--- title: "What to Ask a Connecticut Roofer Before You Sign a Contract" description: "Ask a roofing contractor who tears off the roof, how damaged decking is priced, and whether ice protection and ventilation are included. Get it in writing." url: "https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/residential-roofing-contractor-questions-to-ask-ct/" lang: "en" published: "2026-10-25" modified: "2026-10-25" author: "Jose Zaruma" tags: ["roofing","hiring-a-contractor","roof-replacement","connecticut"] image: "https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/blog/residential-roofing-contractor-questions-to-ask-ct/residential-roofing-contractor-connecticut-shingle-color-samples-on-po.jpg" alternates: es: "https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/es/preguntas-contratista-techos-ct.md" --- Roofing Guide # What to Ask a Connecticut Roofer Before You Sign a Contract By [Jose Zaruma](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/author/jose-zaruma/)Published October 25, 2026 - roofing - hiring a contractor - roof replacement - connecticut ![What to Ask a Connecticut Roofer Before You Sign a Contract](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/blog/residential-roofing-contractor-questions-to-ask-ct/residential-roofing-contractor-connecticut-shingle-color-samples-on-po.jpg) The best questions to ask a roofing contractor are the ones a written proposal can answer in black and white: the exact company name and registration number, the insurer, what gets torn off, what goes underneath the shingles, who pulls the permit, how you pay and what happens if it rains. Each one has a good answer and a place where you can check it. Before the first meeting, put together the property address, the approximate age of the roof, where it leaks, any stains on the attic or ceiling, your insurance information and a few photos. Then ask every company for its legal business name and its Connecticut home improvement (HIC) registration number. Those two items let you compare companies on the same footing from the first conversation. Everything below is organized the way most homeowners decide: who you are hiring, what the proposal covers, how the job runs, what is warranted and how you pay. ## Key Takeaways ### Registration and insurance are two separate checks: look up the HIC registration in the state eLicense system, then call the insurer on the certificate to confirm the policy is active. ### A complete proposal names tear-off or overlay, the number of layers, how damaged decking is priced, and the underlayment, ice barrier, flashing and ventilation products. ### Connecticut guidance suggests about one-third down, progress payments tied to milestones and a traceable payment method; the contract has a three-business-day cancellation right, and Saturday counts. ### Compare at least three written proposals line by line, and keep the signed, dated contract and the final records. ## Who Are You Hiring, and How Do You Check Both Registration and Insurance? Connecticut treats roof work as home improvement, so a contractor doing residential roofing generally must hold an active registration with the Department of Consumer Protection. The state's [home improvement registration page](https://portal.ct.gov/en/DCP/License-Services-Division/All-License-Applications/Home-Improvement-Applications) explains the requirement, and the [license verification instructions](https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/licensing/verify-a-license---instructions?language=en_US) show how to look a company up in eLicense, the state's primary verification system. A lookup shows the credential's status, number, effective date and expiration date, so search by the number and by the business name and make sure both point to the same company. ![Extension ladder at a roof eave with a coiled safety rope and harness hanging from a roof anchor on a partly stripped slope](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/blog/residential-roofing-contractor-questions-to-ask-ct/insured-residential-roofing-crew-safety-setup-connecticut-ladder-and.jpg) Who does the work is the third question. Ask whether the crew are employees or subcontractors, who supervises the job on site, and who you call when something goes wrong. Ask for recent references on comparable roofs. ## Registration and Insurance Questions A good answer sounds simple: "Our contract will show our HIC number, here is our current insurance information, and you are welcome to call the insurer." Hesitation over any of it is worth noting before you move on. ## What Should a Complete Roof Proposal Say About Tear-Off, Decking and Underlayment? The first big fork is whether the proposal is for a complete tear-off or an overlay. Ask how many layers of roofing are on the house now and why the existing roof is suitable, or unsuitable, for another layer. The Connecticut code and the shingle manufacturer's instructions decide what is acceptable, and the 2022 State Building Code, [published by the state](https://portal.ct.gov/das/home/office-of-state-building-inspector/connecticut-state-building-code/regulations?language=en_US), applies to permit applications filed on or after October 1, 2022. It adopts the 2021 International Residential Code. Decking is where bids often drift apart. Ask how the roof deck will be inspected after the old roofing comes off, what counts as damaged and how replacement