After a major storm, Cleveland gets flooded with out-of-state roofing crews — sometimes called 'storm chasers' — who do shoddy work and disappear before problems surface. Even without storm chasers, the roofing industry has more than its share of bad actors. Here's how to protect yourself.
8 Questions to Ask Before Signing Anything
1. Are you licensed and insured in Ohio?
Ohio requires roofing contractors to carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation. Ask for certificates of insurance — not just verbal confirmation. Call the insurer to verify.
2. How long have you been in business locally?
A contractor who's been in the Cleveland area for 10+ years has a reputation to protect. Out-of-state or newly formed companies have no local accountability.
3. Do you use subcontractors?
Some contractors win the job and then subcontract the work to the lowest bidder. Ask who will actually be on your roof and whether they're employees or subs.
4. What manufacturer certifications do you hold?
GAF Master Elite, Owens Corning Preferred, and CertainTeed ShingleMaster certifications require training, insurance minimums, and customer satisfaction standards. These matter.
5. Can you provide local references?
Ask for references from jobs completed in the past 12 months in your area. Call them. Ask about the crew's professionalism, cleanup, and whether the estimate matched the final price.
6. What does your warranty cover?
Understand the difference between the manufacturer's material warranty and the contractor's workmanship warranty. A 50-year shingle warranty means nothing if the installation is poor.
7. How do you handle unexpected damage?
Ask how they handle situations where decking damage or other issues are discovered mid-project. Get the answer in writing before work starts.
8. What's your payment schedule?
Never pay more than 10–15% upfront. A reputable contractor doesn't need a large deposit. Final payment should be made after you've inspected the completed work.
Red flags: pressure to sign immediately, unusually low bids, requests for full payment upfront, no physical address, inability to provide proof of insurance, or offers to 'waive your deductible' (this is insurance fraud).
Pring Roofing has been serving Cleveland homeowners since 1936. We're licensed, insured, GAF-certified, and happy to provide references from recent local jobs.
Shawn Stypa
Owner of Pring Roofing. Third-generation roofer with over 30 years of experience in residential and commercial roofing across Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.