How to Tell If a Roofer Is Lying

The 12 Red Flags

In rough order of how often we see them in the Houston area:

• They offer to waive, absorb, or rebate your deductible. This is illegal in Texas (HB 2102, 2019). A contractor willing to break that law will cut corners elsewhere.
• They knock on your door after a storm with out-of-state plates or a magnetic sign. Storm chasers follow hail across the country and are gone before the roof leaks.
• They want you to sign an assignment of benefits or a "contingency agreement" on the first visit, before any inspection or written scope. That document can hand them control of your claim.
• They say they are "insurance approved" or "preferred by your carrier." Carriers do not approve contractors; some have networks, but that is not a credential and not a reason to skip your own checks.
• No written, itemized scope. A one-line quote for "roof replacement" tells you nothing about the shingle, the underlayment, the flashing, the decking allowance or the ventilation.
• They inflate the claim. Adding damage that does not exist, or asking you to sign off on work that was not done, is insurance fraud, and the homeowner's signature is on the claim.
• They cannot produce a certificate of insurance, with general liability and workers' compensation, naming you as the certificate holder. If a worker falls on your property with no coverage, the claim can come to you.
• No local address, or an address that turns out to be a UPS box. Check it on a map.
• A price far below every other quote. Roofing labor is about half the job, so a quote thousands cheaper is cheaper on nails per shingle, skipped flashing, no ventilation, or an overlay instead of a tear-off.
• They pressure you to decide today, cite a "storm pricing" deadline, or say the insurance offer expires. Legitimate claims and quotes do not expire overnight.
• They ask for a large cash deposit before materials are ordered. A deposit is normal; most of the money up front, in cash, is not.
• No manufacturer certification. A contractor certified by CertainTeed, GAF or Owens Corning has been vetted and can offer extended manufacturer warranties; one with no certification cannot.

The 5 Checks That Take Ten Minutes

Texas gives you no license to look up, so look these up instead:

• BBB profile. Check accreditation, rating, how long the profile has existed and whether complaints were resolved. A business that has been accredited for years has a track record.
• Google Business Profile. Look at the review count, how far back the reviews go, whether the owner replies, and whether reviews mention specific jobs and neighborhoods. Fifty reviews over eight years beats two hundred over six months.
• Manufacturer directory. CertainTeed, GAF and Owens Corning each publish lists of their certified contractors by ZIP code. If a roofer claims a certification, it will be on the list.
• Certificate of insurance. Ask for it before you sign and call the agent on the certificate to confirm it is current.
• Physical address and years in business. Texas Secretary of State records show when an LLC was formed. Match that to the "years in business" claim on the website.

What an Honest Roofing Inspection Looks Like

A legitimate inspection is photographed. Every finding comes with a picture labeled by location, so you can show it to another roofer or to your adjuster. The inspector walks every slope they can safely reach and looks in the attic, because daylight through decking and wet insulation show up there long before they show on a ceiling.

The result is written: repair, monitor, or replace, with the reasoning. A good roofer tells some homeowners there is nothing to do, and puts that in writing too. If every inspection ends in "you need a new roof," that is a sales process, not an inspection.

What an Honest Quote Includes

A quote you can trust lists, as separate lines:

• Shingle brand, product line and color, and the square count measured
• Full tear-off to the deck and disposal
• Underlayment type, and ice-and-water shield at valleys, eaves and penetrations
• New drip edge, pipe boots, and step and counter flashing
• Decking allowance as a per-sheet price, with the number of sheets included
• Ventilation plan
• Permit and HOA handling where they apply
• Workmanship warranty length, manufacturer warranty registration, and start and completion dates

Your Rights in Texas

If a contractor sold you at your door, federal cooling-off rules give you three business days to cancel a contract over $25 signed at your home. Texas law prohibits contractors from paying or waiving insurance deductibles and from offering anything of value to induce you to file a claim. Insurance fraud is a crime for the contractor and a problem for the policyholder whose name is on the claim. The Texas Department of Insurance takes complaints about contractor conduct on claims, and the Texas Attorney General's consumer protection division takes complaints about deceptive trade practices.

Frequently Asked Questions