How to Choose a Roofing Contractor in PA & NJ (Without Getting Burned)

# How to Find a Roofer Who Won't Disappear on You Your roof is expensive. It protects everything you own. Hiring the wrong contractor can mean shoddy work, voided warranties, and headaches that last years. The good news? Spotting the good ones isn't that complicated. ## The Non-Negotiables ### They Need to Be Licensed Pennsylvania doesn't have statewide contractor licensing, but many municipalities require registration. Check if yours does. New Jersey requires home improvement contractor registration. Verify them at the state's Division of Consumer Affairs website. Takes two minutes. No license where required? Walk away. They're already cutting corners. ### Insurance Isn't Optional A legitimate roofer carries two types of insurance: **General liability** — covers damage to your property during the job. Guy drops a tool through your skylight? This pays for it. **Workers' compensation** — covers injuries to workers. Without this, if someone gets hurt on your roof, YOU could be liable. That's not theoretical. It happens. Ask for certificates. Call the insurance company to verify they're current. Any resistance to this request tells you something. ### Manufacturer Certifications Actually Mean Something | Certification | What It Means | |--------------|---------------| | GAF Master Elite | Top 2% of contractors, best warranty options | | Owens Corning Platinum Preferred | Advanced training, enhanced warranties | | CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster | Certified for warranty work | These aren't participation trophies. Getting certified requires training, passing inspections, maintaining insurance, and meeting ongoing standards. Companies lose certification when they slip. Why it matters to you: The best warranties from manufacturers only apply when certified contractors do the work. Install the exact same shingles with an uncertified crew, and your warranty coverage drops significantly. ## Questions That Tell You a Lot ### About Their Business **"How long have you been doing this?"** Not the company—the actual people who'll be on your roof. Businesses can be new while the crew has decades of experience. Or vice versa. **"Where's your office?"** If they hesitate or give a PO Box, dig deeper. Storm chasers work out of trucks and disappear when problems arise. **"Who's running my job?"** You want a name. A phone number. Someone accountable. **"Your own crews or subcontractors?"** Neither answer is automatically wrong, but you should know who's actually doing the work. ### About Your Project **"What exactly are you including?"** A real estimate itemizes everything: tear-off, underlayment, shingles (specific product), flashing, ventilation, cleanup. Vague estimates hide surprises. **"What if you find problems under the old roof?"** They should have a clear answer for how they handle rotted decking or unexpected issues. What's the per-sheet price? Who approves it? **"How long will this take?"** Weather happens. But they should have a reasonable timeline and a plan for protecting your home if work extends across days. ### About Warranties **"What warranties do I get?"** There are two kinds: manufacturer warranty on materials and contractor warranty on workmanship. Both matter. **"What voids the warranty?"** This answer tells you a lot about their honesty and expertise. **"Can I see that in writing?"** Any hesitation here is a red flag. ## Red Flags That Should Send You Running ### Door-to-Door After a Storm Legitimate contractors don't cruise neighborhoods after hail storms. "Storm chasers" do subpar work, collect insurance money, and vanish. If someone shows up uninvited saying your roof has damage, thank them politely and call a contractor you chose yourself. ### "Sign Today" Pressure Good contractors have other work. They're not desperate for you to commit this minute. Anyone pushing you to sign immediately has a reason—and it's not your benefit. ### Prices That Don't Make Sense Get three quotes. If one is dramatically lower than the others, something's off. They're using cheaper materials, skipping steps, or planning to upcharge later. The lowest bid isn't the best value. It's often the most expensive mistake. ### Cash-Only or Large Deposits 10-30% deposit to secure the job is normal. 50%+ upfront? Concerning. Cash only? They're hiding income from someone—maybe the IRS, maybe their insurance company. Not people you want on your roof. ### Offering to "Work with Your Insurance" Some of this is legitimate. Helping document damage for a claim is fine. Offering to waive your deductible? That's insurance fraud. It's illegal. And if they'll cheat the insurance company, they'll cut corners elsewhere too. ## How to Compare Bids Properly Don't just look at the bottom line. Make sure you're comparing the same scope: **Tear-off:** How many layers removed, where do they go? **Underlayment:** What product, how much? **Shingles:** Specific product name and warranty level. "Architectural shingles" isn't specific enough. **Flashing:** New or reused? What material? **Ventilation:** Ridge vent, soffit vents, other? **Cleanup:** How thorough? Magnetic nail sweep? **Permits:** Who pulls them? A bid for different specifications isn't comparable to yours. Make sure you're evaluating apples to apples. ## Why We're Different After 15 years in the Lehigh Valley: - We show up when we say we will - We answer the phone - We're here next year if something goes wrong - GAF Master Elite with the warranties to prove it - Licensed in PA, NJ, and NY No high-pressure sales. No disappearing acts. Just good roofing. ## Ready to Talk? We'll give you a detailed written estimate. Answer your questions. Show you options if you want them. You can call other contractors too—we encourage it. Just make sure you're comparing the same things. **Call ** or drop us a message. --- *Based in Easton, working throughout the Lehigh Valley, Phillipsburg, and beyond. GAF Master Elite certified.*