Roofing has a low barrier to entry and a high cost of failure, which is why choosing carefully matters more here than in almost any home trade. These seven questions filter out 90% of bad outcomes.
1. Are you licensed in California?
Ask for the CSLB license number and verify it at cslb.ca.gov. Roofing requires a C-39 license. Unlicensed operators can’t pull permits and you have no state recourse if things go wrong.
2. Can I see your insurance certificates?
Two policies matter: general liability (protects your property) and workers’ comp (protects you if a worker is injured on your roof). Ask for certificates naming you as certificate holder — not just “trust me, we’re insured.”
3. Who will actually do the work?
Some companies sell the job and subcontract it to the lowest bidder. Ask whether the crew is in-house or subcontracted, who supervises on-site, and how long they’ve worked together.
4. What exactly is included — in writing?
A real quote lists materials (brand and line), scope (tear-off? underlayment? flashing?), cleanup, and timeline. Vague one-line quotes (“roof repair: $800”) are where surprise charges breed.
5. What warranties do I get?
Two separate warranties exist: the manufacturer’s (materials) and the contractor’s (workmanship). Get both in writing. A “lifetime warranty” from a company with no local address is worth nothing — which brings us to…
6. How long have you worked in the Victor Valley?
Local roofers stake their reputation on every job because their next customer is your neighbor. Storm chasers — out-of-area crews that flood in after wind events — are gone before warranty issues surface. Prefer roofers with a real local presence.
7. What’s the payment schedule?
California law caps deposits at 10% or $1,000, whichever is less. Any roofer demanding half upfront is either ignorant of the law or ignoring it — either way, walk away. Milestone-based payments tied to completed work are the norm.
Red flags that end the conversation
- Door-knocking right after a storm with “free roof” promises
- Pressure to sign today / “insurance will cover everything, just sign here”
- No written contract, or a contract without a license number
- Cash-only pricing or demands for large deposits
We built Roof Buster to be the answer to all seven questions: local Victor Valley crews, written line-item quotes, documented work, and warranties in writing. Start with a quote and judge for yourself — or compare us against anyone using this list. Fair warning: we think we’ll win.