The trade

What is a roofing contractor?

The business that removes, repairs and installs roofs — and the licence, insurance and paperwork that separate one from a truck with a ladder.

Updated September 12, 2026 · Every figure links to its source · Sources

DefinitionTradeAlso called: roofer, roofing company

Roofing contractor — a contractor whose trade is the installation, repair and replacement of roof coverings and the components that go with them — underlayment, flashing, ventilation and the deck they fasten to — working under the permit the 2021 IRC, Section R105 requires for such work and, in the states that license the trade, under a state licence; the NRCA is the trade's national association.

What a roofer does

On a replacement, the crew strips the old covering to the deck, replaces rotted sheathing, installs drip edge, ice barrier and underlayment, flashes every wall, chimney, valley and penetration, lays the new covering to the manufacturer's pattern, installs the ridge and hip caps and the vents, and cleans the site with a magnet for nails. On a repair it finds the leak — which is a skill in itself — and rebuilds the detail that failed. Estimating, ordering, scheduling, permits, disposal and warranty paperwork are the office side of the same business.

Most of the work is regulated at three levels. The building department issues the permit the IRC, Section R105 requires and inspects the result; the state may license the trade — requirements range from a full roofing licence with an exam and bond to no licence at all, and the directory's state-by-state licensing guide lists which applies where; and the shingle or membrane manufacturer certifies installers it will stand behind, which the directory's certifications reference explains.

Why it matters

A roof is the most expensive single component most homeowners ever replace, it is installed in a day or two by people they have never met, and almost none of the work can be inspected afterwards. The contractor's competence and honesty are therefore the whole purchase. The checks are unglamorous and worth every minute: the licence number verified against the state board where one exists; a certificate of general liability insurance and workers' compensation issued directly by the insurer; a written scope naming the products, the flashing as new, the ice-barrier extent, the decking price per panel and the disposal; the permit pulled in the contractor's name; and a warranty that says who covers what for how long.

The trade also has a storm problem. After hail or a hurricane, out-of-town crews canvass neighbourhoods, and some of them are excellent and some are not; the checks above are the filter. The directory's guide to a new roof installation walks through what a good job includes, and its guide to storm damage repair covers the after-the-storm case.

What it costs and how estimates work

A roofing estimate is built from the roof's area in squares, its pitch and height, the number of layers to remove, the covering and accessories specified, the flashing and ventilation, and allowances for decking; overhead, insurance and profit sit on top. Three comparable written estimates, with the same scope, are the standard way to judge a price — and an estimate that is far below the others usually omits something the others include. Contractors specialise: residential shingle crews, steep-slope slate and tile specialists, metal roofers, and commercial low-slope contractors are different businesses, and the right one for a job is the one that does that job every week.

Frequently asked questions

Short answers; the sections above carry the detail and the sources.

Do roofers need a licence?

It depends on the state. Some license roofing contractors specifically, some cover them under a general or home-improvement contractor licence, and some do not license the trade at all; cities and counties may add their own registration. Check the state board, and expect a permit in any case.

What insurance should a roofing contractor have?

General liability insurance, for damage to your property, and workers’ compensation, for injuries to the crew — without which an injured worker can claim against the homeowner. Ask for certificates sent directly from the insurer, not photocopies.

What is the difference between a roofer and a general contractor?

A roofing contractor does roofing; a general contractor manages a whole project and hires roofers among other trades. For a re-roof alone, a roofing contractor is the right hire; for an addition or a dormer, a general contractor coordinates the roofer with the framers and finishers.

What does a manufacturer certification mean?

That the manufacturer has trained the contractor on its products and will offer its longer system warranties on that contractor’s installations. It is a useful signal, not a licence, and it does not replace the state licence and insurance checks.

Find a roofer who does this

Everything on this page comes down to one decision. The directory lists roofing contractors by state and city, with the licence details to verify before you sign.

Browse licensed roofing contractors

Sources

2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 1: Scope and Administration — International Code Council (ICC)
Roofing glossary — National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)