Verify basics
- Trade licenses only when the work requires them (e.g. electrical / plumbing) — NH has no statewide roofing/siding contractor license
- Certificate of insurance (COI) — current general liability PDF
- Written scope with materials, tear-off, disposal, and cleanup
- Local references or recent jobs in your town
- Clear payment schedule — not 100% upfront
Compare scopes, not just price
One quote with ice & water and ridge venting is not the same as a cheaper line item that says "shingles only."
Ask what happens at chimneys, sidewalls, and low-slope transitions. Those details separate a ten-year roof from a twenty-five-year roof.
Red flags
- Door-to-door sales right after a storm with "today only" pricing
- No physical business presence or vague service area
- Won't pull permits when the town requires them
- Asks you to sign insurance paperwork you do not understand