Roofing Contractors in Littleton: Questions to Ask First
Roofing contractors Littleton homeowners meet fall into two groups: the ones who were here last winter and will be here next winter, and the ones who arrived the week after the storm. Both can put shingles on a roof. Only one will answer the phone when the pipe boot cracks in year six. These questions sort them.
"Where are you licensed?"
Colorado has no state roofing license, so "we're state-licensed" is a lie or a misunderstanding. What exists is city and county contractor licensing. The right answer names the jurisdiction your house is in:
- City of Littleton for addresses inside city limits
- Jefferson County for Ken Caryl, Columbine, Columbine Knolls and most of the unincorporated foothills
- Douglas County for Highlands Ranch and Roxborough
- Arapahoe County for unincorporated pockets, and the City of Centennial for Centennial
- Englewood, Lakewood, Lone Tree and Castle Rock each license their own
Ask for the license number and check it with the building department. A roofer licensed in Colorado Springs and nowhere else is going to pull a permit in Littleton how, exactly?
"Can I see your certificate of insurance?"
Two lines matter: general liability (for the damage a crew can do to your house) and workers' compensation (for the crew member who falls off it). Ask for the certificate to be sent from the insurer or the agent, not photocopied from the truck. A roofer without workers' comp who has a fall on your roof becomes your homeowners claim, and Colorado's Residential Roofing Bill of Rights requires the roofer to state their liability coverage in the contract.
"Will you be pulling the permit?"
Yes, and it should be in the quote with the jurisdiction named. A re-roof in Littleton and every surrounding county needs a permit and a mid-roof inspection — the inspector looks at the underlayment, ice-and-water membrane and flashing before shingles cover them. A roofer who suggests skipping it to save you $300 is saving themselves an inspection.
"What do you do about my deductible?"
The only legal answer is "nothing — you pay it." Colorado law prohibits a roofer from paying, waiving, rebating or promising to rebate your deductible, and the contract has to say so. The roofer who says "we'll work with you on that" is planning to inflate the invoice to your insurer by the deductible amount, which is insurance fraud with your name on the claim, and then to cut something on your roof to cover the gap. Our hail damage page explains the rest of the law.
"Who is actually on my roof?"
Most roofing in the Denver metro is done by subcontracted crews, and that's not a problem by itself. The questions are: does the company have the same crews year after year, is there a supervisor from the company on site, and are the subs covered by the company's workers' comp? A company that can't tell you who the crew lead will be is a sales office with a phone number.
"What exactly are you installing?"
Get the product names in writing. A quote that says "30-year architectural shingles" is not a spec; a quote that says "Owens Corning Duration Flex, Class 4, weathered wood, six nails per shingle, on synthetic underlayment with ice-and-water membrane at eaves to 24 inches inside the wall line and in all valleys" is. Ask specifically about:
- Ice-and-water membrane — where, and how far up from the eave
- Underlayment — synthetic or felt
- Flashing — new or reused
- Drip edge — included (a lot of 1970s roofs here never had it)
- Ventilation — ridge vent, soffit vents
- Decking — a per-sheet price for replacements, not "as needed"
The cost page has the full list of lines to look for.
"What's the warranty, and who honors it?"
Two warranties: the manufacturer's on the shingle (usually limited lifetime, prorated, and only valid if installed to their spec) and the contractor's on the workmanship. The workmanship warranty is the one that matters for leaks, and it's only worth the company's likelihood of still existing. Ask how long the company has had its current local license, and ask for the warranty in writing with the years stated. Manufacturer-certified installers can offer extended system warranties that survive the contractor going out of business; ask if the roofer is one.
"Can I have a few days?"
A legitimate quote is good for 30 days. Pressure to sign today — "this price is only good while the crew is in the neighborhood," "the insurance money will disappear" — is a storm-chaser tactic. There's no roofing emergency that requires a signature on the porch, and Colorado law gives you 72 hours to cancel an insurance-funded contract if the claim is denied regardless of what you sign.
Red flags in one list
- Knocks on your door after a storm
- Out-of-state plates and a magnetic sign
- Offers to "take care of" the deductible
- Wants you to sign an assignment of benefits or a contingency agreement before the adjuster has been out
- Can't name the county your house is in when asked about licensing
- Price is only good today
- Quote has no product names
- Won't send a certificate of insurance from the agent
- Large deposit up front (a modest deposit on a large job is normal; half up front on a $15,000 roof is not)
What a good one looks like
Walks the roof and the attic before quoting. Sends photos. Names products, jurisdiction, and warranty in writing. Tells you when the damage isn't worth a claim. Answers the phone in February. The Colorado Attorney General's consumer protection office publishes storm-season guidance on hiring contractors that covers most of this, and our about page says how we handle each item. Ask us the same questions. We'd rather you ask everyone.
Need roof work in Littleton?
Call for a free estimate. Mon–Sat 7am–7pm.