Quick answer
Before hiring any roofer, get these in writing: their Florida license number (prefix CCC — and verify it), proof of liability + workers' comp insurance, a local address, the exact materials and nailing pattern, the written workmanship warranty, who pulls the permit, and the payment schedule. A trustworthy contractor answers all of them without flinching.
The 8 questions to ask every roofer
Ask about license, insurance, local address, materials & nailing pattern, permits, warranty, payment schedule, and crew supervision. Get the answers in writing. Any roofer who dodges these — or pressures you to sign before answering — is telling you something.
- 1What's your Florida license number? It should start with CCC. Verify it yourself on myfloridalicense.com — confirm it's active and the name matches.
- 2Are you insured — liability and workers' comp? Ask for certificates. If an uninsured worker is hurt on your roof, you can be liable. Local, licensed crews carry both.
- 3Do you have a local physical address? A real local office means they'll be here for warranty service. Out-of-state storm chasers won't be.
- 4What materials and nailing pattern do you use? Get specifics: shingle brand/line, underlayment layers, and nails per shingle. Six nails beat four for wind. Builder-grade 3-tab is a downgrade.
- 5Do you pull the permit? The contractor should pull it in their name. If they ask you to pull an owner-builder permit, that shifts liability to you — a red flag.
- 6What's the written workmanship warranty? Get the length in writing and ask if it transfers when you sell. Material and workmanship are two separate warranties.
- 7What's the payment schedule? Avoid large upfront cash deposits. Reasonable terms bill on completion or align with your insurance payout.
- 8Who supervises the crew, and will my roof be inspected? Know who's accountable on-site. At Complete Roofing, Jason personally inspects every project before, during, and after install.
How to spot a storm-chaser roofing scam
The biggest red flags: an unsolicited door-knock right after a storm, out-of-state plates with no local address, pressure to sign an AOB or contract "today," a large cash deposit demand, a price far below every other bid, and no verifiable Florida license. Storm chasers collect and disappear before warranty problems show up.
After every Gulf Coast hurricane, out-of-state crews flood the area, sign as many contracts as they can, do fast work, and leave — so when a leak appears two years later, there's no one to call. Hiring a licensed local contractor with a real Gulf Breeze address means your warranty is backed by someone who's still here.
Why local and licensed matters on the Gulf Coast
A local, licensed contractor knows Florida Building Code and HVHZ-grade attachment, carries the right insurance, pulls permits correctly, and is here for warranty service years later. Complete Roofing is FL-licensed (CCC1337480), Gulf Breeze-based, and has installed 2,000+ roofs across the Panhandle.
Ready to compare? Get the real numbers first with our 2026 roof cost guide and our metal vs. shingle comparison.