There are a lot of roofing contractor working in Southern Maryland. Some of them are excellent. Some of them will take a deposit, do mediocre work, and be unreachable when something goes wrong six months later.
Here are the five things worth checking before you sign anything.
1. MHIC LICENSE
Maryland requires all home improvement contractors to be licensed through the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. The license number should be on their website, their estimate, and their vehicle.
You can verify any MHIC license at the Maryland MHIC website in about 30 seconds. Look up the license number, confirm the contractor name matches, and check that the license is active and in good standing. If a contractor cannot give you an MHIC number, stop there.
Our number is #162131. Verify it any time.
2. INSURANCE
Ask for a certificate of insurance before the work starts. You want to see two things: general liability coverage (in case of damage to your property) and workers’ compensation (in case a worker is injured on your property).
If a contractor is not carrying workers’ comp and someone gets hurt on your roof, you may be liable as the property owner. It is a real risk that most homeowners do not think about until it is too late.
3. MANUFACTURER CERTIFICATION
Not all roofing contractor are certified by the manufacturers whose products they install. Certification matters because certified contractors can offer enhanced warranty options — factory-backed protection that covers both materials and workmanship.
GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed all have contractor certification programs. Ask whether the contractor you are considering is certified and what warranty options that gives you.
We are GAF Certified. That gives our customers access to GAF’s enhanced warranty program.
4. LOCAL REFERENCES AND REVIEWS
A long list of Google reviews from homeowners in your area tells you more than a slick website. Look for reviews that are specific; they mention the type of work done, name the crew, and describe the experience in detail. Generic five-star reviews with no details are easier to fake.
Ask the contractor for a reference from a job in your county. A contractor who does a lot of work in your area should have no problem giving you a name to call.
5. A WRITTEN ESTIMATE WITH LINE ITEMS
A legitimate roofing contractor estimate shows the scope of work, the materials being used (including the specific product name and color), the timeline, and the price broken down by labor and materials.
Avoid any contractor who wants to give you a verbal estimate or a single-number quote with no details. A written, itemized estimate protects both of you. It is also what your insurance company will ask for if the work is part of a claim.
One more thing: Be cautious about contractors who show up at your door unsolicited after a storm. Storm chasers — contractors who move into an area after a major weather event specifically to catch homeowners while they are stressed — are a known problem in Maryland. They are often unlicensed, uninsured, and gone before the warranty issues show up.
If someone knocks on your door after a storm, get their MHIC number, look it up, and get a second opinion from a local contractor you found independently.
Questions? Call us at (443) 219-7323. We are happy to help you think through a hiring decision, even if it ends up not being us.
