After a hailstorm, a Plano homeowner can hear from several roofers in a single week, and most of them will sound confident. Knowing how to choose a roofing contractor comes down to checking things you can verify, not trusting how a sales pitch feels on the doorstep.
This checklist covers what Plano actually requires of contractors, the warning signs federal consumer regulators describe, what a written estimate and contract should contain, how to handle payment and insurance money, and what to ask before you sign. Each step can be checked in writing or with a phone call.
How do you choose a roofing contractor in Plano?
Start with what you can verify. Confirm the contractor is registered with the City of Plano and will pull the permit, ask for proof of insurance, compare written estimates, read the contract in full, and pay in stages rather than up front. A contractor who welcomes those checks is a better sign than any promise.
The rest of this guide expands each step. In short, the checklist looks like this:
- City registration and permit. Plano requires contractors to register before they can obtain a permit.
- Proof of insurance. Ask for it in writing, not just a verbal assurance.
- Complaint and reputation checks. Search the company name, read reviews critically, and ask consumer protection officials.
- Several written estimates. Compare scope and materials, not just the total.
- A complete written contract. Every promise in writing, every blank filled in.
- Staged payment. Never the full amount up front, and the final payment only when the work is done.
Hiring the right contractor is also the best defence against a leak after the job. Our guide to why a new roof still leaks, and who is responsible explains what happens when installation goes wrong.
What does the City of Plano require of roofing contractors?
Plano requires contractors to be registered with the city to obtain a building permit. That rule sits in Plano’s residential code, adopted by Ordinance No. 2025-6-15, which amends section R105.3 of the 2024 International Residential Code. Homeowners working on their own residence may obtain permits without registering.
The ordinance, published on the city’s Building Codes and Ordinances page, repeals the previous residential code and adopts the 2024 International Residential Code with local amendments as the Residential Code of the City of Plano. Its amended section R105.3(B) says that to obtain a permit, the applicant shall be registered as a contractor, by application on forms provided by the building official.
Three details in that section are useful when vetting a roofer:
- Registration can be suspended. The ordinance lists causes including failing to finalise permits by obtaining the required inspections, and the expiration, suspension or revocation of a required licence, bond or insurance.
- Some trades must prove state licences. Electrical, irrigation, mechanical and plumbing contractors must provide proof of required State of Texas licences and insurance. If your roofing job involves any of that work, such as moving a vent or electrical line, ask who will do it.
- Homeowners are exempt. Homeowners may obtain permits for work at their own residence without being registered. That exemption is for the homeowner, not for a contractor working on your house.
The practical test is simple. Ask the contractor whether they are registered with the City of Plano and whether they will obtain the permit for your job. Then confirm it with the city’s building inspections office before work starts.
Who should pull the roofing permit, you or the contractor?
The contractor should. Under Plano’s ordinance, a registered contractor can obtain the permit, and the homeowner exception exists for people doing their own work. If a roofer asks you to pull the permit for a job they are doing, treat it as a warning sign, because the Federal Trade Commission lists exactly that request among common scam tactics.
The Federal Trade Commission’s guide on how to avoid a home improvement scam names asking you to get any required building permits as one of the tactics scammers use. When the homeowner pulls the permit, the homeowner takes on responsibility for the work passing inspection.
A contractor who pulls the permit also ties their city registration to the job, and the ordinance allows registration to be suspended for failing to finalise permits.
What are the warning signs of a bad roofing contractor?
The Federal Trade Commission lists six tactics scammers commonly use: knocking on your door because they are in the area, claiming leftover materials, pressuring for an immediate decision, asking for full payment up front or cash only, asking you to pull permits, and steering you to a lender they know. Any one of these is a reason to slow down.
Here are the FTC’s warning signs, alongside what a verifiable contractor does instead:
| Warning sign (FTC) | What to expect instead |
|---|---|
| Knocks on your door because they are “in the area” | You choose whom to contact, often from people you trust |
| Says they have materials left over from another job | Materials specified in a written estimate for your roof |
| Pressures you for an immediate decision | Time to compare several written estimates |
| Wants everything paid up front, or only cash | Staged payments, with the final one after the work is done |
| Asks you to get the building permits | Contractor obtains the permit as a registered contractor |
| Suggests you borrow from a lender they know | You shop around and compare loan terms yourself |
After storms, the risk rises. The FTC’s guide to avoiding scams after weather emergencies warns that unlicensed contractors and scammers often appear in recovery zones. It lists further red flags: claiming they do not need to be licensed, offering a discount only if you sign right away, asking you to sign over your insurance check, and insisting on payment by wire transfer or gift card.
How do you check a roofer’s insurance, reputation and complaints?
Ask for proof of insurance in writing, then check the contractor’s record. The FTC suggests getting recommendations from people you know and trust, checking with consumer protection officials for complaints, searching the company name with words like scam, review or complaint, and reading reviews with a critical eye.
Work through these checks before you invite anyone to quote:
- Proof of insurance. The FTC advises asking the contractor for proof of insurance. Ask whose name is on the policy and what it covers, and keep a copy.
- Licences and registration. The FTC advises checking with your state or county government to confirm a contractor’s licence. In Plano, also confirm city registration under R105.3(B), and ask about state licences for any electrical, plumbing or mechanical work in the job.
- Complaints. The FTC suggests checking with consumer protection officials, and with the local Home Builders Association, for complaints against the contractor.
- Online search. Search the company name together with words such as “scam”, “review” or “complaint”.
- Reviews. Read customer reviews with a critical eye, on rating sites you trust.
- References. Recommendations from neighbours and people you know are a strong starting point.
