Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Roofing Contractor in Florida

How do I check if a Florida roofing contractor is licensed?

Search the contractor’s licence number on the Florida DBPR licence portal at myfloridalicense.com. A roofing contractor holds a licence beginning CCC (certified roofing) or RC (registered roofing). The portal shows whether the licence is active, who the qualifier is, and any disciplinary history.

Ask for the number in writing before anything else. A contractor who will not give it, or gives one that belongs to a different company, has told you everything you need to know. One World Roofing holds CCC1330134 — see our licences and manufacturer certifications.

Does the contractor carry workers’ compensation and liability insurance?

Both, and you should see certificates rather than take someone’s word. If an uninsured worker is injured on your roof, liability can land with you as the property owner.

Ask for the certificate to be sent directly from the insurance agent, not forwarded by the contractor. Certificates are easy to alter and expiry dates are easy to miss.

Will you pull the permit, and whose name is on it?

Roofing work in Florida requires a permit from your city or county. The contractor should pull it in their own name and schedule the inspections.

If a contractor asks you to pull the permit as a homeowner, walk away. It usually means they cannot pull one themselves, and it shifts liability for code compliance onto you.

Do you subcontract the work or use your own crews?

Plenty of companies sell the job and then subcontract installation to whichever crew is cheapest that week. That is where workmanship problems come from.

Ask who will physically be on your roof, whether they are employees, and who supervises them. Ask whether the same crew stays for the whole job.

What does the warranty actually cover?

There are two separate warranties and they are frequently blurred together:

• Manufacturer warranty covers the materials. Enhanced warranties — GAF Golden Pledge, Owens Corning Platinum — are only available through certified installers.
• Workmanship warranty covers the installation, and is only as good as the company standing behind it.

Ask how long each lasts, whether the workmanship warranty is transferable if you sell, and what voids it. Our roof warranty page sets out what we provide.

Which materials will you use, and why those?

You want specifics: shingle line, underlayment type, fastener pattern, ventilation plan. “Architectural shingles” is not an answer — there is a wide range within that.

Florida requires self-adhered or specific underlayment in some wind zones, and the underlayment matters more than the shingle for storm performance. Our guides to GAF vs Owens Corning shingles and clay vs concrete tile cover the main choices, and our roofing materials overview lists everything we install.

Is the estimate itemised, and what happens if you find rotten decking?

A written estimate should separate tear-off, underlayment, materials, labour, permits, and disposal. A single lump sum makes it impossible to compare quotes or to see what has been left out.

Decking rot is the most common surprise cost — it is only visible after tear-off. Ask for the per-board price in writing up front so it cannot be invented later. Our roofing pricing guide and Central Florida cost breakdown show what realistic numbers look like.

What deposit do you require?

Be cautious about large upfront payments. A modest deposit is normal; handing over half the job value before materials arrive is not.

On insurance work, note that Assignment of Benefits is prohibited for Florida roofing contractors under a 2022 law. If a contractor asks you to sign over your insurance benefits, that is a serious warning sign. We do not use AOB — see how our insurance claim support works instead.

How do you handle the 25% rule on my roof?

This question separates contractors who know the current law from those still quoting the old version.

Since Senate Bill 4-D in 2022, roofs built or replaced to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later — effective 1 March 2009 — only require the repaired section to meet current code. A contractor who tells you flatly that damage over 25% forces a full replacement is working from outdated information, and that can send your insurance claim in the wrong direction.

The right answer involves checking your permit history first. Our guide to the Florida 25% roof rule explains why.

Can I see recent local work and reviews?

Ask for addresses in your own city that you can drive past, and for reviews from the last few months rather than a curated page of testimonials.

Local matters in Florida. After a hurricane, out-of-state storm chasers arrive, take deposits, and leave. A contractor with a real local address, a Florida licence, and recent nearby work is a different proposition. We work across Orlando, Kissimmee, Winter Garden and 44 cities across Central Florida, and our project gallery shows recent jobs.

What are the red flags?

• Door-knocking immediately after a storm, pressing for a signature that day
• No licence number, or one that belongs to another company
• Requesting that you pull the permit
• Large cash deposit before materials arrive
• Asking you to sign an Assignment of Benefits
• Offering to “cover your deductible” — this is insurance fraud in Florida
• A lump-sum estimate with no breakdown
• Quoting the pre-2022 version of the 25% rule

Get a written estimate you can actually compare

Ask every contractor the same questions and the differences become obvious quickly. We provide free written estimates with itemised pricing, and we beat any written estimate from a licensed Florida contractor by 5%.

Whether you need a roof replacement, a repair, or 24/7 emergency help, start with a free roof inspection.

Call (321) 214-7663 or request a free inspection.