How to Choose a Roofing Contractor: 12 Questions to Ask

Texas has no state-issued roofing contractor license — the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation doesn't regulate roofers at all, and only a handful of cities (Austin and San Antonio among them) require their own local registration (SimplyWise, 2026). That means the usual advice to "verify their license" doesn't fully apply here: in most of DFW, including Arlington, vetting a roofing contractor is almost entirely on you. These are the questions and checks that actually substitute for a license Texas never required.

Key Takeaways

• Texas has no statewide roofing license; TDLR doesn't regulate the trade, so insurance, permits, and manufacturer certifications carry more weight here than in states that do license roofers.
• Texas Insurance Code § 707.002 makes it illegal for a contractor to waive, pay, or rebate your insurance deductible — a $2,000 fine and up to six months in jail for the contractor if they do (HB 2102, effective Sept. 1, 2019).
• Standard deposits run 10-30% of the project cost; anything demanding 50% or more, especially 100% upfront, is a red flag industry-wide, not just in Texas.
• Manufacturer certifications (GAF Master Elite, CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster, Owens Corning Preferred) are a meaningful trust signal precisely because Texas doesn't have a state license to fall back on.
• Storm chasers share a recognizable pattern: no local address, pressure to sign same-day, and unrealistic "lifetime" warranty promises.

Does Texas License Roofing Contractors?

No — and this surprises a lot of homeowners moving from states that do. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has no roofing category, which means anyone can legally start a roofing business in most of the state without passing an exam or holding a state credential (SimplyWise, 2026). A few cities carve out their own rules (Austin and San Antonio require local registration), but Arlington isn't one of them — the city's requirement is a permit and final inspection on the job itself, not a license on the contractor. The practical upshot: "licensed" isn't a meaningful filter in most of DFW. Insurance, permits pulled correctly, manufacturer certification, and a verifiable local track record are what actually separate a legitimate contractor from someone with a truck and a ladder.

The 12 Questions to Ask Before You Hire

1. Will you pull the city permit, and handle the final inspection?

A legitimate local contractor pulls the permit as a matter of course and knows exactly what Arlington's final inspection involves. Hesitation here is a red flag — it often means they're planning to skip the permit entirely.

2. Can I see proof of general liability and workers' comp insurance?

Ask for the actual certificate, not just a verbal "yes." General liability covers damage to your property during the job; workers' comp means an injured worker on your roof isn't your legal liability. Call the insurer listed on the certificate to confirm it's active if the job is a large one.

3. Do you have a local address, and how long have you worked in DFW?

A real office or yard you can visit, plus a multi-year local history, are two of the strongest signals you're not dealing with a storm chaser who'll be gone before a warranty claim matters.

4. Can you give me references or reviews I can independently verify?

Ask for addresses or names you can look up yourself — not just testimonials on their own website. A contractor with years of real local jobs should have no trouble with this.

5. What manufacturer certifications do you hold?

Certifications like GAF Master Elite, CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster, or Owens Corning Preferred/Platinum require the manufacturer to vet the contractor's installation quality and often unlock stronger warranty coverage than an uncertified install gets. In a state without a roofing license, this is one of the few third-party-verified credentials available.

6. What exactly is included in the written estimate?

A serious estimate itemizes tear-off (and how many layers), decking inspection and replacement rate if rot is found, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, and cleanup — not just "$X for a new roof." Vague estimates make it easy to add surprise charges mid-job.

7. What does the workmanship warranty cover, separate from the manufacturer's warranty?

These are two different things. The manufacturer warranty covers defects in the shingles themselves; the workmanship warranty covers the contractor's installation. Ask for the workmanship warranty length in writing — and be skeptical of anything described as "lifetime," since no small business can credibly guarantee it'll exist to honor that decades from now.

8. Will you waive or discount my insurance deductible?

The only correct answer is no. Under Texas Insurance Code § 707.002, it's illegal for a contractor to pay, waive, rebate, or otherwise absorb your deductible — a contractor who offers this is proposing insurance fraud, and it should end the conversation.

9. What's the payment schedule?

A 10-30% deposit to cover material ordering is standard. Anything approaching 50% deserves a direct question about why, and a demand for full payment before work starts is one of the clearest signs of a contractor who doesn't plan to finish the job.

10. How do you handle unexpected issues, like rotted decking found mid-tear-off?

You want a contractor who explains this before it happens: a per-sheet decking replacement rate disclosed upfront, not a surprise change order once your roof is already open.

11. Who's actually going to be on my roof — employees or subcontractors?

Both can be fine, but you want to know which, and confirm the same insurance and quality standards apply either way. A company that subcontracts without disclosing it can leave gaps in who's actually accountable if something goes wrong.

12. Can I get all of this in writing before I sign anything?

Scope, materials, warranty terms, payment schedule, and timeline should all be in the contract, not promised verbally and left out of the paperwork. If a contractor is reluctant to put something in writing, that's usually because they don't intend to honor it.

Red Flags That Mean Walk Away

A few patterns show up again and again with storm-chasing or fly-by-night operators, and any one of them is reason enough to keep looking:

• Uninvited door-to-door solicitation, especially right after a storm — legitimate local contractors are rarely the ones knocking
• Pressure to sign the same day, often framed as a limited-time deal or a scarce schedule slot
• No verifiable local address — a PO box or an out-of-state license plate on the truck are both worth asking about directly
• An offer to waive your deductible — illegal in Texas, and a sign they're comfortable cutting other corners too
• A price dramatically below every other quote — usually means lower-grade materials, unlicensed labor, or a plan to walk away before the job is finished
• A "lifetime" workmanship warranty with no company track record to back it up

Frequently Asked Questions

If Texas doesn't license roofers, how do I know a contractor is legitimate?

Lean on the things that are verifiable: active general liability and workers' comp insurance, a real local address and work history, manufacturer certifications, and references you can independently confirm. None of these require a state license to exist, and together they tell you more than a license would anyway.

Is it normal for a roofer to ask for a deposit?

Yes — 10-30% of the project cost is standard and covers material ordering. It's the size and timing of the payment that separates normal from risky: a 50%+ deposit or a demand for full payment upfront are the numbers to question.

What should I do if a contractor offers to waive my deductible?

Decline and consider reporting it. Waiving a deductible is illegal under Texas Insurance Code § 707.002, and a contractor willing to break that law during the sales pitch is not one you want responsible for your roof.

The Bottom Line

Without a state license to check, the burden of vetting a Texas roofer falls on insurance verification, permit handling, manufacturer certification, and a real local track record — the 12 questions above cover all four. If you're at this stage because you've already confirmed you need a full roof replacement rather than a repair, or you're still working through which signs point to replacement, get those answered first — then use this list to make sure the contractor you hire is one who'll actually be there if something needs to be made right.