is measured and priced. A decking allowance might be per sheet, per square foot or by another unit, and the contract should state which. The unit price, plus any labor or disposal charges, belongs in writing, because there is no statewide fixed price per sheet to compare against. Underlayment comes next. The proposal should name the product or the performance standard, where it goes and how it overlaps. Connecticut's roofing provisions require approved underlayment and require roof coverings to be installed according to the code and the manufacturer's instructions. ## What the Proposal Should Spell Out ## How Does Connecticut's Ice Barrier Rule Affect Your Roof? Connecticut winters build ice at the eaves, and the code responds to that. For asphalt shingles, it calls for an ice barrier where ice can form along the eaves and back water up under the roof. The code material in a [state building inspector's code clarification](https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DAS/Office-of-State-Building-Inspector/2022-CCPs/22-011-SBC-Johnny-Carrier---Roof-Tape.pdf) describes the barrier as running from the lowest roof edge to at least 24 inches beyond the inside wall line. ![Black ice barrier membrane running up from the eave under the first shingle courses, with icicles on a neighboring roof](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/blog/residential-roofing-contractor-questions-to-ask-ct/roof-ice-barrier-eave-detail-connecticut-winter-home.jpg) Ask the same of flashing and ventilation, since both decide whether the new roof keeps water out. A roofer should be able to say which flashing at each valley, wall, chimney, skylight and pipe will be reused, repaired or replaced, and what is happening with attic airflow. Ask the contractor to assess your property's own exposure and ice-dam history, because a statewide average will not tell you what your north-facing eave does in February. For how a full replacement is laid out, see our [roof replacement](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/roof-replacement/) page, and bring any leak photos to the meeting. ## Who Pulls the Permit, and What Happens in What Order? [Roof replacement](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/roof-replacement/) permits and inspections run through your local building department under the state code. Ask first whether a permit is needed, which department issues it and who is named as the applicant. If the contractor agrees to apply, the Department of Consumer Protection advises you to confirm with the local building official that the right permit was issued. The Department's [home improvement guidance](https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/news-releases-from-the-department-of-consumer-protection/2025-news-releases/home-improvement-projects-require-a-contract-registered-contractor) from 2025 is clear that permits come before work starts. A good contractor can give you the sequence in writing. Materials arrive and the property is protected. The old roof comes off and the exposed deck is inspected. Deck repairs, underlayment, ice barrier and flashing go on, followed by the shingles and ventilation. A required building inspection follows, and then the final cleanup and a walkthrough with you. Ask which inspection happens after tear-off or before the work is covered up, what final inspection or certificate is required, and whether you will receive the permit number and the inspection results. Schedule is the next layer. Ask for a start date and a completion date, and ask how rain, snow, ice, high wind or unsafe temperatures change the schedule and how the new date will be communicated. How long a replacement takes depends on the roof and the weather, so the dates and the delay terms belong in your contract. ## What Does the Site Protection and Cleanup Plan Look Like? Cleanup is a contract term, not a courtesy. Ask who protects siding and windows, who covers plantings, how gutters and the driveway are protected, whether tarps are used and who removes the old roofing debris. Ask specifically whether a magnet sweep for roofing nails is part of the job and who handles nails or debris that remain after the crew has gone. A good answer names the person responsible and says it will be written into the proposal. A vague answer is a reason to ask again, and to ask where the line is written. Be open with the contractor about what you know. Mention known leaks, earlier repairs, insurance claims, attic moisture, structural concerns and any previous layers of roofing. Accurate information leads to an accurate scope, and hidden damage is easier to price fairly when it is not a surprise. Whatever the crew finds, extra work should be authorized in a written change order, never by a quick word on the driveway. ## What Changes the Price of a Connecticut Roof, and How Do You Compare Bids? Every roof prices differently, so a number from a website or a neighbor is a weak guide for yours. The roof's measured area and complexity, its pitch, the number of existing layers, tear-off and disposal, decking repairs, the shingle grade, the underlayment, ice barrier, flashing and ventilation, [skylights](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/skylights-and-sun-tunnels/), chimneys, access, site protection, permit fees, labor, weather and the warranty you choose all move the total. Request the price in writing, from each company, after