Reading a Roofing Contract in North Carolina
A roofing contract should leave no guessing about what you are buying. Here is a line-by-line checklist.
Who you are hiring
The contract should name the business, its address and its contractor license number where one applies. The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors offers a license lookup (North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors). Make sure the name on the contract matches the license.
Scope of work
- Which roof sections are included.
- Tear-off: how many layers, and disposal.
- Decking: how damaged boards are found and how replacements are counted and billed.
- Underlayment type and where ice and water barrier goes.
- Flashing: which pieces are replaced (walls, chimneys, skylights, valleys, drip edge).
- Vents and pipe boots: what is replaced and added.
Materials
Brand, product line and color for shingles or panels, plus starter, ridge and accessory products. Code requirements for roof coverings come from the state residential code maintained through the NC Office of State Fire Marshal (NC Office of State Fire Marshal (state building codes)).
Permits, schedule and weather
Who pulls the permit, how inspections are scheduled, a target start window, and what happens if rain interrupts the job.
Site protection and cleanup
How landscaping, driveways and decks are protected, where the dumpster goes, and how nails and debris are cleaned up.
Payment terms
When deposits and payments are due, and what work must be complete at each step. The NC Department of Justice's consumer-protection pages warn against paying large amounts upfront and against signing under pressure (North Carolina Department of Justice, consumer protection). Final payment should follow completion and any required inspection.
Warranties
Two kinds: the manufacturer's product warranty and the installer's workmanship warranty. The contract should state the workmanship terms and whether the installer registers the manufacturer warranty.
Change orders
Any change in scope or price should be written and signed before the work is done.
Before you sign
- Compare estimates for the same scope. The estimate factors page helps line them up.
- Ask questions about anything unclear.
- Keep a signed copy.
Related pages: roof replacement, roof repair, metal roofing, and what shapes an estimate.
Sources: North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors; North Carolina Department of Justice, consumer protection; NC Office of State Fire Marshal (state building codes).
Short answers
What should the contract say about decking?
How damaged decking is identified and how replacement boards are counted and billed.
How much should I pay upfront?
Terms vary. The NC Department of Justice cautions against large upfront payments. Tie payments to completed work.
What warranties should I expect?
A manufacturer product warranty and an installer workmanship warranty. Both should be in writing.
Should the contract mention permits?
Yes. It should say whether a permit is needed and who will pull it.
What is a change order?
A written, signed change to the scope or price of the job.
Related roofing work
Roof Replacement
Full tear-off and new roof systems for aging, storm-worn or leaking roofs, planned around Piedmont wind, heat and humidity.
Roof Repair
Missing shingles, lifted tabs, worn pipe boots, failed flashing and storm-damaged sections fixed before small problems become leaks.
Metal Roofing
Standing-seam and exposed-fastener metal roofs for homes, porches and outbuildings, with trim and fastener details that hold up in wind.
More to read
- Piedmont Storms and Your RoofHow thunderstorms, hail, tropical remnants and winter ice affect roofs around High Point, NC, where forecasts and warnings come from, and what to…
- Repair or Replace a Roof in the TriadHow to decide between roof repair and replacement around High Point, NC: age, shingle condition, leaks, decking, storms and ventilation, with…
- Attic Moisture in a Humid Piedmont ClimateWhy attics around High Point, NC get damp, how condensation, bath fans and blocked soffits cause trouble, and how ventilation, insulation and air…
- North Carolina Roof Permits and PaperworkRoof permits and paperwork around High Point, NC: who issues permits, the state residential code, contractor license lookups, NC 811 for digging,…
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