To choose a roofing contractor in Houston, ask each company for the same four things: a certificate of insurance from the insurer, a written itemized estimate, a permit plan and a written warranty. Texas does not license roofers statewide, so these documents, plus nearby references, are how you tell an established contractor from a storm chaser.
What Texas does and does not require of roofing contractors
Many homeowners assume a roofer must be state licensed. In Texas that is not the case. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses trades such as electricians and air conditioning contractors, but it does not license roofing contractors. A 2025 bill, HB 3344, would have created a state reroofing contractor license, but LegiScan’s tracker shows it stopped at a House committee report. Check the current status before you rely on any claim that a roofer is “state licensed.”
What does exist is a voluntary credential from the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT), plus local permit rules and manufacturer programs. None of these is a government license, and each means something different, so ask a roofer to explain exactly what they hold and who issued it.
Four kinds of roofing contractors you will meet in Houston
- Established local roofers. A physical Houston-area address, years of jobs you can see, and a crew they supervise. The Texas Attorney General’s office advises hiring contractors who can show a physical business address.
- Manufacturer-program contractors. Companies invited into a shingle maker’s network. Owens Corning, for instance, says Preferred entry is by invitation and that Preferred and Platinum contractors carry at least $1 million in general liability insurance.
- Storm chasers. Out-of-area crews who arrive after hail or a hurricane. Some are fine; the risk is that they may be gone when a leak appears two years later.
- Lead-generation sites and directories. Sites like ours that connect you with roofers. They are a starting point, not a guarantee. Our listings are compiled from public information and are not verified.
The documents to request, and how to verify each one
| Document | What it should show | How to check it |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of insurance | General liability coverage, policy dates, your address as certificate holder if you ask | Have it sent by the insurer or agent, not forwarded by the roofer. Call the agent if anything looks off. |
| Workers’ compensation status | Coverage, or a clear statement of how workers are covered | Ask directly. The Attorney General’s guidance after disasters recommends asking contractors for proof of insurance. |
| Written itemized estimate | Scope, materials by name, tear-off, decking, flashing, ventilation, cleanup | Compare line by line against your other two bids. |
| Permit information | Who applies, who pays, permit number | Confirm with the permit office for your city. In Houston, call the One-Stop line at 832-394-8820. |
| Warranty paperwork | Manufacturer and workmanship terms in writing | Read the manufacturer’s published warranty, not just the sales brochure. |
| Manufacturer credential | Program name and level | Look the company up on the manufacturer’s own website. |
A simple method to compare three Houston roofing contractors
Gathering paperwork is only half the job. The other half is comparing it fairly. Here is a method that works for most homes:
- Define one scope. Decide before you call anyone: full tear-off or overlay, shingle line, and whether you want decking replaced if it is damaged. Give all three roofers the same description.
- Request the same documents from all three. Do not accept “I’ll send it later” from one and “here it is” from another as equal.
- Put the bids in a grid. One column per roofer: total price, tear-off, underlayment, shingle line, ventilation, flashing, permit, warranty length, payment schedule.
- Circle the gaps. A bid missing a row is not cheaper, it is incomplete. Ask the roofer to fill it in writing.
- Call two references. Ask about communication, cleanup, whether the final cost matched the estimate, and whether anything needed a callback.
- Decide on the whole package. Price, documents, warranty and how you were treated during the bidding.
Our companion guide, How to Compare Roof Replacement Quotes in Houston, goes deeper on reading the estimates themselves, and the best roofers in Houston scorecard turns the same checks into a point system.
Local factors that change what you should ask
City limits. The City of Houston’s Permitting Center lists a Residential Roofing Permit for a re-roof or overlay and says the permit must stay on site until final approval. Rules in neighboring cities and unincorporated areas can differ, so ask the roofer how your address is handled.
The east side and Galveston County. TWIA’s designated area includes Galveston County and parts of Harris County east of Highway 146. The Texas Department of Insurance runs a windstorm inspection program tied to that coverage. If your home is there, ask each contractor whether they are familiar with it, and confirm the details with your insurance agent.
After a storm. Demand spikes, and so do pushy sales tactics. Take time to collect your three bids even when the weather is bad. If water is coming in, a temporary tarp from a reputable company is a separate, smaller decision than signing a full replacement contract. Our storm and hail damage page covers what to do first.
Questions to ask on the phone
- How long have you worked in the Houston area, and can I see recent jobs near me?
- Do your own crews do the work, or subcontractors? Who is on my roof?
- Who pulls the permit and schedules the inspection?
- What warranty do I receive, from whom, and how is it registered?
- What happens if you find rotten decking after tear-off? How is it priced?
- What is the payment schedule?
One partner option, with a disclosure
Coreshield Home Systems is a partner roofer on this site, so we have a working relationship with them. According to its own website, the company is Houston-based, serves Houston, Katy, Cypress, Missouri City and other Greater Houston communities, and lists Owens Corning Preferred Contractor status. Details are on the partner roofers page. Treat it as one of your three bids, not a recommendation to skip the others, and use the directory to find additional companies.
Get three bids without calling around
Compare up to 3 free roof quotes with one short request, then use the grid above to compare them. New customers get $500 off a qualifying roof replacement from participating partner roofers (see terms). Prices are set by each roofer and are not guaranteed. Browse more in our Houston roofing guides or the Houston roofing FAQ.
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