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A roofing contract should state in writing the work to be done, the named materials, the start and finish terms, the price and payment schedule, who handles the permit, cleanup and warranties, and how changes and cancellation work. If a line is vague or blank, ask for it in writing before you sign.

This is general information, not legal advice; have an attorney review any contract you’re unsure about. For the terms to refuse outright, see Section 6 of our contractor guide. This page does not repeat that list. It covers what a good contract should say.

What should a roofing contract say, line by line?

Each line of a contract should answer a question you would otherwise ask later. The table runs from the parties to cancellation, with what a clear contract says and a question for every contractor. A blank answer means the contract is silent on that line. These rows are practical checklist items, not legal requirements.

Contract line What a clear contract says What to ask
Parties and contact Full business name, address, phone, email, license number where one applies, and a named person for problems. Who do I call if something goes wrong?
Scope tied to the bid States that the work is the scope in the bid you accepted, attached or copied in, line for line. Does the contract match the bid I accepted, and is the bid attached?
Materials named Manufacturer, product line and color of the shingles, and the same for underlayment, ice and water barrier, starter, hip and ridge, and vents. Is each item named by manufacturer and product line?
Tear-off and layers Says whether existing roofing is removed, how many layers, and that the work goes down to the deck. How are extra layers handled?
Underlayment and ice and water barrier Names the product and the areas where each goes. Where does the ice and water barrier go, and which product is it?
Flashing and ventilation Which flashings are replaced or reused, whether drip edge is new, and which vents are installed. Which flashings are reused?
Decking A unit price for each sheet of decking replaced (see roofing change orders). What is the price per sheet?
Permit Whether a permit applies, who applies, and whether the fee is in the price (see who pulls the roofing permit). Whose name goes on the permit application?
Start and completion Estimated start and completion dates, and what would move them. What delays change the dates?
Price and payment schedule The total price, the deposit, and later payments tied to completed stages, with the last due after the work is finished. What triggers each payment?
Change orders Any change to scope or price is in a writing you sign before extra work starts. Will you wait for my signature?
Cleanup and disposal Who hauls away old roofing, protects landscaping, and checks the yard for nails at the end. How do you check the ground?
Warranties The exact manufacturer warranty name, the workmanship warranty with its length and coverage, and who registers each. Who registers, and by when?
Final payment and proof of payment Written proof that subcontractors and suppliers were paid, or lien waivers, before the last payment. What proof will I get?
Cancellation Whether any right to cancel applies and, if so, how and by when to give notice. Does one apply, and where is it written?

What do government sources say a home improvement contract should include?

Federal and state consumer pages agree on the basics: get it in writing, fill in every blank, and put the scope, materials, dates and price on the page. State sources here are examples only, and the rules in your own state can differ, so check with your state or local consumer agency.

  • The Federal Trade Commission says: “Even if your state doesn’t require a written agreement, ask for one.” It says to include the contractor’s name, address, phone number and license number, an estimated start and completion date, and “any promises made during conversations or calls,” and to “make sure all blank spaces are filled in.”
  • Indiana Attorney General (example). The office lists the price, a payment schedule, “A detailed description of the work and materials (including colors, brand names and patterns),” start and completion dates, and a contact name and phone number for problems.
  • Ohio Attorney General (example). The office lists “A provision requiring written approval for any changes” and “A requirement for the contractor to obtain all necessary permits and inspections.”
  • Indiana Code 24-5-11 (example of a statute). The chapter applies only to residential real property in Indiana that “contains one (1) to four (4) units” and is used at least in part as a consumer’s dwelling, and only to contracts whose price “exceeds one hundred fifty dollars ($150).” For those contracts, it calls for “A reasonably detailed description of the proposed real property improvements” and “A statement of any contingencies that would materially change the approximate completion date.” A modification “is not enforceable against a consumer unless the modification is stated in a writing that is signed by the consumer.”

How should the contract handle materials and warranties?

Name the manufacturer and product line of every roofing material, and name each warranty. A manufacturer warranty comes from the shingle maker; a workmanship warranty comes from the contractor. The contract should say which is which and who registers the manufacturer’s.

  • Why product lines matter. Owens Corning’s registration asks for the shingle line and color, and whether other Owens Corning components are installed, such as ventilation products, hip and ridge shingles, ice and water barriers, starter shingles and synthetic underlayments. A contract that names them gives you that information.
  • Registration is not the same everywhere. GAF says: “It is not necessary to register your shingles & accessories with GAF in order to access the protection available in our base warranties, but you may elect to do so anyway.” It also says its enhanced warranties can be registered only by contractors in GAF’s contractor program, using their GAF Partner Portal accounts.
  • Deadlines can apply. Owens Corning says its standard shingle warranty “does not have a deadline for registration,” while its extended warranties “must be registered within 60 days of installation” and are handled by the roofing contractor. Ask the contractor which warranty applies, who registers it and when, and for the confirmation.
  • Workmanship. The Indiana Attorney General says: “If a contractor guarantees labor and/or materials, those warranties should be in writing.” Ask for the length, what is covered and what is excluded.