they have inspected your roof. ![Separate groups of shingle bundles, underlayment rolls, an ice barrier roll, ridge vent lengths and flashing coils staged on a driveway](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/blog/residential-roofing-contractor-questions-to-ask-ct/residential-roofing-materials-staged-connecticut-driveway-layout.jpg) ## Line Items to Request from Every Contractor Compare at least three detailed written proposals. The State's [Department of Consumer Protection](https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/trade-practices-division/what-to-look-for-in-a-home-improvement-contractor) advises meeting multiple contractors, checking references and being cautious about anyone who asks for most of the money up front. When two bids differ by a large amount, look for the line that one of them left out before deciding the other is overpriced. For a wider look at vetting a company before the meeting, the post on [how to choose a roof installation contractor](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/how-to-choose-a-roof-installation-contractor/) covers it. For the line items themselves, see [how to read a roofing estimate](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/how-to-read-a-roofing-estimate/). ## Which Warranties Apply, and Who Stands Behind Each One? A roof normally carries at least two warranty questions. The manufacturer's limited warranty covers qualifying product defects under its terms. The contractor's workmanship warranty covers installation and labor, and it is only as strong as what the contractor writes down. A manufacturer warranty does not stand in for the contractor's own. GAF's [residential warranty page](https://www.gaf.com/en-us/resources/warranties/residential) states that its base shingle and accessory warranties do not require registration, while enhanced warranties require registration by a certified contractor. It also says workmanship or misapplication coverage is available only through specified certification levels and qualifying systems. Other manufacturers set their own rules, so ask which exact warranty applies to your roof. Useful questions include which products and accessories must be installed for eligibility, whether registration is required, who registers it and when you will receive the document. Ask what labor, flashing, tear-off and disposal coverage is included, and what exclusions apply to ventilation, deck movement, improper installation, weather damage and non-manufacturer materials. Then ask what the contractor's own workmanship warranty says, and who stands behind it if the company closes or changes ownership. If a proposal promises an enhanced warranty, check the certification in the manufacturer's directory. GAF has a [contractor verification tool](https://www.gaf.com/en-us/roofing-contractors/verify), and CertainTeed provides a professional-contractor search through its [contact page](https://www.certainteed.com/contact-us). [American Quality Roofing and Siding](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/) holds the CertainTeed ShingleMaster PRO credential, and you can ask us for the warranty documents in writing before you sign. ## How Should You Pay, and What Does the Cancellation Right Give You? The Department of Consumer Protection recommends a payment schedule tied to progress. Its 2025 guidance suggests about one-third for the deposit and initial materials, one-third when the project is halfway complete and the last third at completion. Ask for the exact deposit amount, what it covers, what event triggers each progress payment and what has to be finished before the final one. ![Finished ridge and hip of a new gray shingle roof with a clean lawn and swept driveway below](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/blog/residential-roofing-contractor-questions-to-ask-ct/residential-roof-completed-connecticut-ridge-cap-and-clean-site.jpg) Under Connecticut's [home improvement contract rules](https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/consumer/consumers----home-improvement-contracts), a contract must include the contractor's HIC number, a project description, materials, the price, start and completion dates and a notice of your right to cancel. You have until midnight of the third business day after you sign. Saturday counts as a business day for this; Sunday and listed legal holidays do not. Work should not begin during that cooling-off period unless you use the legally recognized emergency waiver. When the job is done, keep the signed and dated contract, the permit number and inspection results, the warranty documents, every change order and the payment record. Those papers are the reason to ask for everything in writing in the first place. ## Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring a Roofing Contractor in Connecticut **What are the top questions to ask a roofing contractor?** Ask for the HIC registration number and permission to verify it; the insurance carrier and permission to call it; who will do the work; whether the roof will be torn off and how damaged decking is handled; which underlayment, ice barrier, flashing and ventilation are included; who obtains the permit; the start date, completion date and weather-delay plan; and the product and workmanship warranties. **What should I ask when getting a quote?