You’ve got two or three estimates on the kitchen counter, a roof that needs work, and no real way to tell the roofing companies apart. Every one of them says licensed, insured and local. One came in lower. One showed up the morning after the storm. You’re about to trust somebody with the top of your house, and you’ve heard the stories about crews that vanish when something goes wrong.
You shouldn’t have to take anyone’s word for it, ours included. Most of what matters about a roofing company can be checked in an afternoon from your couch, and this page shows you where to look.
APC Roofing has been roofing homes since 2017 in Central Florida, the Daytona Beach area, the Kansas City metro and Springfield, Missouri. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, and your inspection and estimate are free. If you’d like us to be one of the companies you compare, call 866-995-0704.
Check the license where your state keeps it
“Look up their license” is good advice, but where you look depends on the state you live in.
Florida licenses roofing contractors at the state level. You can search any contractor by name on the Florida DBPR license lookup (the Department of Business and Professional Regulation). A certified roofing contractor can work anywhere in Florida. A registered one can only work in the areas listed on the registration, so check which kind you’re looking at.
Kansas doesn’t issue a roofing license, but roofing contractors there have to register with the Kansas Attorney General’s office, and that registration can be looked up.
Missouri has no statewide roofing license at all. Cities and counties set their own rules. Call the building department where you live and ask two things: is this company licensed here, and can they pull a permit at my address?
Confirm the insurance yourself
Two policies matter. General liability pays for damage to your house and property if something goes wrong during the job. Workers’ compensation covers the crew if someone gets hurt on your roof. If a company doesn’t carry it, an injury on your property can turn into your problem.
A certificate of insurance is a good start. It isn’t proof. Call the insurance company named on it and ask whether the policy will be active on the dates your job is scheduled. It takes about five minutes, and hardly anyone does it.
Look up manufacturer certification at the source
Shingle manufacturers certify contractors who meet their standards, and you can check that directly instead of trusting a logo on a truck or a badge on a website. GAF runs a contractor lookup on gaf.com. Search by ZIP code or company name and it shows each contractor’s certification. APC Roofing is GAF Certified, and you’re welcome to look us up there.
Compare roofing company estimates line by line
Two estimates that are thousands of dollars apart usually describe two different jobs. A clear estimate tells you:
- The shingle, metal or tile product you’re getting, by name
- Whether the old roof gets torn off or covered over
- What underlayment goes down
- Which flashing is replaced and which is reused
- How rotted decking is priced if the crew finds some
- Whether the permit and debris removal are included
Ask each company to lay its number out that way, then compare item against item instead of total against total. The low bid often turns out to be missing something the other two included.
Then ask about warranties, plural. The manufacturer’s warranty covers the material. The installer’s workmanship warranty covers how it was put on, and a lot of roof problems trace back to installation. Get the workmanship terms in writing: how long it runs, what voids it, and whether it transfers if you sell the house.
Signs that should slow you down
None of these proves a company is bad. Each one is worth a second look before you sign.
- A big deposit due before any material is ordered
- Pressure to decide today
- A cash discount with no written contract
- A suggestion that you pull the permit yourself, which puts the liability on you
- No local office you could drive to
- An offer to waive, cover or “eat” your insurance deductible
That last one deserves a closer look. Your deductible is yours to pay, and a contractor who offers to make it disappear is showing you how they treat the rules. Be wary of anyone who makes that offer.
How a company first contacted you isn’t the real test. Good work sometimes starts with a knock on the door after a storm, and bad work sometimes starts with a referral. What counts is what they do after that first conversation.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 866-995-0704 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll see photos of what we found and a written estimate that spells out the materials and the scope, so you can hold it up next to anyone else’s.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up. Many residential roofs are finished in a single day, and the yard is swept for nails before the crew leaves.
If spreading out the cost would help, financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Want a company close to home? Start with roofing companies in Orlando or roofing companies in Kansas City. For more questions to bring to every estimate, read 10 smart questions to ask your roofer before signing anything.
Questions about choosing between roofing companies
How do I look up whether a roofer is GAF certified?
Use the contractor search on GAF’s website. Type in your ZIP code or the company’s name and it lists the contractor’s certification. A logo on a truck isn’t the same thing as a listing.
How many estimates should I get?
Two or three is plenty for most homes. Past that, the numbers start to blur together. It matters more that each estimate covers the same scope, so you’re comparing the same job.
Should I hire the roofer who knocked on my door after a storm?
Maybe. Check them the same way you’d check anyone else: license or registration, insurance, a local address and a written estimate. Take your time either way. A good roofer will still be there next week.
Is a roofing company different from a roofing contractor?
In everyday use, no. Both mean the business that repairs or replaces your roof. Once you’ve picked one, our roofing contractors page walks through what happens during the job itself.
Choose your roofer with confidence
Comparing roofing companies takes a little time, and that’s fine. A slow leak won’t wait for you to finish, though, and water that reaches the decking can turn a simple repair into a bigger job. Do the checks, then make the call.
Pick the right company and you end up with a sound roof, a dry house, no surprise on the final bill and the quiet confidence that you chose well. Trust matters. Call 866-995-0704 to book your free inspection, or start your estimate online.
