5 Things Every Florida Homeowner Should Ask Before Hiring a Roofing Contractor
After a Florida storm, the story is always the same: a homeowner pays a deposit to someone knocking on their door, only to end up with a botched roof and a disconnected phone number. It happens in wealthy neighborhoods just as often as anywhere else.
I've spent 25 years in this industry. Every storm that rolls through brings scammers, storm chasers, and crews with a ladder and a magnetic sign. They promise a "free" roof through some insurance loophole or a dirt-cheap cash deal. Your roof is the only thing standing between your family and the next hurricane. If you don't ask the right questions, you're risking everything. Here are the five non-negotiable questions to ask before anyone touches your home.
1. What Is Your Florida Roofing License Number?
In Florida, roofing is tightly regulated. Anyone performing this work must hold either a State Certified license (statewide, prefix CCC) or a County Registered license. Ask for the number and verify it at myfloridalicense.com. A legitimate contractor hands it over instantly. Excuses mean walk away.
I've seen homeowners lose their entire deposit to an unlicensed crew operating out of a pickup truck. They take your money for "materials," then disappear. Or worse — they tear off your old roof, leave it exposed to a storm, and vanish. Because they aren't licensed, the state can't help you, and your insurance won't cover unlicensed work. You're on the hook for everything.
Ours: CCC1330718 — State Certified Roofing Contractor, Dustin Heaps, qualifier. Active. Statewide.
2. Are You Pulling a Permit for This Job?
In Florida, virtually every roof replacement requires a permit. If a contractor tells you otherwise — or asks you to pull an "owner-builder" permit — they're lying. Permits mean inspections. Inspections mean someone is independently verifying the installation meets Florida Building Code. Skip the permit and you get: fines from the building department, future claims denied by your insurer (no record the roof was installed to code), and problems at closing when the unpermitted work shows up in the title search. We handle permitting start to finish on every job.
3. Are Your Products NOA-Approved for This County?
In the HVHZ — Broward and Miami-Dade counties — every product on your roof must carry a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA). Every product: underlayment, tiles, metal panels, screws, tin caps. All of it. An NOA proves the material was tested to withstand hurricane-level winds. Outside HVHZ, products must have a validated Florida Product Approval. We specify the exact manufacturer, product line, and NOA or approval numbers on every contract. If whoever you're talking to can't provide those numbers, they're buying cheap, non-approved materials to pad margin — and your roof will fail inspection.
4. Can I See Your Certificate of Insurance?
Don't take their word for it — demand a current Certificate of Insurance sent directly from their insurance agency to your email. You need two coverages: General Liability and Workers' Compensation. GL protects your property if they cause damage. Workers' Comp protects you if a worker is injured on your property without coverage — without it, you can be held personally liable. We carry $1,000,000 in General Liability. Verify the certificate directly with the insurer and confirm it's active, not expired.
5. Who Are Your Subcontractors and How Are They Licensed?
The dirty secret of our industry: many large companies are pure sales operations. They sign you up with a slick salesperson, then sell your contract to an independent sub-crew for a fraction of the price. Subcontracting isn't inherently wrong, but transparency is non-negotiable. Ask who is physically installing your roof, whether they're employees or subs, and whether they're covered under the primary contractor's Workers' Comp policy. A trustworthy company answers this directly and puts it in writing. If they deflect, that's your answer.
💡 Dustin's rule: Get everything in writing. A solid contract specifies the exact scope of work, exact manufacturer and NOA numbers of all materials, the payment schedule (never more than a small deposit upfront), cleanup protocol, and all warranties. If they hesitate to put any promise in writing, they never intended to keep it.
Twenty-five years of putting roofs over Florida families has taught me one thing above all else: the cheapest bid almost always becomes the most expensive decision. A category 3 hurricane will expose every cut corner and cheap material in seconds.
Coastal Roofing and Waterproofing was built on transparency, code compliance, and real protection for homeowners. We don't play pricing games, we don't hide behind sub-crews, and we don't skip permits. If you want a straight, honest assessment and a proposal that meets the highest coastal standards, call us at 844-730-7663.