Questions to ask
1. What is your Denver contractor license number, and who is the Class D roofing supervisor on my job?
Why it matters: In Denver, roofing contractors are licensed by the city. Denver’s building code says licenses are required for any work that requires a permit, with an exception for an owner-occupant working under a homeowner permit (2025 Denver Building Code §121.2 (PDF)). Contractor licensing is a two-step process: the company must hold, or employ someone who holds, a supervisor certificate before it can get a contractor license (Denver: Contractor Licenses; Denver: Apply for a Contractor License). For roofing, Denver issues specialty Class D certificates, including Roofing-Shingles (residential only), Roof Covering/Waterproofing (commercial and residential), Metal Roof Installer, and Green Roof Systems, and residential shingle work is done under the on-site supervision of the certificate holder (Denver: Specialty Class D Certificates). A license is valid only while its named supervisor stays with the company, and letting someone else use a license or certificate is grounds for suspension or revocation (2025 Denver Building Code §§122.4, 127.1 (PDF)). Look up the company name yourself on Denver’s Contractor License Search, and make sure the license class fits your roof: Denver’s roofing guide says low-slope membrane roofs need a contractor licensed for Roof Covering/Waterproofing, not just shingles (Denver Roofing Guide and Checklist (PDF)).
2. Will your own crew do the work, and can I see your liability and workers’ compensation certificates?
Why it matters: Denver requires licensed contractors to employ a full-time certified supervisor, to hire licensed subcontractors for trades that need a Denver license, and to carry insurance coverage suited to the project as defined by the building official in policy (2025 Denver Building Code §126.1 (PDF)). Colorado’s emergency management agency tells hail-damaged homeowners to make sure roofers have workers’ compensation and liability insurance, because without it you may be held liable if a worker is hurt or a neighbor’s property is damaged (Colorado DHSEM: What to do after a hail storm, and no roof scams). The Colorado Division of Insurance suggests checking references and working with Colorado-based contractors when possible (Colorado Division of Insurance: Tips after hailstorm batters metro Denver). Ask for certificates sent from the insurance agent, check that the named insured matches the licensed company on your bid, and ask who will actually be on your roof.
3. Will you pull the Denver roofing permit before you start, and what does it cover?
Why it matters: Denver says a roof permit is always applied for separately, and licensed roofing contractors and qualified homeowners can apply for a Roofing and Siding quick permit online (Denver: Quick Permits). Denver’s roofing guide says that on buildings under 25,000 square feet, repairs of more than 10% of the roof area or two roof squares, whichever is smaller, need a permit, all new roof penetrations such as skylights, pipes, and solar need a permit, a partial roof may be replaced under a permit only if it ends at a natural edge, not partway up a slope, and roof coatings don’t need one (Denver Roofing Guide and Checklist (PDF)). A homeowner permit is only for the legal owner who lives in the single-family home, and an approved designated worker who helps can’t accept payment (Denver: Homeowner Permits), so a paid roofer who asks you to pull the permit in your name is asking you to take on the job yourself. Colorado’s Attorney General lists refusing to pull required local permits as a warning sign of contractor fraud (Stop Fraud Colorado: Contractor fraud). Get the permit number in writing before tear-off.
4. Are you tearing off to the deck or covering the old roof — how many layers are there now, and where does the debris go?
Why it matters: Under the 2024 International Residential Code that Denver now uses, a new covering can’t go over the old one if the existing roof is water-soaked or too deteriorated to be a base, is slate, clay, cement, or asbestos-cement tile, or already has two or more layers of any type (2025 Denver Residential Code (2024 IRC) §R908.4, via UpCodes). Denver’s roofing guide likewise requires removal to the deck where two or more layers exist and doesn’t allow deck gaps over half an inch (Denver Roofing Guide and Checklist (PDF)). The same guide says to follow Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment rules for certified asbestos inspection and removal, and proof may be required (Denver Roofing Guide and Checklist (PDF); CDPHE: Asbestos). A dumpster on the street needs a Department of Transportation and Infrastructure street occupancy permit obtained by the dumpster company, posted on the property, and the container can’t sit on the sidewalk or tree lawn (Denver DOTI: Dumpster and container information sheet (PDF)). Get the tear-off decision, the number of existing layers, how rotten decking is priced, and the debris plan in the bid.
5. What is the impact rating of the shingles you’re quoting, and should I ask my insurer about a hail-resistant roof?
Why it matters: Hail-resistant roofing is rated under the UL 2218 standard, which has four impact classes: Class 4 is the most resistant and Class 1 the least (Colorado DHSEM: What to do after a hail storm). After a 2024 hailstorm across metro Denver, the Colorado Division of Insurance suggested homeowners who need a new roof ask their insurer or agent what premium discounts or future deductible savings are available for hail-resistant material (Colorado Division of Insurance: Tips after hailstorm). Colorado has also created the Strengthen Colorado Homes Enterprise in the Division of Insurance to run a grant program for resilient roofs; as of October 2026 its board was still writing the roof standards, with a rulemaking hearing set for December 10, 2026 (Colorado Division of Insurance: Strengthen Colorado Homes Enterprise; SB26-155 (PDF)). Ask each roofer to name the exact product and its UL 2218 class in the bid, so you can compare quotes on the same shingle and show your insurer what was installed.
