Not every roofing company operates the same way, and unfortunately, Utah’s roofing industry has its share of fly-by-night operators — especially after big storms when out-of-state “storm chasers” flood the market.
Here are five things a trustworthy roofer should tell you upfront, without you having to pry it out of them.
1. Their license and insurance status — with proof.
Utah requires roofing contractors to be licensed through the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL). Ask for their license number and verify it. Also ask for a certificate of insurance — both general liability and workers’ comp. If a worker gets hurt on your property and the company doesn’t carry workers’ comp, guess who could be liable? You. A legit company will hand over these documents without hesitation.
2. Exactly what’s included in the price.
A quote should break down materials, labor, tear-off, dump fees, and any permits. If someone gives you a single number on the back of a business card, keep shopping. You need to know what shingle line they’re using, what underlayment, whether they’re including new flashing, ice and water shield in the valleys — all of it. The details are where corners get cut.
3. What happens if they find rotted decking.
This comes up on almost every tear-off. Once the old shingles are removed, there’s usually at least some plywood that needs replacing. A good roofer will tell you their per-sheet price for decking replacement BEFORE they start the job, so there are no surprises. A bad one will conveniently forget to mention it and then hit you with an upcharge when you have no roof and no leverage.
4. Their warranty — in writing.
There should be two warranties: one from the manufacturer on the materials, and one from the contractor on the workmanship. The workmanship warranty matters a lot, because most roof failures are installation errors, not defective shingles. Ask how long the workmanship warranty lasts, what it covers, and what happens if the company goes out of business. (This is another reason GAF certification matters — the manufacturer backs the installation warranty independently of the contractor.)
5. A realistic timeline.
When are they starting? How long will it take? What’s the plan if weather delays things? You shouldn’t have to chase your roofer for this information. A company that communicates clearly before the job starts is usually one that communicates well during the job too.
We’ve been doing this in Salt Lake City for over 11 years, and we’re happy to answer every one of these questions — plus anything else you want to know. No pressure, no runaround. That’s how this should work.
Ready to get your roof inspected? Call V3 Roofing at (385) 900-4618 for a FREE estimate.
