How to choose a roofing contractor in Pennsylvania

Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

Where should you start?

With the state's own check, because it takes two minutes and rules out the most people. A roofer who takes on jobs over $500 at your home and does at least $5,000 of such work a year must be registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General. Ask for the registration number, which takes the form PA followed by digits, then confirm it with the Home Improvement Contractor Search or on 1-888-520-6680. A roofer who cannot give you a number, or whose number does not come up as active, has answered the first question.

Then keep going. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) points out the difference between the two words people use loosely: a licensed contractor has passed exams to show competence, while a registered one has given contact information to a government body. Pennsylvania has no roofing license, so registration is all the state offers, and the Attorney General says plainly that it is no endorsement of skill. The rest of the checking is yours.

Which insurance should a roofer carry?

Two kinds, and you should see both on paper.

  • Liability insurance. The state requires at least $50,000 of personal injury and $50,000 of property damage coverage to register. The NAIC suggests getting a copy of the certificate showing the company name, phone number and policy number, and calling the insurer to confirm it is real.
  • Workers' compensation. The NAIC and the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), the trade's association, both say to ask for proof of it. NRCA adds that both policies should be in effect for the whole length of your job.

The reason is the work itself. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says falls are the leading cause of death in construction: in 2024 there were 389 fatal falls to a lower level out of 1,034 construction deaths. Its prevention campaign is aimed at falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs.

In Philadelphia, a contractor who holds the city's own contractor license must carry general liability of $500,000 per occurrence, but a roofer who works only on one- and two-family homes may register with the state instead of taking that license, so do not assume the higher figure applies.

How do you know a roofer is established?

NRCA suggests checking for a permanent place of business, a phone number, a tax identification number and a business license where one is required. The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), a research organization, gives similar advice: look for a permanent local address and a proven record in your community, ask past customers for references, and visit a job in progress if you can.

During storm season the Pennsylvania Insurance Department suggests four direct questions: can the contractor give several referrals, where is the business located, how long has it operated, and how much storm-damage work has it done.

Online reviews help, with one caution from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): a burst of reviews in a short period can be a sign that some are fake.

Does it matter what kind of roof you have?

Yes. IBHS says to make sure the roofer has worked on your roof type before, because different materials need different skills and not every contractor handles all of them. That matters most for slate, which NRCA says is still on many older homes in the Northeast and needs special skill and experience to install. If your house has slate, tile, metal or a low-slope roof, ask how many roofs of that type the company has done and where.

What should the written proposal show?

Insist on one. NRCA says it should describe the work and the specifications, the start and completion dates and the payment procedure. Its fuller list adds the make and color of the roof covering, whether the old roof comes off, the flashing and ventilation work, the installation method, the warranty, and who pays to repair landscaping or interior finishes damaged during the job. IBHS also asks for terms covering weather delays and cleanup.

Ask who will supervise. NRCA suggests getting the name of the person who will oversee the job and the number of workers who will be on site.

The FTC warns against automatically taking the lowest bid and suggests asking for an explanation when estimates differ a lot. NRCA puts it as a healthy skepticism about the lowest price: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The cost guide gives the published ranges to set the bids against.

What about warranties and trade memberships?

Read the warranty before you sign. NRCA and IBHS both say to look at what is covered for materials and for workmanship and at the exclusions that can void the coverage. NRCA says contractors often give one or two years on workmanship but that there is no industry standard, so compare the terms, not just the number of years.

NRCA suggests checking whether a contractor belongs to a local, regional or national roofing association, and says membership shows commitment to the trade. That is the association's view of its own members; it is not a state credential.

Who should pull the permit?

The roofer. IBHS says the contractor should obtain whatever permits your municipality requires. The FTC lists a contractor who asks you to get the permits among the signs of a home improvement scam. Your local code office can tell you whether your job needs one.

What are the warning signs?

The FTC describes scammers who knock on doors because they are "in the area," claim to have materials left over from another job, press for an immediate decision, want everything paid up front or in cash, or offer to arrange a loan through a lender they know. After bad weather, it adds, unlicensed contractors often offer no written contract and want full payment in advance. The NAIC says a reputable business will not pressure you to decide quickly or ask for money up front.

What should you do before you sign?

  1. Confirm the registration number is active.
  2. Get the insurance certificates and call the insurers.
  3. Compare at least three written proposals line by line.
  4. Read the warranty, including what voids it.
  5. Agree who gets the permit.
  6. Check the deposit against the state limit.

The contract rules, the deposit cap and your right to cancel are explained in what Pennsylvania requires of roofers. Roofers serving the five-county area are listed on the roofers directory page.

Sources

  1. Home Improvement Contractor Search, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
  2. Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
  3. 10 Things You Can Do to Avoid Contractor Fraud and Abuse, National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
  4. Selecting a Contractor, National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)
  5. Tips for Hiring a Roofing Contractor, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)
  6. Roofing Materials, National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)
  7. OSHA's Fall Prevention Campaign, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  8. How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam, Federal Trade Commission
  9. How To Prepare for a Weather Emergency While Avoiding Scams, Federal Trade Commission
  10. Shapiro Administration Reminds Pennsylvanians to be Mindful of Contractor Scams Following Major Summer Storms, Pennsylvania Insurance Department
  11. Get a Contractor License, City of Philadelphia
  12. Resources (frequently asked questions), National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)

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