The right questions surface the difference between a roofing company and a sales operation.
**About the company**
– How long have you operated in Houston under this name?
– Do you use in-house crews or subcontractors?
– Can you send a certificate of insurance directly from your carrier?
– Do you carry workers’ compensation?
**About the work**
– What’s your per-sheet price if you find rotted decking?
– Are you replacing flashing or reusing it?
– What underlayment are you using, and is ice-and-water shield going in the valleys?
– How will you address attic ventilation?
– Who pulls the permit?
**About the warranty**
– How long is your workmanship warranty, separate from the manufacturer’s?
– Are you certified by the manufacturer whose product you’re quoting?
– Is the warranty transferable if I sell?
**About the process**
– Who is my point of contact day to day?
– What’s the payment schedule?
– How do you protect landscaping and handle cleanup?
A good contractor answers these directly and puts the answers in writing. Hesitation on the decking price, the insurance certificate, or the subcontractor question is the most informative response you’ll get.