How to Choose a Roofing Contractor on Long Island

Hiring a roofing contractor is one of the most consequential decisions you’ll make as a homeowner. A good contractor protects your home for decades. A bad one leaves you with leaks, voided warranties, and expensive repairs. On Long Island, where storm chasers and unlicensed operators show up after every nor’easter, knowing how to vet a contractor is essential.

Here’s what to look for — and what to avoid — when choosing a roofer for your Long Island home.

Verify Licensing and Insurance

This is non-negotiable. In New York, roofing contractors must carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Many Long Island towns and villages also require a home improvement contractor license.

Ask any contractor you’re considering for:

Proof of general liability insurance (at minimum $1 million per occurrence)
Workers’ compensation certificate covering their crew
Home improvement license for your specific town or village

If a contractor can’t produce these documents, walk away. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor doesn’t carry workers’ comp, you could be held liable. It’s that serious.

Call the insurance carrier listed on the certificate to confirm the policy is active — some contractors let coverage lapse after obtaining the initial certificate.

Check References and Reviews

A contractor with 10 or 20 years in business should have no trouble providing references from past customers. Ask for five to ten names and actually call a few. Ask those homeowners:

Was the work completed on time and on budget?
How did the crew handle unexpected issues (rotted decking, weather delays)?
Was the job site kept clean?
Would you hire them again?

Online reviews on Google, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau add useful data points, but they don’t replace direct conversations with past customers. Look for patterns in reviews — consistent praise for communication and quality is a good sign. Recurring complaints about missed timelines or poor cleanup are red flags.

Get Written Estimates

Never accept a verbal quote. A professional roofing contractor provides a detailed written estimate that includes:

Scope of work — what’s being removed, installed, and repaired
Material specifications — brand, product line, and color
Labor costs itemized separately from materials
Timeline — start date and expected completion
Payment terms — deposit amount, progress payments, final payment
Permit responsibility — who pulls permits and handles inspections
Cleanup and disposal — dumpster, debris removal, final walkthrough

Compare estimates from at least two or three contractors. The lowest bid isn’t always the best value — it might mean cheaper materials, cutting corners on underlayment, or skipping proper ventilation work. Look for the estimate that’s thorough, transparent, and realistic.

Ask About Materials

Not all shingles are equal, and a contractor’s material choices tell you a lot about their standards. Ask specifically:

What brand and product line do you recommend, and why?
What underlayment will you use? (Synthetic underlayment outperforms felt paper in Long Island’s weather.)
Will you install ice and water shield in valleys, along eaves, and around penetrations?
What ventilation system will you install or maintain?

Contractors who are manufacturer-certified — such as Owens Corning Preferred Contractors or GAF Master Elite installers — have met specific training and performance standards. These certifications also unlock extended warranty options that aren’t available through non-certified installers.

Understand the Warranty

Roofing warranties have two components, and both matter.

Manufacturer warranty covers defects in the roofing material itself. Most architectural shingles carry a limited lifetime manufacturer warranty, but the terms vary. Read the fine print — some warranties are prorated after a certain number of years, meaning coverage decreases over time.

Workmanship warranty covers the contractor’s installation. This is where many homeowners get burned. Some contractors offer no workmanship warranty at all. Others offer one or two years. A contractor who stands behind their work will offer five years or more.

Ask to see the warranty terms in writing before signing a contract. If a contractor is vague about warranty coverage, that’s a warning sign.

Watch for Red Flags

Long Island sees its share of fly-by-night roofing operations, especially after major storms. Here are the warning signs:

Door-to-door solicitation after storms. Legitimate contractors don’t need to canvass neighborhoods for work. Storm chasers travel from disaster to disaster and won’t be around when warranty issues arise.
Pressure to sign immediately. Any contractor who says the price is only good “today” is using a sales tactic, not running a professional business.
Large upfront deposits. A reasonable deposit is 10% to 30% of the project cost. If someone asks for 50% or more before starting, be cautious.
No physical business address. A PO box or out-of-state address should raise questions. Look for a contractor with an established local presence.
Cash-only payment. Professional contractors accept checks, credit cards, and financing. Cash-only requests suggest the contractor is avoiding tax obligations or a paper trail.
No permit pulled. If a contractor suggests skipping the permit to save money, they’re putting you at risk. Unpermitted work can cause problems when you sell your home and may void your insurance coverage.

Ask the Right Questions

Before signing with any contractor, ask these directly:

How long have you been in business on Long Island?
Can I see your license and insurance certificates?
Who will be the project manager on my job?
Do you use subcontractors or your own crew?
What happens if you find damage to the decking during tear-off?
What’s your process for handling change orders?
Can I see photos of recent completed projects?

The answers will tell you a lot about how the contractor runs their business.

Why Homeowners Choose Cigna Roofing

We’ve been roofing Long Island homes for 24 years. We’re a family-owned company, fully licensed and insured, with an established reputation across Nassau and Suffolk County. As an Owens Corning specialist, we install premium materials backed by extended manufacturer warranties, and we stand behind every project with our own labor and material workmanship guarantee.

You can see examples of our completed work on our portfolio page and learn more about our team on our about page. We don’t use high-pressure sales tactics, and we won’t tell you that you need a new roof if a repair will do the job.

Make a Confident Decision

Hiring a roofing contractor comes down to trust. Verify credentials, check references, read the estimate carefully, and ask questions until you’re satisfied. A contractor worth hiring will welcome the scrutiny — because they have nothing to hide.

If you’re ready to start the process, we’ll begin with a free, no-obligation roof inspection and a detailed written estimate.

Schedule your free inspection today.