How to Choose a Roofing Contractor in Mississippi: 15 Essential Questions

Choosing the right roofing contractor is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a homeowner. A quality contractor protects your investment, while a poor choice can mean shoddy work, warranty headaches, or even financial loss.

This guide provides 15 essential questions to ask any roofing contractor, plus red flags to watch for and verification steps to take before signing a contract.

Why Careful Selection Matters

Roofing is one of the most fraud-prone contractor industries. Mississippi sees significant activity from:

Taking time to verify credentials and ask the right questions protects you from these risks.

The 15 Questions to Ask Every Roofing Contractor

### Question 1: Are You Licensed to Work in Mississippi?

Mississippi requires roofing contractors to be licensed for projects over $50,000 (residential) or $10,000 (commercial) through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.

What to verify:

**How to verify:** Search the contractor's license at the [Mississippi State Board of Contractors website](https://www.msboc.us/).

### Question 2: Do You Carry Liability Insurance and Workers' Compensation?

This protection is essential. Without it, you could be liable for:

Request:

**Verify directly:** Call the insurance company to confirm coverage is current.

### Question 3: How Long Have You Been in Business?

Experience matters in roofing. Look for:

**Why it matters:** Newer companies may lack experience with complex situations, and some contractors rebrand frequently to escape poor reviews or legal issues.

### Question 4: Will You Provide a Detailed Written Estimate?

Professional estimates should include:

**Red flag:** Vague estimates, verbal-only quotes, or reluctance to put details in writing.

### Question 5: What Warranties Do You Offer?

Understand both types of warranties:

Manufacturer warranty (materials):

Workmanship warranty (labor):

**Ask specifically:** What voids the warranty? Who honors it if you sell the home? What's the claims process?

### Question 6: Can You Provide Local References?

Request:

When calling references:

### Question 7: Who Will Actually Do the Work?

Understand the crew situation:

**Why it matters:** Some contractors take jobs and subcontract to whoever's available. Consistent, experienced crews produce better results.

### Question 8: How Do You Handle Building Permits?

Professional contractors should:

**Red flag:** Contractors who suggest skipping permits are cutting corners. Unpermitted work can cause problems when selling your home and may void warranties.

### Question 9: What Does Your Payment Schedule Look Like?

Reasonable payment terms:

Red flags:

### Question 10: How Will You Protect My Property?

Professional contractors should explain:

### Question 11: What's Your Process for Handling Problems?

Even good projects encounter issues. Understand:

### Question 12: Do You Provide a Project Timeline?

Professional contractors should provide:

**Ask:** What happens if the project runs longer than expected? Will there be additional charges?

### Question 13: What Materials Will You Use?

Don't accept generic descriptions. Get specifics:

**Request:** Manufacturer product specifications for key materials.

### Question 14: How Do You Handle Insurance Claims?

If your project involves insurance:

**Red flag:** Contractors who offer to "waive your deductible" are committing insurance fraud—and involving you in it.

### Question 15: Can I Get Everything in Writing?

Before signing anything, ensure the contract includes:

**Review carefully:** Don't sign a contract you haven't read completely. If something's missing, request it be added in writing.

Red Flags That Should Stop Any Deal

Walk away immediately if a contractor:

Verification Checklist Before Signing

Complete this checklist for any contractor you're seriously considering:

Comparing Multiple Estimates

When evaluating quotes:

**Don't simply choose the lowest price.** Compare:

The cheapest quote often becomes the most expensive project due to hidden costs, shortcuts, or problems requiring correction.

Working with Farrell Roofing

At Farrell Roofing, we welcome these questions and encourage homeowners to verify everything we tell them. We provide:

We've served [Tupelo](/tupelo-roofing), [Oxford](/oxford-roofing), [Starkville](/starkville-roofing), and communities across [Lee County](/lee-county-roofing), [Pontotoc County](/pontotoc-county-roofing), and [Lafayette County](/lafayette-county-roofing) for over a decade.

[Contact us](/contact) for a free estimate, and ask us any of these questions—we're happy to provide the documentation and references you need to make an informed decision.

[Request Your Free Estimate](/) from a contractor you can verify and trust.