How we decide who makes the shortlist
Every company on The Roofers Guide passes the same independent editorial screen. We review its operating presence, public reputation, business history, relevant registrations, and manufacturer credentials using public records and established third-party sources. When information comes from the company itself, we identify it accordingly.
The four-part screen, before anyone makes the list
We apply the same four-part screen to every contractor we consider. Passing the screen earns editorial consideration, not a guarantee, endorsement, or paid placement.
- 01
Online reputation across platforms
We read reviews across Google, BBB, Facebook, and Nextdoor together, the cross-platform shape, not one star count. What the roofer says when a job goes wrong tells us more than a wall of five-star ratings. We want consistency over years, not a burst before storm season.
- 02
Tenure at a verifiable address
How long the shop has operated under the same name, at a real address we can stand in front of. We weight years in business and same-address continuity over slick branding and out-of-town pop-ups that appear the week after a hailstorm.
- 03
A warranty in writing
What the roofer actually puts their name behind on paper. Manufacturer-backed warranties through audited programs (GAF Golden Pledge, Owens Corning System Protection, CertainTeed SureStart) carry real weight. A verbal promise or an in-house guarantee does not.
- 04
Claims checked against outside sources
We compare the company's public claims with government records, manufacturer directories, established review platforms, and other traceable sources. A conversation with the contractor can add useful context, but participation is not required for independent editorial coverage.
Any one of these and the roofer doesn’t make the list
- Offering to absorb your deductible (illegal under Texas §707)
- PO Box, UPS Store, or out-of-state address with no in-market footprint
- Formed post-storm with no prior business history
- Refuses to pull the permit in their own name
- Public evidence contradicts a required license, registration, or coverage claim
- Pressure to sign an Assignment of Benefits before any inspection
- BBB complaints with no response or repeated unresolved complaints
Some roofers are Featured Partners, always labeled
A few of the roofers you’ll see are Featured Partners. They’re marked as Featured everywhere they appear, so you always know money changed hands for the spotlight. Here’s exactly what that does and doesn’t buy.
- A clearly labeled spotlight: placement and visibility, nothing hidden.
- Priority when a homeowner in their city asks us for a quote.
- A pass on vetting. Featured Partners clear the exact same four-part screen.
- A better rating, a softer write-up, or a hidden red flag.
- A recommendation we wouldn’t give a roofer who paid us nothing.
How we make money, in plain English
Vetting comes first. Money never moves the list.
Every roofer here is vetted before a dollar is on the table. We earn two ways, and neither one buys a passing grade, a better rating, or a place on the list.
- 01A referral fee when we connect you with a vetted roofer
- 02Featured Partner placements, always labeled as such
- 03Neither one changes who passes vetting or who we’d recommend
- Featured Partners are labeled. A paid spotlight is always marked as one.
- Same bar for everyone. Featured Partners pass the exact same vetting as the rest.
- Money never buys a rating. It buys a labeled spotlight, never a passing grade.
- Never softer write-ups. A fee never softens a finding or hides a red flag.
- Never AOB. We don’t broker insurance claims.
What vetting can’t do, said out loud
Passing isn't a guarantee
A roofer who clears our screen can still botch a job. Vetting stacks the odds in your favor. It doesn't hand you a sure thing. Read the write-up, ask your own questions, and trust your gut on the phone call.
We don't reduce a roofer to one number
No composite score, no letter grade on a leaderboard. Roofers are a trade with judgment, history, and trade-offs. A single number creates false confidence we won't trade in, so we tell you what we found and let you decide.
We say what we couldn't verify
We distinguish facts supported by independent sources from statements published by the company. Unsupported details stay out of the customer-facing profile rather than appearing as unfinished research.
We only cover cities we've actually done
We're relaunching one city at a time, by hand. We'd rather have a short, real list in a few markets than a giant auto-generated one everywhere. If we haven't done your city yet, it means we haven't done it well enough to stand behind.
State-by-state licensing, where it applies
Licensing rules differ by state. Below is the framework we apply as we work through each market.
- ACLB
Arkansas
Residential Roofing Registration required for residential work over $2,000 (effective 2022). Commercial $50K+ requires a separate license.
Verify: portal.arkansas.gov
(501) 372-4661 - CIB
Oklahoma
Roofing Contractor Registration with $500K+ GL and workers' comp. Effective July 1, 2026, residential work additionally requires a Residential Roofing Endorsement.
Verify: verifyroofing.cib.ok.gov
(405) 521-6550 - RCAT (voluntary)
Texas
No state license. We prefer RCAT-credentialed operators (~300 statewide). §707 makes deductible absorption illegal, an automatic disqualification.
Verify: rcat.net
(512) 251-7690
See also: Disclosure & ethics · Editorial standards. Maintained by the Roofers Guide team.