Reading a roofer's certifications
What the badges on a roofing website actually mean, and the two-minute check that tells you whether one is real.
Every roofing website carries a row of manufacturer logos. Very few explain what the logos mean, and the gap between the tiers is wider than the design usually suggests.
Three different kinds of thing
- A credential. The manufacturer has reviewed the contractor's licensing, insurance and standing and issued a status. CertainTeed ShingleMaster and GAF Certified Contractor are examples.
- A tier above that credential. SELECT ShingleMaster and GAF Master Elite sit higher and have tighter requirements. A contractor holding the lower tier should not imply the higher one.
- A membership. Joining a manufacturer's contractor network is a real relationship, but it is not a certification and it carries no endorsement or inspection by itself.
Those three get presented identically on most sites: one logo each, in one row, with no explanation. That is the part worth questioning.
Why it matters for your warranty
Manufacturer warranties come in tiers too, and which one can be registered on your roof depends on your contractor's status and on the system installed. A contractor without the right credential can install the same shingle and leave you with the standard product warranty instead of the enhanced coverage you assumed you were getting.
So the question to ask is not whether they are certified. It is: which warranty will be registered on my roof, in writing, on the proposal.
The two-minute check
Every real credential appears on the manufacturer's own contractor search. Look up the company name there. If it is not listed, the logo on the website is decoration.
See ours, with links to check themWhat we hold, stated exactly
- CertainTeed ShingleMaster, listed on CertainTeed's own contractor search.
- GAF Certified Contractor, listed on GAF's own contractor search.
- Member of the Owens Corning Roofing Contractor Network.
We publish the limits next to the credentials because they are checkable, and a company that is vague about the small claims is worth doubting on the large ones.
Other things worth verifying while you are at it
- The Mississippi State Board of Contractors license number, residential and commercial, on the state's own lookup.
- Current general liability and workers' compensation, on a certificate naming you, sent directly by the insurer's agent.
- A local address you can drive to, not just a phone number.
FAQ
Quick answers
Can a roofer buy a manufacturer certification?
Is a network membership worthless then?
How do I verify Southeast Roofing?
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