Last reviewed October 31, 2026.
The first roofer to call back offers to stop by Saturday morning. That leaves a phone call, maybe two, before anyone climbs a ladder. Spend them on the questions no estimate sheet answers on its own. A roofer who has the answers ready usually has the paperwork ready too.
Start with the license number and the name on it
The New York Attorney General’s home improvement fact sheet says contractors doing this kind of work must be licensed in Suffolk and Nassau, along with New York City and Westchester, Putnam and Rockland. Nassau’s Office of Consumer Affairs puts it more bluntly in its consumer checklist: “It is against the law to operate a home improvement business in Nassau County without a license.”
So open with it: what is your county license number, and what business name is it issued under? Write both down. Then run them through the Nassau lookup or the Suffolk lookup before the visit. If the name on the truck and the name in the register differ, ask why on Saturday.
Every card in our directory carries a Nassau license line, and how we check contractors explains what that line covers and what it leaves out.
Ask for the state workers’ comp form, not a summary sheet
A roofer falling from your eave is the scenario this question exists for. The Attorney General warns that if a contractor has no insurance, you could be liable when a worker gets hurt or property is damaged.
New York is particular about which piece of paper counts. The Workers’ Compensation Board lists the accepted proof as a Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance (form C-105.2, or the U-26.3 that the State Insurance Fund issues), an SI-12 or SIG-105.2 for a self-insured business or group, or a CE-200 Certificate of Attestation of Exemption.
The Board states that “ACORD forms are NOT acceptable proof” of state workers’ compensation coverage. General Business Law 771-b, the state’s roofing contractor law, also calls for a certificate covering all employees, or a CE-200 if the company has none, in places with no local insurance rules.
Then check the answer yourself. The Board’s “Does Employer Have Coverage?” search draws on insurer filings, with workers’ compensation records from January 1, 2002 to date. The Board notes that the search matches names beginning with exactly what you type, so try the legal name from the license.
How much liability coverage, and with whom
Section 771-b lists liability amounts too: bodily injury coverage of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence, plus $50,000 for property damage per occurrence and in aggregate. The statute says those insurance rules apply in political subdivisions “that do not contain any insurance requirements” for such contracts. Nassau and Suffolk license contractors and set their own insurance requirements, so the county figure is the one to check, and our Nassau and Suffolk license guides go through each county’s requirement.
Get the name of the company that writes the policy, and the agent’s phone number. A certificate shows what was in force on the day it was printed. The call to the agent is what tells you about today.
Which manufacturer program are you in, and at what tier?
Shingle makers run contractor networks with tiers, and the tier often decides which extended warranty a roofer is allowed to register for you. Our roof warranty guide walks through how those warranties differ and the registration deadlines that come with them.
Two follow-ups keep this honest. First, look the company up on the manufacturer’s own contractor locator rather than trusting a logo on a yard sign. Second, keep in mind what the badge does not mean. When Owens Corning announced a workmanship warranty for its Platinum Preferred contractors in January 2012, the release described them as “independent contractors” who “are neither affiliates nor agents” of the company. The certification tells you which warranties are on the table. It does not make the manufacturer your contractor.
Ask for jobs you can drive past
Nassau’s checklist tells homeowners to “get names of satisfied customers” and adds, “In all cases, go and look at the work.” The Attorney General’s fact sheet likewise says to speak with past customers directly.
Ask for two or three roofs the company finished nearby, ideally on houses like yours. With a street address you can check how the ridge lines up, how the flashing meets the chimney, and whether the gutters went back on straight. A reference who answers the phone can tell you whether the crew showed up on the dates they gave and how cleanup went.
Who files for the town permit?
Nassau’s checklist puts the duty on the homeowner: “you are responsible for either getting the permits or seeing that the contractor gets them.” The Attorney General’s fact sheet says to check which permits are needed with your local building and codes office. Ask the roofer who files, whose name goes on the application, and whether the permit cost is in the price.
Rules vary by town and village, and our Long Island roofing permits guide sorts out which office to call.
What will your written estimate list?
The Attorney General says a home improvement contract must give a specific description of the work and materials, with brands, model numbers and other identifying information, and state the price. Nassau’s checklist asks for estimates that specify “quality of materials, warranties for labor and materials, work and payment schedules.” Ask now whether the roofer’s estimate shows those things. When the estimates arrive, you want to lay them side by side and compare like with like. Once you pick one, our roofing contract checklist covers what state law requires on the page you sign.
