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Before you sign a roofing contract, a short list of questions separates qualified, accountable contractors from the rest — and the answers belong in writing, not just in conversation. The essentials cover licensing and insurance, the specific system being installed, how the unknowns are priced, permitting, and warranty. A reputable contractor answers all of these readily; evasiveness on any of them is itself an answer.
Licensing and Insurance
Ask for the Florida roofing license number and confirm it (Craft Roofing's is CCC1336696). Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage. Licensed, insured contractors pull their own permits; be wary of anyone who asks you to pull the permit for their work.
The System Being Installed
Ask exactly what material, manufacturer, underlayment and flashing scope the bid includes — and get it in writing. “A new tile roof” is not a specification; the underlayment system, whether flashings are new or reused, and the ventilation approach are where quality and cost really differ.
How the Unknowns Are Priced
Ask how decking replacement is priced (per sheet or per area), whether any is included in the base price, and whether discovered rot will be photographed before replacement. This is the most common source of surprise costs, so pin it down before signing.
Permitting and Inspections
Confirm the contractor obtains the permit, that the work will be inspected as required, and that the permit will be properly closed. This protects you at resale, for insurance, and after storms.
Warranty and Terms
Ask what is covered by the manufacturer's material warranty versus the contractor's workmanship warranty, for how long, and what voids them. Review the payment schedule — large upfront deposits before any material is delivered are a caution flag.
Documentation and References
Ask for photo documentation of the work and references or examples of comparable projects. A contractor who documents their work is easier to hold accountable.
Verify Before You Sign
Florida makes this easy to check yourself: the state's DBPR license search lets you confirm a contractor's license status in a couple of minutes, and it's worth doing before you sign anything — not after.
Choosing a Roofer in Naples
Craft Roofing (Florida Certified General & Roofing Contractor, CGC1540219 & CCC1336696) provides written proposals, handles permitting and inspections, and documents its work throughout Naples and Southwest Florida.
Related Questions
How do you compare roofing proposals from different contractors?
Compare proposals on identical scope, not on the bottom-line number — because roofing bids are only comparable when they describe the same work. Line them up field by field: roofing material and manufacturer; underlayment or membrane specification; flashing scope (new versus reused); how decking replacement is priced; tear-off, disposal and site protection; ventilation; permitting and inspections; warranty coverage and duration (manufacturer and workmanship separately); and payment terms. Confirm each contractor's Florida license and insurance. A lower bid that specifies a thinner underlayment, reuses old flashings, or omits a decking allowance is not cheaper — it is a different, lesser roof at a lower price, and the difference tends to surface as leaks or surprise costs later. The most useful question to ask about the lowest bid is what it leaves out. Craft Roofing (Florida Certified General & Roofing Contractor, CGC1540219 & CCC1336696) provides written, itemized proposals that make honest comparison possible, throughout Naples and Southwest Florida.