees, workers' compensation coverage is also required by law. Do not just take their word for it. The certificate of insurance will show the policy numbers, coverage amounts, and expiration dates. If those numbers are not on there, or if the policy is expired, that is a problem.
3. How long have you been in business in this area?
Longevity is not everything, but it is something. A company that has been operating in the same market for ten, twenty, thirty years has a reputation to protect. They have relationships with local suppliers. They know the building codes. They are not going to disappear after your check clears.
This is especially important after storms, when out-of-state companies flood the market for a few months and then leave. Bob Harvey Roofing has been family-owned and operating in Davis County and Weber County since 1988. That track record matters.
4. Will you provide a written contract with a detailed scope of work?
A verbal quote is not an estimate, and a handshake is not a contract. You need a written document that breaks down exactly what they are going to do: tear-off, materials, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, cleanup, everything. If an estimate is just one line that says "reroof house" with a number next to it, you have no idea what you are actually getting.
Here is something a lot of homeowners do not know: in Utah, a written contract is required by law for any project exceeding $1,000. A roof replacement will always exceed that. The contract should spell out the full scope of work, the materials being used, the total cost, the payment schedule, and the timeline. If a contractor is not putting all of that in writing, they are either cutting corners or they do not know the law. Neither one is a good sign.
While you are at it, ask about their payment terms. A reputable contractor will typically require a deposit before work begins, commonly around 50%, with the remainder due upon completion. What you want to avoid is anyone demanding full payment upfront before a single shingle has been removed, or anyone who pressures you to pay cash with no documentation. That is the real red flag.
5. What materials do you use, and why?
A good roofer should be able to explain their material choices. Not just the brand, but why they chose it and how it performs in Utah's climate. If someone cannot tell you why they use a particular shingle or underlayment, they are probably just using whatever is cheapest at the supply house that week.
6. Who will actually be on my roof?
Find out if they use their own crews or subcontract the work. Neither is automatically bad, but you should know. Ask if the crew is experienced with the specific type of roof you have. Ask if a project manager or foreman will be on site. You want to know who is responsible for the quality of the work happening on your home.
At Bob Harvey Roofing, every person who shows up on your roof is a W-2 employee, not a subcontractor. That means they are trained by us, insured by us, and accountable to us. We think that matters.
This is also a good time to ask about their safety program. Roofing is one of the most dangerous trades in construction, and a company that takes safety seriously protects their workers, your property, and your project timeline. Contractors in Utah are required to comply with OSHA safety standards. Ask if they have a safety program in place and what it looks like. A company that has never thought about this question is a company that is not thinking about the details that matter.
7. What does your warranty cover, and are you certified?
There are two warranties on every roof: the manufacturer warranty on the materials and the workmanship warranty from the contractor. Ask about both. How long do they last? What do they cover? What voids them? A roofer who stands behind their work will have a clear, written workmanship warranty.
Certified contractors can typically offer better warranty coverage than non-certified installers. The same shingle installed by a certified contractor may come with a stronger, longer warranty.
Ask whether the contractor holds any certifications from roofing manufacturers. This is not just a credential for the wall. Manufacturer certifications like CertainTeed's ShingleMaster Premier Contractor program mean the contractor has been trained and vetted to install that company's products to a specific standard. More importantly for you, certified contractors can typically offer better warranty coverage than non-certified installers. It is worth asking about.
8. Do you pull permits?
In most Utah jurisdictions, a roof replacement requires a building permit. The permit ensures the work is inspected for code compliance. Some companies skip this to save time and money. That creates problems down the road, especially if you sell your home and the buyer's inspector flags unpermitted work.
The contractor should be handling the permits and coordinating the inspections, not you. If they tell you permits are not needed for your project, verify that independently with your local building department before moving forward.
9. How do you handle unexpected problems?
Once the old roof comes off, sometimes there is rotted decking or other damage underneath that nobody could see before tear-off. Ask how they handle that. Do they call you before doing the extra work? Do they have a per-sheet price for decking replacement? A good company has a process for this and communicates it upfront.
10. Can I see references or reviews from local customers?
Online reviews are helpful but easy to manipulate. Ask for references from homeowners in your area. A company that has been around a while should be able to point you to plenty of satisfied customers. Better yet, ask if you can see a completed project in person. The quality of the work speaks for itself.
If a roofer answers all ten of these confidently and openly, you are probably in good hands. If they dodge questions, get impatient, or pressure you to just sign, keep looking.
Want to put us to the test? Ask us every one of these questions. We will answer all of them, no hesitation. Contact us for a free estimate and see for yourself how we do things.
"Bob Harvey Roofing is top of the class when it comes to roofing needs. They show up and they do what they say they will do. They do the job right. They don't do the job unless it is needed."Tim Sessions , Google Review