Does a roofing contract come with a three-day right to cancel?

Not automatically. The FTC Cooling-Off Rule gives a three-business-day cancellation right for certain sales made away from the seller’s place of business, such as at your home, at or above a threshold set in the rule, with exclusions. Whether it applies to your sale is a question for an attorney. Ask the contractor to state any cancellation right in writing.

The rule, 16 CFR Part 429, defines a door-to-door sale as one in which “the seller or his representative personally solicits the sale” and the buyer’s agreement or offer to purchase “is made at a place other than the place of business of the seller,” at or above a threshold set in the rule. Exclusions include a transaction “Conducted and consummated entirely by mail or telephone” with no other contact before the work, one made after prior negotiations during the buyer’s visit to the seller’s fixed, permanent retail location, and a buyer-initiated emergency with a separate handwritten waiver.

When the rule applies, the contract must carry, near the buyer’s signature, a statement in substantially this form: “You, the buyer, may cancel this transaction at any time prior to midnight of the third business day after the date of this transaction.” A notice of cancellation form must come with it, and the contract may not waive the right. The rule also says state laws that regulate door-to-door sales still apply, unless they are directly inconsistent with it.

How should payment and the final sign-off be written?

Tie each payment to a stage of finished work, and make the last payment depend on the work being done and on written proof that others were paid. The contract should show every payment, its amount and what triggers it, so nothing is left to a conversation.

  • Deposit and stages. The FTC says: “Don’t pay the full amount for the project up front.” It adds that some states limit the amount a contractor can ask for as a down payment. The Indiana Attorney General’s Storm Chaser Scams brochure, an example of one state’s guidance, says “Do not pay more than 1/3 of the total cost as a down payment” and that remaining payments “should be tied to completion of specified amounts of work.”
  • Final payment. The FTC says to “never make the final payment until the work is done and you’re satisfied with it.” The Indiana Attorney General says: “Get written proof of payment,” because unpaid subcontractors and suppliers “may file a mechanic’s lien against your home.” Ask what lien waiver or proof of payment the contract promises, and have an attorney review the form.

What should I ask every roofing contractor?

Send the same questions to every bidder and ask for written answers:

  • Is the bid I accepted attached, and does every line match?
  • Which manufacturer and product line is each material?
  • Is old roofing removed to the deck, and what is the price per sheet of decking replaced?
  • Who applies for the permit, and is the fee in the price?
  • What dates apply, and what moves them?
  • What triggers each payment, and what proof of payment will I get at the end?
  • Which manufacturer warranty applies, who registers it, and what does the workmanship warranty cover?
  • Does a cancellation right apply, and where is it written?

Where Otter Quotes fits

Otter Quotes creates a written scope of work for your project and sends it to multiple contractors. Every bid is on the same scope and the same measurements, so the contract you sign can point to one scope that matches the bid you chose. You compare the bids online, next to reviews and licensing information, without a salesperson visiting your home.

Because contractors know they are competing, they are more likely to include better materials and warranties. Otter Quotes is not a contractor, does not sell upgrades and does not work with your insurance company. Contractors pay Otter Quotes a fee on the accepted bid.

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Frequently asked questions

What should be in a roofing contract?

A roofing contract should include the contractor’s name, address and license number, a detailed scope tied to the bid, named materials with manufacturer and product line, tear-off terms, start and completion dates, the price and payment schedule, the permit, cleanup, warranties, change-order terms, and any cancellation right. Fill in every blank before you sign.

Should the contract name the shingle brand and product line?

Yes, ask for it in writing. The Indiana Attorney General lists colors, brand names and patterns among the items a contract should detail. Owens Corning’s registration asks for the shingle line and any other Owens Corning components installed, such as ice and water barrier, starter shingles and underlayment, so naming them in the contract gives you that record.

Who registers the roof warranty?

It depends on the warranty. GAF says its base warranties do not require registration, while enhanced warranties can be registered only by contractors in GAF’s contractor program through their Partner Portal accounts. Owens Corning says extended warranties must be registered by a participating contractor within 60 days of installation. Ask who registers yours and request the confirmation.

Does a roofing contract have a three-day cancellation right?

Not always. The FTC Cooling-Off Rule covers certain sales made away from the seller’s place of business, such as at your home, at or above a threshold set in the rule, and lists exclusions. Whether it applies to a particular sale is a question for an attorney. Ask the contractor to write down any cancellation right that applies.

What should I get before the final payment?

The FTC says never to make the final payment until the work is done and you are satisfied. Ask for copies of the warranties and written proof that subcontractors and suppliers were paid, because the Indiana Attorney General warns that unpaid ones may file a mechanic’s lien against your home. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

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