Updated September 29, 2026

Check insurance before anything else

A roofer should carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage for their crew. If someone gets hurt on your roof and the contractor isn’t covered, you can end up dealing with the fallout. Ask for certificates sent directly from the insurance agent and check that the dates cover your project.

Get the estimate in writing, itemized

A written estimate protects you and makes estimates comparable. A good one lists:

• Tear-off: how many layers come off and how disposal is handled
• Decking: how damaged decking is handled and priced
• Underlayment and ice and water shield: what goes where
• Flashing: whether it is replaced or reused
• Ventilation: what is installed or changed
• Materials: the product line and color
• Cleanup: including a magnetic sweep for nails
• Permits, schedule and payment terms

If one estimate is much lower than the others, compare it line by line. The difference is usually something left out.

Look for local experience

Capital Region roofs deal with ice dams, heavy snow and freeze-thaw cycles, and a lot of the housing is old: brick rowhouses with flat roofs, slate on older homes, historic districts with review rules. A local roofer knows what fails here and how town permit requirements work.

Be careful after big storms

After major wind or hail events, out-of-area crews sometimes go door to door. Some do fine work; others are gone before the warranty matters. Be cautious with anyone who pressures you to sign that day, asks for full payment up front, or offers to cover your insurance deductible.

Questions worth asking every roofer

1. Are you insured, and can your agent send me the certificates?
2. Will you pull the permit if one is required?
3. What happens if you find rotted decking, and how is it priced?
4. Will you replace the flashing or reuse the old flashing?
5. What warranty comes with the materials, and what do you cover on the workmanship?
6. Who will be on site, and who do I call with questions?
7. How do you protect landscaping and clean up?

Red flags

• No written estimate, or a price that changes without explanation
• Pressure to sign immediately
• Large cash-only payments up front
• No physical business presence or local references
• Vague answers about insurance, permits or warranty

How we handle it

We give free, written estimates, show you photos of what we find on your roof, and put scope and price in writing before any work starts. See how a roof replacement or roof repair job runs with us.

How to compare two roofing estimates

Put the estimates side by side and go line by line rather than looking only at the total:

• Are both quoting the same scope? One may include a full tear-off and new flashing while the other quotes an overlay and reuses flashing.
• How is rotted decking priced? A per-sheet price is normal. “We’ll see when we get there” with no number is a risk.
• Is ice and water shield specified, and where? Eaves, valleys and around chimneys at a minimum in the Capital Region.
• Ventilation: does the estimate address soffit intake and ridge exhaust, or skip it?
• Materials: the same product line and grade, or a cheaper line with a similar name?
• Cleanup and disposal: included, or an extra charge?
• Timeline and payment schedule: when the work starts, how long it takes and when payments are due.

The lowest number is often lower because something is missing. The right estimate is the one that tells you exactly what you’re getting.

Reviews, references and photos

Online reviews help, but read what people actually describe: communication, cleanup, how problems were handled. Ask for photos of similar jobs and, for larger projects, a reference you can call. A contractor who documents your roof with photos during the estimate will usually document the work the same way.

Timing and scheduling

Good roofers in the Capital Region book up in late spring and fall. If your roof isn’t leaking, getting estimates in the off-season gives you time to compare without pressure. If it is leaking, a reputable roofer will secure it quickly even if the full job has to wait.

Local and reachable after the job

A roof warranty is only as useful as the company behind it. Favor a roofer with a local phone number that gets answered, a track record in your area, and a clear answer to “who do I call if something leaks next winter?” The best time to ask that question is before you sign, not after the first storm.