The 7 Questions to Ask Every Roofer
- How long have you been in business in Louisville specifically? (5+ years minimum.)
- Can I see your Louisville Metro contractor license and Kentucky business registration?
- Will you email me your certificate of insurance with $1M+ general liability and workers' comp?
- Do you use in-house crews or subcontractors? (In-house = accountability.)
- What's your workmanship warranty in writing? (5+ years minimum.)
- Which manufacturer are you certified with? (GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed at minimum.)
- Can you provide 3 local references from jobs completed in the last 12 months?
Red Flags That Mean Walk Away
- Door-knocking after a storm without you calling first.
- Out-of-state license plate, no local office you can visit.
- Requests a deposit larger than 30% of the total.
- Offers to 'waive' or 'eat' your insurance deductible (this is insurance fraud in Kentucky).
- Pressures you to sign 'today only' pricing.
- Won't put the scope of work and warranty in writing.
- Only accepts cash or wire transfers, no check or card.
How to Verify Insurance and License
Ask for the Certificate of Insurance (COI) directly — then call the insurance carrier's number on the certificate to confirm it's active. Contractors sometimes let policies lapse; a fake or expired COI is common.
For the license, search the contractor's name at the Kentucky Secretary of State's business search and Louisville Metro Government contractor lookup. Both are free public records.
Reputable roofers hand these over immediately. Any hesitation or 'my office will email that later' is a signal.
How to Compare Bids Fairly
Insist that all bids specify the same scope: same shingle brand and line (e.g., GAF Timberline HDZ, not just 'architectural shingle'), same underlayment (synthetic vs. felt), same ice-and-water shield coverage, same ridge vent, same flashing replacement, same warranty length.
Once scopes match, price differences reflect actual labor and overhead — and often reveal that the 'cheap' bid was leaving out $1,500 of materials.
The Storm Chaser Problem
Every Louisville spring, out-of-state contractors flood the market after hail storms. They door-knock, get insurance claims filed, collect deposits, and leave — often subcontracting the actual work to whoever's cheapest.
When something goes wrong, they've moved to the next storm two states away. Local roofers are still here in 5 years to honor warranty work. That's why 'local company you can visit in person' is the single best filter.