In this article 15 sections
- How Do You Choose the Right Commercial Roofer in San Antonio?
- 15 Questions to Ask Before You Hire
- How to Verify a Roofer’s Credentials in Texas
- What to Ask Their References
- Red Flags That Signal a Storm Chaser
- Paperwork to Request
- What Should Be in the Roofing Contract?
- What Good Project Communication Looks Like
- FAQs | Hiring a Roofer
- Does Texas require a roofing license?
- How much insurance should a commercial roofer carry?
- Should I hire the cheapest bid?
- Is it OK for my roofer to talk to my insurance adjuster?
- How many bids should I get?
- Put Us to the Test
How Do You Choose the Right Commercial Roofer in San Antonio?
The right contractor matters more than the brand of membrane. Use the questions below to compare any company you’re considering for commercial roofing in San Antonio, including us.
15 Questions to Ask Before You Hire
| # | Question | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | How long have you had a local office? | A verifiable San Antonio-area address and history |
| 2 | Can I see three similar commercial projects? | Same roof type and size, with contacts you can call |
| 3 | Are you certified by the manufacturer you’re proposing? | Yes, at the level needed for the warranty offered |
| 4 | Can you send insurance certificates directly from your agent? | General liability, workers’ comp, auto and umbrella, current |
| 5 | Who will be on my roof: your crews or subcontractors? | A clear answer and who supervises them |
| 6 | Will there be a full-time foreman on site? | Yes, named, with daily reporting |
| 7 | What safety program do you follow? | Written program, OSHA training, fall protection plan |
| 8 | Did you test for moisture or take cores? | Yes, with results in the proposal |
| 9 | What exactly is in your scope? | Itemized: tear-off, insulation, cover board, flashing, edge metal, drains |
| 10 | What warranty, and NDL or limited? | Type, term and wind rating in writing, with a sample |
| 11 | Who pulls the permit? | The contractor, with the permit number before work starts |
| 12 | How will you protect the building and tenants? | Dry-in plan, phasing, access and noise plan |
| 13 | How do you handle hidden deck damage? | Unit prices for deck replacement, agreed in advance |
| 14 | What’s the payment schedule? | Tied to milestones, not a large upfront payment |
| 15 | Who do I call if it leaks next year? | A named contact and response time in writing |
How to Verify a Roofer’s Credentials in Texas
Don’t rely on what’s in the brochure. These checks take under an hour and filter out most problem contractors:
- Business registration: search the company on the Texas Comptroller’s taxable entity search or the Secretary of State to confirm it’s active and see how long it has existed.
- Insurance: ask for certificates sent directly from the insurance agent, naming you as certificate holder, then call the agent to confirm the policies are current.
- Manufacturer status: look the company up in the manufacturer’s certified-contractor directory for the system being proposed.
- Permit history: ask for addresses of recent commercial re-roofs in San Antonio and check that permits were pulled.
- Safety record: search the company name in OSHA’s establishment search for citations.
- References: call at least two owners or property managers with similar buildings and ask what went wrong and how it was handled.
- Complaints: check the Better Business Bureau and search the name with “lawsuit” or “complaint.”
What to Ask Their References
- Was the job finished on time and on budget?
- Were there change orders, and were they explained before work?
- How did the crew protect the building and tenants?
- Did any leaks happen during or after the job, and how fast were they fixed?
- Was the warranty issued and registered?
- Would you hire them again?
Red Flags That Signal a Storm Chaser
- Shows up uninvited after a hailstorm with out-of-state plates
- Offers to waive or absorb your deductible
- Says they’ll “handle the insurance” or negotiate your claim
- Asks for large payments before materials arrive
- No local address, or only a P.O. box
- Pressures you to sign the same day
After storms, see storm and hail damage roof repair in San Antonio.
Paperwork to Request
- Insurance certificates naming you as certificate holder
- Manufacturer certification letter
- Itemized written proposal with roof plan
- Sample manufacturer and workmanship warranties
- Safety program summary
- References with phone numbers
Comparing bids next? See commercial roof replacement in San Antonio and commercial roof repair in San Antonio.
What Should Be in the Roofing Contract?
| Item | What it should say |
|---|---|
| Scope | Roof areas, tear-off, insulation, cover board, membrane, flashings, edge metal, drains |
| Materials | Brand, product, thickness and color |
| Schedule | Start date, duration and weather allowances |
| Price and payments | Total price; payments tied to milestones |
| Change orders | Unit prices for deck and insulation replacement; written approval before extra work |
| Permits and inspections | Who pulls the permit and schedules inspections |
| Site rules | Work hours, staging, protection of building and tenants, cleanup and disposal |
| Warranties | Manufacturer and workmanship terms, with sample copies attached |
| Lien releases | Lien waivers from the roofer and suppliers with each payment |
What Good Project Communication Looks Like
- Pre-job meeting to agree on staging, access, schedule and contacts
- One named supervisor on site and one office contact
- Daily or weekly updates with photos of progress and any hidden damage found
- Written approval before any change order work
- Final walk-through and closeout package: warranty, photos, permit sign-off
FAQs | Hiring a Roofer
Does Texas require a roofing license?
No. Texas has no state roofing license. A voluntary industry license exists through the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas, and some cities have registration rules.
How much insurance should a commercial roofer carry?
Enough for your building’s value and risk. Many owners require at least $1 million per occurrence in general liability, plus workers’ comp and an umbrella. Your lender or insurer may set specific minimums.
Should I hire the cheapest bid?
Only if the scope is identical. Low bids often leave out insulation, flashing, edge metal or deck repairs, which come back as change orders.
Is it OK for my roofer to talk to my insurance adjuster?
Yes. A roofer can meet the adjuster and explain documented damage, but can’t negotiate the claim on your behalf in Texas.
How many bids should I get?
Three is common for commercial work, ideally based on the same written scope so you can compare them fairly.
Put Us to the Test
Ask us all 15 questions. We’ll answer in writing and back it up with references, certificates and a detailed proposal.
- Free roof assessment across San Antonio, including Westover Hills, commercial roofing in Stone Oak and Helotes
Book your free roof inspection in San Antonio or see commercial roof maintenance programs.
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Questions get answered by the roofers who wrote the article, not a chatbot.