TL;DR: The best questions to ask an Oklahoma roofer before hiring focus on state registration, insurance, manufacturer certifications, warranty, and written contracts, not price. Use the 12 questions below on every Oklahoma City roofing contractor you interview, and the storm chasers will disqualify themselves on the first three.
Why These 12 Questions Matter in Oklahoma
Questions to ask a roofer in Oklahoma are not academic. They are the most reliable filter between a legitimate local contractor and the out-of-state storm chasers who show up in the OKC metro after big hail events. Oklahoma doesn’t license roofers. It requires every roofer, including out-of-state companies, to register with the Construction Industries Board (CIB), but enforcement is thin: a News 9 investigation found only one prosecution for failing to register. After a 2024 storm, the BBB warned Oklahomans about solicitors who take insurance checks and disappear. The twelve questions below protect you from that outcome.
Use them all, in order. A real contractor welcomes the scrutiny. A bad one changes the subject.
12 Questions to Ask Your Oklahoma Roofer Before Signing
1. Are You Registered in Oklahoma, and Where Is Your Local Office?
Registration and a local presence are non-negotiable. Every roofer must register with the CIB before advertising, offering, or doing roofing work, and must show that registration number on ads, contracts, bids, and vehicles. Look it up on the CIB’s online search portal. Storm chasers tend to roll in after a hail event, sign as many jobs as they can, and move on before warranty issues surface, so also ask for a physical office address and verify it on Google Maps.
2. Can You Provide a Copy of Your General Liability and Workers’ Comp Insurance?
Both policies in writing, before work starts. To register for residential work, an Oklahoma roofer must carry at least $500,000 in general liability coverage plus workers’ compensation (or a valid exemption). Ask for current certificates, not a “sample.” If they dodge this question, walk away. You don’t want to be the one left dealing with injuries or property damage if their policies lapse.
3. Are You BBB Accredited and Do You Hold Manufacturer Certifications?
BBB accreditation plus at least one manufacturer certification. GAF Master Elite, Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, and CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster are among the credentials OKC roofers carry. Manufacturer programs vet the contractors they certify, and certification unlocks enhanced warranty options that non-certified contractors cannot offer. As an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, for example, Prodigy can offer Owens Corning’s System Protection and Preferred Protection warranties as upgrades to the standard manufacturer warranty.
4. Will You Provide a Detailed Written Estimate Before I Sign Anything?
Line-item estimate, not a round number. The estimate should specify shingle brand and color, underlayment type, ice-and-water shield coverage, flashing specifications, decking replacement allowance, ventilation upgrades, and cleanup inclusions. A single bottom-line number for “a new roof” is not an estimate. It is a handshake.
5. Do You Pull Permits, and Who Schedules Inspections?
Where a permit is required, the contractor should pull it. Rules vary by city. Since August 1, 2025, Oklahoma City has required a permit to remove, repair, or replace more than 500 square feet of roofing on a house. Yukon, Bethany, and Midwest City require reroof permits too, while Edmond doesn’t require one for residential roof coverings. If a roofer suggests skipping a required permit to save time or money, they are asking you to carry the risk. Legitimate contractors include permit fees in the estimate and schedule any required city inspection as part of the job.
6. What Is Your Manufacturer Warranty, and Who Registers It?
A manufacturer warranty registered by the installer. Enhanced manufacturer warranties only activate when a certified contractor installs the qualifying roofing system and files the registration within a set window. For Owens Corning’s Preferred Protection, that’s 60 days. Coverage length varies by product and warranty tier. Confirm the exact warranty tier in writing, and ask for a copy of the registration after installation completes.
7. What Is Your Labor Warranty, and Is It Assumable by Future Owners?
Get the labor warranty in writing, and ask if it transfers. Manufacturer product warranties cover the shingles themselves; a labor (workmanship) warranty covers how your roofer installed them. Ask how long it lasts and what it covers. Some manufacturer programs back workmanship too: Owens Corning’s Preferred Protection, for example, includes 10 years of workmanship coverage. A warranty that transfers to a new owner when you sell the house is a plus for buyers.
8. What Will You Do on My Insurance Claim, and What Won’t You Do?
Your roofer can document your claim, not negotiate it. A good storm restoration roofer knows how to read an Xactimate estimate, will photograph and measure the damage, and will meet your insurance adjuster on the roof to show what they found. They can also submit supplements for line items their estimate covers. Under Oklahoma law, though, a roofer can’t represent you on the claim or negotiate the settlement. That takes a licensed public adjuster. You file the claim. Be wary of any roofer who calls themselves a “claim specialist,” promises a bigger payout, or asks you to sign a power of attorney. Most homeowners with a straightforward hail claim don’t need a public adjuster.