What should a roofing estimate include?
A written estimate should describe the work, list the materials, give a completion date and state the price, according to the FTC. Get more than one, do not automatically choose the lowest bidder, and ask for an explanation when estimates differ a lot. The comparison is only fair if every estimate covers the same scope.
For a roof, “the same scope” means checking each estimate for the same items. Ask every contractor to spell out:
- Tear-off or overlay. Whether the old roof is removed, and how many layers.
- Materials. Shingle brand, product line and rating; underlayment type; flashing and drip edge.
- Decking. How damaged decking will be handled and documented if it is found once the old roof is off.
- Ventilation. Whether vents are replaced or changed.
- Permit and inspections. Who obtains the permit and who arranges the inspections.
- Cleanup. Debris removal and nail cleanup.
- Warranty. What the manufacturer covers and what the contractor’s own workmanship warranty covers, in writing.
When two estimates differ a lot, look for the difference in this list first. Our pillar guide to roof damage and the repair-or-replace decision explains what drives the scope of the work in the first place.
What should a roofing contract include before you sign?
The FTC says to ask for a written contract even if your state does not require one, and to check it includes the contractor’s name, address, phone number and licence number, estimated start and completion dates, and every promise made about scope and costs. All blank spaces should be filled in before you sign.
The FTC’s contract checklist, applied to a roof:
| Contract item (FTC) | What it looks like on a roofing job |
|---|---|
| Name, address, phone, licence number | The company’s full details, plus its Plano registration |
| Estimated start and completion dates | Start window and expected finish, with weather allowances explained |
| Promises made in conversation | Materials, decking handling, cleanup, warranty terms, all in writing |
| Right to cancel within three business days | A written statement, if you signed at home or away from the seller’s place of business |
| No blank spaces | Every line filled in or struck through |
Read every page, and do not sign anything you have not read, that is in a language you do not understand, or that has blank spaces. The FTC also warns never to let anyone pressure you into signing.
How should you pay a roofer, and what about insurance money?
Never pay the full amount up front. The FTC notes that some states limit how much a contractor can ask for as a down payment and says to check with your state or local consumer agency. Make the final payment only when the work is done and you are satisfied, and never sign an insurance check over to a contractor.
Payment works best in stages tied to visible progress. Pay by a traceable method, and keep receipts. The FTC warns that scammers insist on payment by wire transfer, gift card or cash.
Insurance-funded jobs need extra care. The FTC’s weather-emergency guidance says not to rely on a contractor to tell you what your insurance covers, and never to sign your insurance check over to a contractor. It suggests arranging a Certificate of Completion with your bank or credit union, so the bank pays the contractor for each stage of the job after you approve it.
Coverage itself is decided by your policy and your insurer. Confirm what your policy covers with your insurer directly, and keep the contractor’s estimate and the insurer’s documents together.
What questions should you ask a roofer before hiring?
Ask questions that produce answers you can check. Ask about city registration, permits and inspections, proof of insurance, who does the work, how decking and surprises are handled, warranty terms in writing, and how payment is staged. A good contractor answers each one plainly and puts the answers in the contract.
Useful questions to ask every roofer:
- Are you registered with the City of Plano, and will you obtain the permit?
- Can you give me proof of insurance in writing?
- Who will be on the roof: your own crew or subcontractors?
- Who will handle any electrical, plumbing or mechanical work, and do they hold the required State of Texas licences?
- How will you document and price decking damage found during tear-off?
- What does your workmanship warranty cover, for how long, and is it in writing?
- How is payment staged, and when is the final payment due?
- Who arranges the city inspections, and will I get a copy of the result?
- What is your local address and phone number if something goes wrong later?
If you are comparing roofers now, Roofing Repair Plano’s residential roofing services start with an inspection and a written scope you can compare line by line with any other estimate. If an insurer has already denied your claim, see what to do when a roof claim is denied in Texas.
Frequently asked questions
Do roofing contractors need to register with the City of Plano?
Yes, to obtain a permit. Plano’s Ordinance No. 2025-6-15 amends section R105.3(B) of the 2024 International Residential Code so that a permit applicant must be registered as a contractor with the city. Homeowners doing work at their own residence may obtain permits without registering. Confirm a roofer’s registration with the city.
Should I pull the roofing permit myself?
Not for a job a contractor is doing. The homeowner exception in Plano’s code is for homeowners doing their own work. The FTC lists asking you to get the building permits as a common scam tactic. A registered contractor should obtain the permit, which also ties the inspections to their city registration.
How many roofing estimates should I get?
The FTC advises getting multiple estimates, not automatically choosing the lowest bidder, and asking for an explanation if estimates differ a lot. Each written estimate should describe the work, the materials, the completion date and the price. Make sure every estimate covers the same scope, including tear-off, decking and cleanup.
How much should I pay a roofer up front?
Never the full amount. The FTC notes some states limit down payments and suggests asking your state or local consumer agency about the law where you live. Pay in stages tied to progress, by a traceable method, and make the final payment only after the work is done and you are satisfied with it.
Can I sign my insurance check over to the roofer?
The FTC says never to sign your insurance check over to a contractor. It suggests arranging a Certificate of Completion with your bank or credit union, so the bank pays the contractor for each stage after you approve it. Confirm what your policy covers directly with your insurer, not through the contractor.
What are red flags when hiring a roofer?
The FTC lists door-to-door approaches because they are in the area, leftover materials, pressure to decide immediately, demands for full payment up front or cash, asking you to get permits, and steering you to their lender. Refusing to give copies of insurance, licences or a written contract is another red flag.
