Choosing a roofing contractor in Dallas starts with knowing what you cannot rely on. Texas does not issue a statewide roofing licence, and it does not issue a statewide general building contractor licence either. There is no state exam and no state register to look a roofer up on, so anyone can legally offer roofing work here. What tells you whether a contractor is reputable is their experience, their insurance, their reviews and references, the written estimate they give you, and the workmanship warranty they stand behind. Those are the checks we walk through below.
Texas Does Not License Roofers or General Contractors
Roofing is not a licensed trade in Texas, and neither is general building contracting. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses electricians, air-conditioning contractors and a long list of other trades, but it does not regulate roofers or general contractors, so there is no state licence to hold and no minimum job value that triggers one. Any contractor who shows you a “Texas roofing licence” or a “Texas general contractor licence” is showing you something the state does not issue. Individual cities may still require a contractor to register or to pull a permit, so ask about your own city.
Gather the Contractor’s Details
Collect the full legal business name, a physical business address, a phone number that is actually answered, and the name of the person who will be on your roof. A contractor working from a truck with no fixed address is the most common feature of the storm-chasing outfits that arrive in Dallas after a hail event and are gone by the next one.
Check for Voluntary RCAT Certification
Because the state licenses nobody, there is no official lookup to search. The nearest equivalent is voluntary certification from the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT), which runs its own programme with experience and insurance requirements, so a certified Texas residential roofing contractor has met a standard somebody independent checked. It is voluntary, so plenty of good roofers are not certified. Treat it as a positive signal, never as a legal requirement.
Verify the Business Itself
With no state register to search, verify the business the ordinary ways. Check how long it has traded under its current name, that the entity is registered with the Texas Secretary of State, and its complaint record, including under any previous name: storm-chasers routinely re-register after a bad season. Check too whether your city requires a permit for a reroof, as many DFW cities do, because a contractor who avoids pulling one is telling you something.
Confirm Insurance Coverage
With no licence to fall back on, insurance is where the real verification happens in Texas. Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance and have it sent to you directly by the insurer or agent rather than forwarded by the contractor, and confirm it is current. Ask separately whether the crew on your roof is covered by workers’ compensation: Texas does not require most private employers to carry it, so do not assume it is in place.
Seek Referrals and Reviews
With no licence to check, reputation carries more weight in Texas than it does in states that license roofers. Ask the contractor for references from their previous clients and take the time to read online reviews and testimonials. Positive reviews and satisfied customers are a good sign of a reliable roofing contractor.
Get Multiple Bids
To make the best decision, obtain bids from several established roofing contractors. Compare their proposals, pricing, and the scope of work they offer. Keep in mind, the cheapest option may not always be the best quality. Prioritize the overall value and reputation of the contractor.
Ask What the Workmanship Warranty Covers
A roof carries two separate warranties and they are not the same thing. The manufacturer warranty covers the materials; the workmanship warranty covers the installation, which is where most roof problems actually begin. Ask how long the workmanship warranty runs, exactly what it covers, whether it is transferable if you sell the house, and whether it is written into the contract or merely promised on the doorstep. A contractor who will not put a workmanship warranty in writing is telling you how long they expect to be around.
Sign a Detailed Contract
Once you’ve selected a roofing contractor, make sure to have a written contract in place. The contract should include:
- Project details
- Timeline
- Materials to be used
- Payment schedule
- Warranty information
Dane Roofing – A Dallas Roofing Contractor Since 2010
You cannot look a Texas roofer up on a state register, so the checks in this article are the ones that do the work: an established local business, insurance you have seen the certificates for, a written workmanship warranty, and references you can call. Dane Roofing has been a family-owned Dallas roofing company since 2010, with 130+ five-star Google reviews, and our experienced professional roofing crews specialize in complete roof replacement and new roof installation.
We serve Little Elm, Plano, Frisco, Richardson and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth area. For a free roof inspection and a written estimate, call (469) 585-3263 or submit our online form.