9. How Long Will the Job Take, and What Happens If It Rains?
Many residential reroofs take a day or two, weather permitting. Ask how long your roof will take and what their weather protocol is. They should keep exposed decking protected if work stops overnight and have a clear policy for rescheduling if a storm moves in mid-tear-off. Confirm the start date in writing.
10. What Does Your Cleanup Process Look Like, Including Nails?
Magnetic nail sweep, before and after, full yard perimeter. A tear-off throws off a lot of old nails, and a good crew runs a magnet across your driveway, yard, and street during the job and again at final cleanup. Ask specifically about pool and garden protocols if applicable. Damage from dropped debris is a common complaint against careless roofers.
11. Can You Provide Three Recent Local References, Including One from the Last 30 Days?
Three recent OKC-area references, contact info provided. Ask for references in your specific suburb (Edmond, Nichols Hills, Yukon, Moore) if you live outside central OKC. Call at least one reference, and ask them specifically about communication, job site cleanliness, and warranty follow-through. A contractor who just arrived in town will struggle to produce local references.
12. When Do You Expect Payment, and What Payment Methods Do You Accept?
A reasonable deposit, balance on completion. Oklahoma contractors who demand full payment upfront, or full payment before the insurance depreciation release is issued, are a red flag. Ask which payment methods and financing options they offer, and don’t let anyone pressure you into an unusual payment method. Also know your rights: if you signed with a door-to-door salesperson, you generally have three business days to cancel, and if your insurer denies the claim in whole or in part, Oklahoma law lets you cancel a residential roofing contract within 72 hours of that written notice.
Red Flags That Should End the Conversation
Walk away immediately if any Oklahoma roofer knocks on your door after a storm and pressures you to sign that day, offers to “waive your deductible” (which is illegal under 59 O.S. §1151.30), demands a large cash deposit, refuses to provide an insurance certificate or CIB registration number, cannot produce a physical Oklahoma business address, or claims damage they won’t show you in photos. Any of these alone is enough. Multiple red flags in one conversation is a guarantee of trouble.
What Good Answers Actually Sound Like
A real Oklahoma roofing contractor answers every question above in plain language, in writing, and without hesitation. They should welcome being asked about insurance, warranties, and references. If you feel like you are interrogating them, you probably have the right company. If you feel like they are selling you something, keep looking. For a deeper walkthrough of the hiring process beyond the questions themselves, see our full guide on how to choose a roofing contractor. When you are ready to move forward, a free inspection from our team is the simplest way to see our roof replacement services in action.
Get a Free Roof Estimate From a Vetted Oklahoma Contractor
Prodigy Restoration is a BBB-accredited, Owens Corning Preferred roofing contractor based at 7140 NW 112th St, serving Oklahoma City, Edmond, Nichols Hills, Yukon, Moore, and the surrounding OKC metro. We’re registered with the CIB and happy to give you our registration number, and we welcome every question on this list as part of our free estimate process. Call us 24/7 at (405) 730-5672 or fill out our contact form.
Frequently asked questions
Do roofers need a license to work in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma does not issue a statewide roofing license, but every roofer must register with the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB) before advertising, offering, or doing roofing work, and a new residential roofing endorsement becomes required on January 1, 2028. Ask for the CIB registration number and verify it online. Some metro cities, including Yukon, Bethany, and Midwest City, also require roofers to register with the city.
How much deposit should an Oklahoma roofer ask for up front?
Ask for a reasonable deposit, with the balance due on completion. Demands for full payment before work starts are a major red flag, especially after a storm. On an insurance job, you pay your own deductible as part of the contract price. No roofer may waive, pay, or rebate it, which is illegal under 59 O.S. §1151.30.
What questions should I ask about roofing warranties in Oklahoma?
Ask four specific questions about warranty: (1) what manufacturer warranty tier are you installing, and do you register it, (2) what is your labor warranty and for how long, (3) is the labor warranty transferable to a future homeowner, and (4) what voids the warranty: tree contact, improper ventilation, and third-party work are common exclusions. Get every answer in writing before signing.
Should I get multiple roofing estimates in Oklahoma City?
Yes, getting more than one estimate is smart before signing a roof replacement contract in the OKC metro. Compare line items, not just bottom lines. Cheaper estimates sometimes skip ice-and-water shield, reuse old flashing, or use lower-grade underlayment. The lowest number isn't always the best value.
Is it safe to hire an out-of-state roofer after an Oklahoma hailstorm?
Be careful. Oklahoma has no out-of-state exemption: nonresident roofers must meet the same CIB registration, insurance, and workers' comp rules as local ones. But enforcement is thin, and the BBB has warned about post-storm solicitors who take insurance checks and disappear. Verify the CIB registration number, and favor a contractor with a verifiable local office and local references.
Prodigy Restoration
7140 NW 112th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73162
