How to Choose a Roofer in New Jersey — Red Flags and Real Credentials

Hiring a bad roofer is an expensive mistake. Hiring the right one is one of the better infrastructure investments you'll make on your home. The signal-to-noise ratio in this industry is rough — here's how to filter it.

Verify the license — actually look it up

Every legitimate NJ home improvement contractor has a HIC number. Ours is #13VH14090300. You can look any NJ contractor up at the state Division of Consumer Affairs website — it takes 30 seconds and tells you whether the license is active and whether there are any complaints filed.

If a contractor can't or won't give you a license number to verify, walk away. No exceptions.

Insurance — ask for the certificate, not just the claim

Two policies matter: general liability ($1M minimum is reasonable) and workers' compensation. Ask the contractor to have their insurance carrier email you a certificate of insurance directly. Reputable carriers do this in an hour.

Why directly from the carrier: contractor-supplied certificates can be forged or expired. Carrier-direct certificates can't.

Manufacturer credentials — real ones

GAF certified. Owens Corning Preferred. CertainTeed Shingle Master. These are real credentials with manufacturer-side verification — and they unlock enhanced system warranties (longer coverage, transferable, no-prorating in some lines).

What's not a real credential: "Authorized installer" badges that anyone can self-issue, BBB "accreditation" (you pay for it), and "top-rated locally" plaques from for-profit directory sites.

Verify GAF credentials at the GAF contractor finder. Owens Corning at the OC roofing site. The contractor's name should come up under their NJ town.

Get the warranty in writing

Three warranties matter: manufacturer materials, manufacturer system, and contractor workmanship.

Materials warranty is on the shingles — comes from the manufacturer, applies regardless of installer (but full coverage often requires a credentialed installer).

System warranty is the enhanced one — covers the whole assembly (shingles, underlayment, accessories) and requires a credentialed installer. We register these on your behalf and email you the certificate.

Workmanship warranty is from the contractor and covers installation defects. Industry typical: 10 years. Ours: 10 years, transferable once. Get it in writing. If a contractor offers "lifetime" verbally without paperwork, that warranty is worth what you paid for it.

Deposit and payment terms

Honest NJ roofers take a modest deposit (typically 25-33% of contract value) at signing to cover material orders, with progress payments tied to milestones (deck dried in, shingles installed, final cleanup).

Red flags: demands for 50%+ upfront, demands for full payment before any work, or pushing you to pay in cash. None of those are normal.

Storm-chaser red flags

Door-to-door sales after a storm — especially crews not from NJ. They follow weather events and leave town once cards clear.

Asking you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) — hands your insurance proceeds directly to them. We do not ask for this, ever.

Promising to "waive your deductible" — illegal in NJ, makes you complicit in fraud.

Pressure to sign today for a "limited-time price." Real contractors honor quotes for 30+ days.

Check the reviews — but read past the stars

Star averages can be gamed; review content can't. Read 10-15 actual reviews and look for: same crew names mentioned (sign of stable employment), owner responses to negative reviews (sign of accountability), specific street or town names (sign that the reviews are from the area).

Avoid contractors with zero negative reviews ever — every legitimate business has some unhappy customers and how they respond tells you more than 50 five-star reviews from anonymous accounts.