Questions worth asking

"Can I see a job you finished five years ago?"

Anybody can show you a roof completed last month. A roof that has been through five winters shows how the edges, valleys and penetrations were actually detailed.

"What underlayment, and how are the valleys done?"

This is the question that reveals whether you are comparing the same roof. Underlayment, ice-and-water placement, drip edge and valley treatment are where quotes quietly diverge.

"Who is actually doing the work?"

Employees, or subcontractors? Both are fine, but subcontracted crews change who carries the workers compensation cover and who stands behind the workmanship warranty.

"What does your workmanship warranty cover, and for how long?"

Ask for it in writing, in the company name, with a term. Five to ten years is common; the term matters less than whether they will still be trading.

"What happens if the decking is rotten?"

The right answer is a specific price per sheet, written into the contract before work starts. A vague answer here is how a fixed price stops being fixed on day two.

"What is your licence number, and who holds it?"

The follow-up matters more than the answer: does the entity on the licence match the entity on the paperwork, and is it active today?

In short

Write the answers down. Two weeks later, when the quotes have blurred together, the notes are what you will actually decide on.