Hiring
How to Tell a Local Roofer From a Storm Chaser
After every major Colorado hail event, out-of-state crews flood the metro. Some are competent. Many are not. The ones that matter most are the ones who will still be here when something needs warranty work three or seven years later.
What to ask before signing anything
Where is your office and how long has it been there? Who is the local owner? What is your municipal contractor license number for my city or county? Can I see three local references from completed jobs in the past 12 months? What does your written workmanship warranty say, and who honors it if the company closes? Will you pull the permit in your name? Will you send certificates of insurance for general liability and workers compensation directly from the carrier?
- Local Colorado address verifiable on Google Maps (drive by the office)
- Local owner you can meet in person
- Municipal contractor license for your jurisdiction (Denver, Aurora, Boulder, Pikes Peak Regional, Fort Collins, etc.) and active liability insurance
- Written workmanship warranty from the company, not just the manufacturer
- Three local references with addresses you can drive past
- Active local online reputation older than the most recent hail event
- Manufacturer certification verifiable directly on the manufacturer's locator (GAF Master Elite, CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster, Owens Corning Platinum Preferred)
- SB12-038 compliant written contract with bold-faced deductible and trust statements
Why this matters
Storm chasers operate on a one-event business model. They book hundreds of jobs, install fast, and leave. When the workmanship fails three years later, there is no one local to call. The Colorado Roofing Association, the Better Business Bureau of Denver and Boulder, the Colorado Division of Insurance, and the Colorado Attorney General have all warned that out-of-state crews flood the state after major hail events. Several criminal cases in Denver and Colorado Springs in 2024 to 2025 involved fraudulent damage claims, stolen deposits, and felony charges.
Colorado has no statewide roofing license. Each municipality licenses contractors and pulls permits. That makes verifying a contractor with the local building department the single most important step a homeowner can take.
Verify before signing
Call your municipality's building department and ask: is this contractor licensed and in good standing to perform roofing work in this jurisdiction? Verify general liability ($1 million minimum) and workers compensation directly with the insurer (not from a copy the salesperson hands you). Check the BBB profile and complaint resolution at bbb.org. Check Colorado Roofing Association membership at coloradoroofing.org/find-a-contractor. Verify manufacturer certification on the manufacturer's website. Search Stop Fraud Colorado at stopfraudcolorado.gov for past complaints.