6. Which wind rating, flashing, drip edge, and insulation are in your bid — and are you adding anything the code doesn’t require?
Why it matters: Denver’s residential code sets design wind speeds of 115, 125, or 140 mph depending on location and marks ice barrier underlayment as not required (2025 Denver Residential Code, Table R301.2 (PDF)). Denver’s roofing guide maps those zones (east of Federal Boulevard, Federal to Sheridan, and Sheridan to Kipling) and lists other items inspectors look for: drip edge at eaves and rakes, kick-out flashing, crickets behind wide roof projections, and replacing existing flashing that’s rusted or damaged (Denver Roofing Guide and Checklist (PDF)). The code requires asphalt shingles to be tested and labeled for wind resistance under ASTM D7158 (or ASTM D3161) for the site’s wind speed, a drip edge at eaves and rakes, and replacement of rusted, damaged, or deteriorated flashings during reroofing (2025 Denver Residential Code (2024 IRC) §§R905.2.4.1, R905.2.8.5, R908.5, via UpCodes). If an uninsulated roof is exposed during reroofing, the roofing guide says it must be insulated (Denver Roofing Guide and Checklist (PDF)). If a bid includes an ice and water membrane at the eaves, that’s a choice rather than a Denver code item, so ask what it adds and compare bids line by line.
7. Is my house a Denver landmark or in a historic district, and which inspections will you schedule?
Why it matters: Landmark Preservation must review all reroofing on individual landmarks and in historic districts. Reroofing with the same material, size, shape, color, and exposure may get quick review by staff, but a change in material, including a synthetic version of the existing material, may need review by the Landmark Preservation Commission or the Lower Downtown Design Review Commission, and the permit can’t be paid for until the Certificate of Appropriateness is approved (Denver Landmark Preservation: Roofing). Denver’s roofing guide lists the inspections: a final inspection for one- and two-family asphalt-shingle roofs, a pre-inspection for townhomes and low-slope roofs, and a mid-roof inspection for tile and metal (Denver Roofing Guide and Checklist (PDF)). That guide, updated in April 2024, cites the 2022 Denver code; Denver adopted its 2025 building code on June 13, 2025, based on the 2024 I-codes (Denver: 2025 Building and Fire Code Adoption Process), so ask the roofer which code edition the permit is under. Colorado’s emergency management agency also advises not making final payment until the roof has been inspected and you’re satisfied (Colorado DHSEM: What to do after a hail storm).
8. Will you give me a written contract with everything Colorado’s roofing law requires, including my 72-hour cancellation right?
Why it matters: Colorado law requires a roofing contractor, before doing roofing work on a home, to give you a written contract signed by both of you that states the scope of work and materials, approximate dates, approximate costs based on the damage known when you sign, the contractor’s physical address, email, and phone, its surety and liability insurer with contact information if it has them, a cancellation and refund policy that lets you rescind for a full refund of your deposit within 72 hours after signing, a statement of your separate insurance-denial cancellation right, and a statement about deductibles (C.R.S. 6-22-103(1)). The contract must also say in bold that the contractor will hold your payments in trust until it has delivered roofing materials to the site or done a majority of the work (C.R.S. 6-22-103(2)). The law covers work on detached one- and two-family homes and some low-rise single-family dwellings, but not new construction or very small jobs under the statute’s dollar threshold (C.R.S. 6-22-102). The Attorney General’s office lists the same contract terms and advises getting bids from at least three contractors (Colorado Attorney General: Home repair fraud consumer alert (PDF)). For your roof, the scope should also name the tear-off or recover decision, decking replacement and how it’s priced, underlayment, flashing, drip edge, the product with its impact and wind ratings, cleanup, and who pulls the permit.
9. How much do you want up front, and will you give me lien waivers before each payment?
Why it matters: Colorado’s Attorney General lists asking for more than 10% of costs up front and requiring payment in cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency as warning signs (Stop Fraud Colorado: Contractor fraud), and advises making partial payments as specific parts of the work are completed (Colorado Attorney General: Home repair fraud consumer alert (PDF)). Subcontractors and suppliers on a roof job can file mechanic’s liens: when a building permit is issued, Colorado law has the permit agency send you a notice suggesting lien waivers or joint checks to the contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers (C.R.S. 38-22-105.5), and a lien claimant must serve a notice of intent at least 10 days before recording a lien statement (C.R.S. 38-22-109). For an existing single-family home, an owner who has paid the contract amount has a defense against subcontractor and supplier liens (C.R.S. 38-22-102(3.5)), a lien waiver must state that debts owed to third parties have been or will be paid (C.R.S. 38-22-119), and money paid to a contractor is held in trust for its subcontractors and suppliers (C.R.S. 38-22-127). Tie payments to milestones, and collect lien waivers from the roofer and its material supplier before the final check.
