Questions About What Happens During the Job
- “What happens if it rains with my roof open?” — ask how the roof is dried in overnight and who decides when to stop
- “What if you find bad decking?” — ask for the per-sheet rate in writing, before the job, not a promise to be fair about it
- “How does a change order work?” — ask whether work pauses for written approval or proceeds and appears on the invoice
- “Where does the dumpster go, and what protects the driveway?” — asphalt, septic lids and lawns all have limits
- “What happens to my landscaping, gutters and satellite dish?”
- “If my start date moves, how much notice do I get?” — weather delays are normal; silence about them is not
Questions About the Years That Follow
- “Who do I call in year five, and will that number still work?”
- “Is the workmanship warranty yours, or administered by someone else?”
- “Does the warranty survive if I sell the house?”
- “What voids it?” — satellite installers, solar mounts and unvented bath fans all can
- “Will you come look at ice damming, or is that considered outside the warranty?”
- “What documentation do I get — photos, product data, the final invoice, the warranty certificate?”
Ask for the documentation package up front
Photos of the deck before it was covered are the single most useful record a homeowner can hold. They settle nearly every later argument about what was underneath.
Three Questions People Feel Rude Asking
Ask them anyway. Every one of them is routine to a well-run company.
- “Can your insurance carrier send me the certificate directly?”
- “Has the business operated under a different name, and how long under this one?”
- “Can I talk to a homeowner you worked for near me, within the last year or two?”
We field these regularly and can provide local references on request. Roof Masters has worked out of Tomahawk under the same name since 2014, and we are insured and certified — the paperwork exists precisely so you do not have to take anyone's word for it.
Common questions
- What should I ask a roofer before signing a contract?
- The four that matter most: what happens if bad decking is found and at what published rate, how change orders are approved, who holds the workmanship warranty and for how long, and who answers the phone after the job is complete.
- What voids a roofing warranty?
- Commonly: inadequate attic ventilation, later penetrations made by other trades such as satellite or solar mounts, pressure washing, and unrepaired damage left after a storm. Ask your contractor for their specific list in writing.
- Should I ask a roofing contractor for references?
- Yes, and ask for recent ones near your address. A contractor who works in your area regularly will have them; we can provide local references on request.