5 Things Every Florida Homeowner Should Ask Before Hiring a Roofing Contractor
After every major hurricane in Florida, the same story plays out thousands of times: a homeowner hires a contractor who showed up after the storm, takes a deposit, does substandard work or disappears entirely, and the homeowner is left with a botched roof and no legal recourse. It happens in wealthy neighborhoods too — not just vulnerable ones.
Florida has more licensed roofing contractors than almost any other state — and more unlicensed ones posing as legitimate businesses. Here are the five questions that will tell you immediately whether you're talking to a real contractor.
1. What Is Your Florida Roofing License Number?
Florida requires all roofing contractors to hold either a State Certified license (works statewide — prefix CCC) or a County Registered license (works in specific counties only). Ask for the license number and verify it at myfloridalicense.com. Check that it's active, that it's a roofing license (not just a general contractor), and that the qualifier's name matches the person you're talking to.
Our license: 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. This isn't bureaucratic overhead — it's how the building department verifies that the system being installed meets current Florida Building Code wind resistance requirements. An unpermitted roof is a code violation, can void your homeowner's insurance, and creates serious liability when you go to sell your home.
Any contractor who tells you "we don't need a permit for this" is either wrong, uninformed, or trying to cut corners. Walk away.
3. Are Your Products NOA-Approved for This County?
Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward counties) requires all roofing products to carry a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA). Other counties require Florida Product Approvals. A contractor should be able to provide the NOA number for every product they're installing — underlayment, tile, shingles, metal panels, adhesive.
If they can't tell you the approval numbers, they may be installing products that aren't code-approved for your location. Your permit inspector will catch it. Your insurance adjuster will catch it. Better to know now.
4. Can I See Your Certificate of Insurance?
You need two things: General Liability (minimum $300,000 — we carry $1M) and Workers' Compensation. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor doesn't carry Workers' Comp, you may be liable. If a contractor damages your property and doesn't carry GL, your recourse is a lawsuit against a company that may have no assets.
Ask for a COI naming you as additional insured. A legitimate contractor will provide this without hesitation.
5. Who Are Your Subcontractors and How Are They Licensed?
Most roofing companies subcontract installation labor. This isn't inherently a problem — but you need to know who is doing the work on your home and whether they're covered under the primary contractor's license and insurance. Ask specifically: "Are your installers employees or subcontractors, and are they covered under your workers' comp policy?"
💡 One more thing: get everything in writing. A detailed written contract should specify the exact products being installed (with NOA numbers), payment schedule, warranty terms, and permit responsibility. A contractor who resists providing a detailed contract is a contractor you should not hire.
The Bottom Line
Twenty-five years in this industry has shown us that most roof problems aren't caused by storms — they're caused by contractors who cut corners on materials, permitting, or installation. The cheapest bid is almost never the best value.
We're happy to be the second opinion, the comparison bid, or the answer to any of those five questions above. We'll give you a straight assessment of your roof and a detailed written proposal — no pressure, no games.