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
Commercial roofing and larger residential jobs in Mississippi fall under the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC). Ask for the license number and confirm it's current. 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 these over without flinching.
Ask every roofer for
- Their MSBOC license number (and confirm it's current)
- 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: MSBOC license #R22245, 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.
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Quick answers
Do roofers in Mississippi have to be licensed?
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What is a GAF Certified Contractor?
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