Hiring a Roofer7 min read

How to choose a roofing contractor (and dodge the storm chasers)

After a big storm, out-of-town crews flood the Pine Belt, collect checks, and vanish. Here's how to tell a roofer worth hiring from one you'll never find again.

Your roof is one of the most expensive things you own, and hiring the wrong contractor to work on it can cost you twice, once for the bad job, and again to fix it. In Mississippi, the risk spikes after every hurricane and hail event, when storm-chasing crews descend on the area, knock doors, collect money, and disappear the moment the check clears. A little vetting up front protects you from all of it.

Start with license and insurance

The Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) licenses this work, and it licenses residential and commercial contracting separately, in two different registers. The board's own rule is that residential roofing work over $10,000 requires a residential license, which covers essentially every roof replacement, and that commercial jobs over $50,000 require a commercial license. So there is a second question after 'what is your license number', and it is 'which register is it in'. A contractor can hold one and not the other.

Then ask for proof of both general liability insurance and workers' compensation. If an uninsured worker is hurt on your roof, or your home is damaged, you don't want that liability landing on you. A legitimate contractor hands all of this over without flinching, and a number you can check beats any promise made on your driveway. If you want the click-by-click version, our guide to verifying a Mississippi contractor's license covers the register and both indexes.

Ask every roofer for

Their MSBOC license number, and which register it is in: residential, commercial, or both
Confirmation that it is current, checked at search.msboc.us rather than taken on trust
A certificate of general liability insurance
Proof of workers' compensation coverage
A physical local address: not just a cell number and a magnetic sign

The storm-chaser red flags

They knocked on your door uninvited right after a storm and pressured you to sign today.
Out-of-state plates, no local office, and a phone number that isn't a Mississippi business line.
They want a large payment up front, or ask for the insurance check to be signed over to them.
They offer to 'waive your deductible': which is insurance fraud, and a preview of how they do business.
No written, itemized proposal: just a number scribbled on a business card.
Reviews you can't verify, or none at all.

Signs of a roofer worth hiring

A standing local address you can drive to, and a track record in your area.
Manufacturer certification: a GAF Certified Contractor, for example, is vetted and trained by the manufacturer.
Verifiable reviews on Google and a real BBB profile you can check yourself.
A written, itemized proposal that prices each part of the job: shingle, underlayment, flashing, disposal, so you see exactly what you're paying for.
No high-pressure tactics: a good roofer is fine with you taking time to decide.

Questions to ask before you sign

Who does the work: your own crews, or subcontractors?
What does the manufacturer warranty cover, and what does your workmanship warranty cover?
How do you handle unexpected decking damage found during tear-off?
Will you meet my insurance adjuster on site if this is a storm claim?
Can I see the itemized proposal in writing before I commit?

Vet us the same way

We're glad to be checked, and we're in both registers: MSBOC Residential License #R22245 and MSBOC Commercial Certificate of Responsibility #27720-SC, plus GAF Certified Contractor, BBB A+ rated, and 5-star reviewed on Google. Every credential links to a record we can't edit. Our office is on US-98 in Hattiesburg.

Verify our credentials

FAQ

Quick answers

Do roofers in Mississippi have to be licensed?

Commercial work and larger residential projects fall under the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC). Always ask for the license number and confirm it's current, and ask for liability and workers' comp insurance too, regardless of the job size.

What's wrong with a roofer offering to waive my deductible?

It's a red flag. Your deductible is your share of the claim by contract with your insurer; a contractor 'eating' it usually means inflating the estimate or cutting corners elsewhere, and in many cases it crosses into insurance fraud. Walk away.

Why does a local address matter so much?

Because a roof problem can surface months later. A contractor with a standing local office and reputation is still here to stand behind the work, storm-chasing crews are three states away by then.

What is a GAF Certified Contractor?

GAF certifies contractors it has vetted and trained to install its systems to specification. It's a manufacturer's stamp that the roofer meets a standard, and it's something you can verify directly on GAF's website.

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