Blog / October 26, 2026

Roofing Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Contract: A Wylie & DFW Homeowner's List

Short answer: before you sign any roofing contract, ask nine questions — what scope is included, what materials are being installed by name, who pulls the permit, what the warranty actually covers, how payment is structured, whether the price is locked, what happens if it rains mid-project, who cleans up, and what happens if more damage shows up once the roof is opened. A written, itemized estimate with those nine answers in it is the single best protection you have as a homeowner. Here is the full list, in plain language.

1) Exactly what scope is included?

• Ask for the scope in writing: tear-off, underlayment, shingles or metal, flashing, vent and boot work, decking repair, ventilation, labor, disposal, and permits.
• A single lump-sum number with no breakdown makes it impossible to tell whether a later change order is legitimate or whether you are paying twice for something you already agreed to.
• If it is a repair rather than a replacement, ask what is explicitly excluded — because that is where the argument starts later.

2) What materials are being installed, by what name?

• Ask for the manufacturer's name and product line for the shingles, underlayment, and flashing — not just "architectural shingles."
• Confirm the underlayment type and whether a synthetic underlayment is being used instead of felt. It is a real difference in how the roof handles a storm that arrives mid-install.
• Ask about the flashing material: steel and aluminum behave differently than lead or copper, and the vent boots should be matched to the roof.
• Ask how many layers of shingles are being torn off if the old roof is still down. This is the detail that quietly changes the price.

3) Who pulls the permit, and who is responsible for the inspection?

• Find out whether the contractor pulls the permit or whether you are expected to. In most North Texas jurisdictions the contractor pulls it, and the inspection has to happen before the roof is finished.
• Ask who coordinates the inspection and what happens if it does not pass. A contractor who knows the answer has done it many times.
• Ask whether any HOA approval is required in your area, and who is responsible for that.

4) What does the warranty cover, and for how long?

• There are two separate warranties and they come from different places: the manufacturer's warranty covers the roofing material, and the workmanship warranty covers the installation.
• Confirm the length of each, and whether the workmanship warranty covers labor and not just materials.
• Ask whether the workmanship warranty is transferable if you sell the house. A lot of homeowners never think to ask this.
• Ask for both in writing before the work starts, not a verbal assurance after the deposit.

5) How is payment structured?

• Ask for a schedule: typically a deposit to schedule the job, a payment tied to material delivery or a completed phase, and a final payment after the walkthrough.
• Never pay the full amount up front. A contractor who asks for 100 percent before work starts is telling you something.
• Ask what happens if the job gets cancelled mid-project, and whether deposits are refundable.

6) Is the price locked, and what triggers a change order?

• Ask whether the quoted price is firm, and what specifically would allow it to change.
• The most common legitimate trigger is damaged decking found after the old roof comes off — so ask how that gets handled: photo documentation, a written change, and your approval before the work proceeds.
• Ask the maximum amount a change order can add before you need to talk to someone. A cap is a good thing to have in writing.

7) What happens if it rains mid-project?

• Ask how the roof is protected if the job is interrupted. A crew that covers the deck with tarp or underlayment and does not leave open decking is doing it right.
• Ask what the schedule looks like when a storm passes through — in North Texas a rain delay during a tear-off is common, and how it is handled is worth knowing in advance.
• Ask whether the crew cleans up daily. An open or partially open roof left overnight is a real risk.

8) Who handles cleanup and final walkthrough?

• Ask whether debris haul-away is included, and whether the site is swept and magnet-run for nails at the end. Nails in a driveway or a lawn are a genuine complaint worth preventing.
• Ask about landscaping and plants — how they are protect during the dumpsters and material staging.
• Ask for a final walkthrough with the homeowner, and how you get the final photo documentation of the completed roof.

9) What if more damage shows up once the roof is open?

• This is the most valuable question on the list, because it is the one that gets forgotten until the roof is already stripped.
• Ask what the process is: stop work, photograph the damage, price the repair in writing, and get your approval before proceeding.
• Ask whether there is a threshold below which small items get absorbed without a change order, so minor findings do not stall the job.

10) Signs to watch for on the contractor side

• Pressure to sign immediately. Especially after a hail storm, when door knockers show up in Wylie, Sachse, and Murphy within hours. A real local contractor will give you time to compare.
• No written itemized estimate. Verbal quotes and "we'll work it out" pricing are how scope arguments start.
• Payment demands that do not match the work. Full payment before materials arrive, or unexplained cash requests.
• Unverifiable insurance or licensing. Ask for proof. It should come back the same day.

If you want more context on the decisions themselves, our guides on roof repair vs. replacement in DFW and working through a storm damage claim cover the two questions that come up most often before anyone signs anything.