How to Find the Best Roofers in Orlando

How do I find the best roofers in Orlando? Verify the Florida roofing license on DBPR, read recent reviews for the specific office, get a written scope that names the materials and the permit, and compare warranty terms in writing. Avoid any company that offers gifts or discounts for an inspection; Florida law (s. 489.147) prohibits it.

The six checks:

1. Verify the Florida license on DBPR.
2. Read reviews for the office that will do the job.
3. Get a written scope that names the materials and the permit.
4. Compare warranties in writing.
5. Watch for red flags.
6. Compare every quote on the same roof.

This guide is published by Noland's Roofing, a licensed roofer serving west Orlando from our Clermont office. Use the same checks on us as on anyone else.

Verify the Florida license (DBPR)

1. Open the Florida DBPR license search.
2. Search by the business name or the license number printed on the proposal.
3. Check the license type. A Certified Roofing Contractor license starts with CCC.
4. Check that the status is current and active.
5. Check that the business and the qualifying contractor match the names on your paperwork. DBPR explains how the qualifier and business licenses fit together.

Ask for proof of liability coverage and workers' compensation as well, and keep it with the proposal.

Read reviews for the office that will do the job

A company with offices across Florida can have great reviews in one city and a different crew in yours. Read recent reviews for the office that will actually send the crew, and look for how the company handled scope changes, cleanup and callbacks, not only the star rating. A contractor's own ranking of itself isn't independent evidence.

Get a written scope that names the materials and the permit

Put each contractor's answer side by side. An unanswered item is a question to ask, not something to assume is included.

An Orlando mailing address doesn't settle who issues your permit; it may be the City of Orlando or Orange County. The City of Orlando's residential roof permit instructions cover properties inside city limits. Ask the contractor which office applies and who handles it.

Living area isn't roof area, so check which number each quote used. Our how big is my roof guide explains the difference.

Compare warranties in writing

There are usually two warranties:

• Manufacturer warranty: covers the roofing materials. Ask which product it applies to, whether it has to be registered, and whether an enhanced version requires specific installation components.
• Workmanship warranty: covers the installation, from the contractor. Ask how long it lasts, what it excludes, and who you call if something goes wrong.

Get both in writing and keep them with the signed proposal. The length of a warranty matters less than what it covers.

Red flags

• Pressure tactics: a price that is only good today, or a push to sign before you've compared.
• No written scope: a single total with no materials, areas or permit named.
• Gifts or discounts for an inspection: offering a gift card, rebate or discount for letting them inspect your roof is prohibited in Florida under s. 489.147, Florida Statutes.
• No license you can look up, or a license under a different name from the business on the proposal.
• A large payment up front before materials are delivered or work starts.

Where Noland's fits

Noland's Roofing serves west Orlando from our Clermont office, along with nearby Winter Garden and Apopka. We're Florida Certified Roofing Contractor #CCC1335461. We don't have an Orlando office, and we don't cover all of the Orlando metro. If you're comparing roofers, start with a Roof Report Card: a technician photographs your roof and gives you a written grade with notes. See our Orlando page, including Orlando roof repair and Orlando roof replacement, or call the Clermont office at (352) 242-4322.

Comparing roofers? Add a Roof Report Card to your list. A technician photographs your roof at no charge, and you keep the report.