Most bad roofing outcomes are not caused by bad luck. They are caused by hiring decisions made on price and confidence instead of on verifiable facts. Everything in this checklist is public information or a direct question a legitimate contractor answers without hesitation, and all of it takes about ten minutes.

Start with the license, not the reviews

California requires roofing contractors to hold an active C-39 license from the Contractors State License Board. The CSLB's public lookup at cslb.ca.gov shows license status, classification, bond information, workers' compensation coverage, and any disciplinary history. Run every contractor you are considering through it, using the license number printed on their bid. A contractor whose paperwork does not show a license number has answered your question already.

  • License status is active, not suspended or expired
  • Classification includes C-39 (roofing)
  • The business name on the license matches the name on the bid
  • A contractor's bond is on file
  • Workers' compensation coverage is current if they have employees

Then verify insurance directly

Ask for a certificate of insurance for general liability, sent to you from the insurance agent rather than photocopied by the contractor. Roofing is physically risky work on your property. If a worker is injured on your roof and the contractor's coverage has lapsed, the exposure can land on the property owner.

Read the scope like it matters, because it does

The estimate itself is the best evidence of how a contractor works. A real scope names the manufacturer and product line, the membrane thickness or shingle grade, the underlayment, which flashing is replaced versus reused, a unit price for deck repair agreed before tear-off, and the warranty path. A one-paragraph bid with a big number and the word 'complete' in it is not a scope. It is an invitation to change orders.

Ask about the warranty path specifically

There are two warranties on a roof: the manufacturer's warranty on materials and the contractor's warranty on workmanship. Ask which manufacturer programs the contractor is certified under, what the workmanship warranty covers and for how long, and what documented maintenance the manufacturer requires to keep its warranty in force. Vague answers here are a preview of the answer you will get when something leaks in year six.

Red flags that end the conversation

  • A bid delivered without anyone getting on the roof
  • Pressure to sign same-day for a 'today only' price
  • A request for a large cash deposit up front (California law limits down payments on home improvement contracts)
  • No license number on the paperwork, or a number that does not match the CSLB record
  • No physical business address or a phone that never reaches a person

Run this exact check on SunCraft

SunCraft Roofing publishes everything this checklist asks for, and you should verify rather than take the website's word for it. The license is CSLB #1146573, checkable at cslb.ca.gov. The office is at 426 W Carson St, Suite 8, Carson, CA 90745. The phone is 310-955-1051 and a person answers it. The Google Business Profile and Yelp listing are linked in the footer of every page. If a contractor makes verification hard, that is your answer. It should be this easy everywhere.