How to Choose a Roofing Contractor in Arizona (Without Getting Burned)

After a bad storm or when your roof starts leaking, the pressure to hire someone quickly can lead to costly mistakes. Roofing fraud and poor workmanship are among the most common contractor complaints filed in Arizona every year. Here's how to protect yourself and hire someone you can actually trust.

Step 1 — Verify Their ROC License

In Arizona, all roofing contractors must hold a valid Registrar of Contractors (ROC) license. This is non-negotiable. Go to azroc.gov and look them up by name or license number. Check that their license is active, covers roofing (CR-42 for residential), and has no disciplinary history. Premier Roofing's license is ROC #344327 CR-42 — you can verify it yourself in 60 seconds.

Step 2 — Check Insurance

Ask for proof of both general liability insurance and workers' compensation before any work begins. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor lacks workers' comp, you could be held liable. Legitimate contractors carry both without hesitation and will provide certificates upon request.

Step 3 — Read Local Reviews

Look them up on Google, BBB, and Nextdoor specifically. Reviews from homeowners in your area carry more weight than a high volume of generic reviews. Look for patterns — consistent praise for communication and cleanup is a good sign; repeated complaints about surprise charges or no-shows are serious red flags.

Step 4 — Get Everything in Writing

A professional roofing contract should include a detailed scope of work, specific materials (brand, grade, and color), start and completion dates, payment terms, warranty information for both materials and labor, and how change orders will be handled. Never pay more than 30% upfront — the rest should be tied to project milestones.

Red Flags to Watch For

• Pressure to sign a contract immediately or "today only" pricing
• Request for full payment upfront
• No physical address or local office
• Can't provide ROC license number on request
• Vague or verbal-only quotes with no written contract
• Shows up unsolicited after a storm (storm chasers)
• Asks you to sign an insurance Assignment of Benefits (AOB) before work begins

Questions to Ask Every Contractor

• What is your ROC license number and can I verify it?
• How long have you been operating in this area?
• Who will actually be on the job — your employees or subcontractors?
• What warranty do you offer on workmanship?
• Can you provide 3 local references from the past 6 months?

At Premier Roofing, we welcome every one of these questions and will answer them completely before you ever sign anything. We've been serving the West Valley for 19+ years and our reputation is everything to us.