** Ask whether the price includes tear-off, disposal, deck repairs, underlayment, ice barrier, drip edge, flashing, ventilation, permits, labor, cleanup and warranty registration. Ask what would trigger a change order and require every change in writing. **What are signs a roofer is reputable?** An active Connecticut registration, verifiable insurance, a detailed written contract, clear material specifications, realistic scheduling, references for similar work and a payment schedule tied to progress. The Department of Consumer Protection also advises meeting with multiple contractors and being wary of anyone asking for most of the money up front. **What should I not tell a contractor?** Do not conceal known leaks, earlier repairs, insurance claims, attic moisture, structural concerns or earlier layers of roofing. Give accurate information, and avoid authorizing extra work verbally. The contract controls the scope, and written change orders control additions. **Do I tip roofers?** The contract price controls what you owe. If you would like to offer a gratuity, ask the company whether it accepts tips, and do not substitute a tip for the final payment. **How many proposals should I collect?** At least three detailed written proposals, compared line by line. Compare the scope and the product names before the totals, and ask each company to fill in any line another one has and it lacks. **Quiz: Quick Check: Hiring a Connecticut Roofer** 1. Which statement about registration and insurance is correct? - If a contractor is registered, you do not need to check insurance - A certificate of insurance proves the company is registered - They are separate checks: look up the HIC registration, then call the insurer to confirm the policy **(correct answer)** - Neither can be verified by a homeowner 2. For asphalt shingles, where does Connecticut's code say the ice barrier should extend? - From the lowest roof edge to at least 24 inches beyond the inside wall line **(correct answer)** - Only along the ridge - Six inches from the gutter - Across the whole attic floor 3. How does the three-business-day cancellation right treat Saturday? - Saturday does not count - Saturday counts as a business day **(correct answer)** - Only Sundays count - Weekend days are skipped entirely 4. What payment arrangement does Connecticut guidance recommend? - Full payment up front in cash - About one-third down, progress payments tied to milestones, and a traceable method **(correct answer)** - Payment only after the warranty expires - A peer-to-peer transfer before the work starts 5. Which statement about warranties is correct? - A manufacturer warranty always covers the contractor's workmanship - Workmanship coverage is a separate warranty, so ask for the contractor's in writing **(correct answer)** - Warranties never need registration - Warranty documents are not worth keeping ## Final Thoughts With the right questions, a roofing proposal stops being a total at the bottom of a page and becomes a set of choices you can see. You can name the registration number, the insurer and the permit office before you sign, compare at least three written proposals line by line, and keep the signed, dated contract and the final records. That preparation pays off long after the crew leaves. The warranty papers, permit results and change orders are the file you will reach for if a question comes up years from now. If you are collecting proposals, ask [American Quality Roofing and Siding](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/) for the same items in writing: our HIC registration number, insurance information, who obtains the permit, the warranty documents, the schedule and weather-delay plan, and how [emergency roof](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/emergency-roof-services/) problems are handled. We serve Central and Western Connecticut from Brookfield, estimates are free and financing options are available. [Request a free estimate](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/free-estimate/) or call us, and bring your list of questions. Written by [Jose Zaruma](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/author/jose-zaruma/), American Quality Roofing and Siding. [← Back to the blog](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/blog/) ## Related Articles ### [Roof Repair in Woodbury, CT: Leaks, Shingles and Permits](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/roof-repair-woodbury-ct/) Roof repair in Woodbury, CT starts with a written inspection and a clear scope. Ask who pulls the permit and whether a historic district applies. ### [Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Roof in Connecticut?](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/roofing-permits-in-connecticut/) A roofing permit in Connecticut is generally needed for a full replacement. Repairs under 25% of the roof covering in one calendar year can be exempt. ### [Skylight Leak Repair or Replace? Start With the Cause](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/skylight-leak-repair-or-replace/) A skylight leak can come from flashing, a failed seal, cracked glass or ice dams. Check the cause first, then decide whether to repair or replace. ## Planning a Roof Project in Connecticut? Talk to American Quality Roofing and Siding. Call [(203) 470-0974](tel:+12034700974) for a free, no-pressure estimate. [Get a Free Estimate](https://americanqualityroofingandsiding.com/free-estimate/)[Call Today](tel:+12034700974)