10. This is an insurance claim — are you offering anything on my deductible, and will you stay out of negotiating my claim?
Why it matters: A Colorado roofing contractor may not advertise or promise to pay, waive, or rebate any part of your insurance deductible; if it does, your insurer doesn’t have to consider its estimate, and you or the insurer can sue for damages (C.R.S. 6-22-105(1)–(2)). Billing your insurer more than the price agreed with you in order to give you a rebate is “abuse of property insurance” under Colorado criminal law (C.R.S. 18-13-119.5). A roofer can discuss the scope of covered damage with your insurer under a valid contract, but can’t act as or claim to be your public adjuster (C.R.S. 6-22-105(3)). If the insurer denies all or part of your claim, you can cancel the roofing contract within 72 hours after receiving written notice of the denial, and the contractor must return your payments within 10 days, except for work it actually performed (C.R.S. 6-22-104). The Division of Insurance reminds homeowners that they are responsible for the deductible, that wind and hail deductibles are often a percentage of coverage, and to contact their insurer promptly after a storm (Colorado Division of Insurance: Tips after hailstorm). The Attorney General warns to be cautious about giving a solicitor power of attorney or other permission to deal with your insurer (Colorado Attorney General: Home repair fraud consumer alert (PDF)).
11. You knocked on my door after the hailstorm — do you have a Denver peddler license, and does your contract include my right to cancel?
Why it matters: Colorado’s Attorney General lists going door to door, especially after a hailstorm, and using high-pressure tactics as signs of contractor fraud, and says never to let an uninvited contractor inspect your home or roof (Stop Fraud Colorado: Contractor fraud; Colorado Attorney General: Home repair fraud consumer alert (PDF)). Colorado’s emergency management agency adds that only your insurance adjuster and the roofer you’ve chosen should get on your roof, because each person walking on it can cause more damage (Colorado DHSEM: What to do after a hail storm). Denver defines a peddler to include anyone selling goods or services door to door, requires a peddler’s license, and requires peddlers to wear a photo ID card and show their license on demand to any customer or potential customer (Denver: Peddler license; Denver: Peddler guidelines). Every Colorado roofing contract must already include the 72-hour rescission and insurance-denial rights described above (C.R.S. 6-22-103), and the FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule generally gives you three business days to cancel covered sales made at your home (16 CFR §429.1, via Cornell LII). Report suspected scams to Stop Fraud Colorado at 800-222-4444 or stopfraudcolorado.gov.
Red flags
- Can’t show up on Denver’s Contractor License Search, or can’t name the Class D roofing supervisor on your job.
- Holds only a shingle license but is bidding a flat or low-slope membrane roof.
- Says your reroof doesn’t need a permit, asks you to pull a homeowner permit in your name, or won’t give you the permit number before tear-off.
- Proposes a new layer over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a soaked or rotten deck.
- Can’t tell you the shingle’s UL 2218 impact class or wind classification, or won’t name the product in the bid.
- Starts work on a landmark or historic-district home without a Certificate of Appropriateness.
- No written contract, or a contract missing the 72-hour cancellation terms, the trust-of-payments statement, or the deductible statement.
- Wants more than 10% up front, or payment in cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
- Offers to pay, waive, or rebate your deductible, or wants power of attorney to handle your claim.
- Knocks after a hailstorm with no peddler license or photo ID and wants to get on your roof right away.
Next-step checklist
- Confirm your address is inside the City and County of Denver, and check whether your home is a landmark or in a historic district.
- Look up each roofer on Denver’s Contractor License Search and ask which Class D roofing certificate covers your roof type.
- Get liability and workers’ compensation certificates from each roofer’s insurance agent, and ask who will actually do the work.
- Get at least three written bids for the same scope: tear-off or recover, existing layers, decking price, underlayment, flashing, drip edge, product with UL 2218 class and wind rating, insulation if the deck is exposed, debris plan, and cleanup.
- Ask your insurer about discounts or deductible savings for a hail-resistant roof before you pick a product.
- Get the Denver permit number before work starts, and the inspection results before final payment.
- Read the contract for the 72-hour cancellation terms, the trust-of-payments statement, the deductible statement, dates, and the payment schedule.
- If insurance is involved, talk to your insurer yourself, and don’t sign over control of the claim.
- Pay in milestones, and collect lien waivers from the roofer and its supplier before the final payment.
- Keep the contract, change orders, permit and inspection records, product labels, warranties, photos, and receipts.
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