Is My Roofer Legit?
A 10-point verification checklist for any Colorado roofing contractor. Use it before you sign.
Enter the full business name. We'll pre-fill the verification links below.
Mark each check as Pass, Fail, or Unknown. Your score updates as you go. This tool doesn't store any data — it's entirely in your browser.
Colorado Secretary of State registration
A legitimate Colorado contractor is registered as a business entity with the CO Secretary of State. Unregistered "companies" are a serious red flag.
What to look for: Search for the business name. Look for an "Active" entity status (not "Dissolved" or "Delinquent") and a Colorado principal office address.
BBB (Better Business Bureau) rating
BBB ratings and complaints paint a picture of a contractor's customer-service track record. Not every good contractor has a BBB profile, but a bad one usually has complaints.
What to look for: Look for an A or A+ rating, a Colorado address, accreditation status, and recent complaint history (ideally zero or all resolved).
Google reviews + Google Business Profile
A Colorado roofer with real volume has dozens to hundreds of Google reviews. Fresh companies without reviews are a risk; aged companies with few reviews are a bigger risk.
What to look for: Check total review count, average star rating, review recency (last 60-90 days), and response quality to negative reviews.
GAF Certified / Master Elite status
GAF publishes its list of Certified and Master Elite contractors. Master Elite is the top 2% and unlocks the Golden Pledge warranty (25-year workmanship).
What to look for: Search GAF's contractor locator. If the contractor claims Master Elite status, they must appear on this list.
Owens Corning Preferred / Platinum Preferred status
OC's contractor locator shows Preferred and Platinum Preferred contractors. Platinum is top 1% and unlocks Platinum Protection warranty.
What to look for: Search OC's locator for the contractor name. If they claim Platinum, verify it here.
CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster status
CertainTeed publishes its certified contractor list. SELECT ShingleMaster is the top tier and unlocks the 4-Star Warranty.
What to look for: Search CertainTeed's locator. Certifications not appearing in the locator are not valid.
City contractor license
Colorado has no state-level roofing license, but many Front Range and Western Slope cities require contractor registration. Check the license in your specific city.
What to look for: Visit your city's building department website and search their licensing portal. The contractor must be registered and current.
General liability + workers' comp insurance
A legitimate contractor carries at least $1M/$2M general liability and workers' compensation (if they have employees). Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing your home as an additional insured.
What to look for: Request a COI and verify directly with the insurance carrier by phone. Confirm the policy is current (not expired) and lists your property.
Contract complies with Colorado SB38
Colorado SB38 requires specific disclosures in every residential roofing contract — notably a 72-hour rescission right and a statement that the contractor cannot waive your deductible. Missing either is a sign of a non-compliant contractor.
What to look for: Read the contract. Find the conspicuous rescission notice and the deductible disclosure. If either is missing, do not sign. Read our full SB38 guide below.
Physical Colorado address + years in business
Storm chasers operate from out-of-state addresses or PO boxes. A legitimate Colorado roofer has a physical office in the state and multiple years of verifiable operation.
What to look for: Verify a physical street address (not PO box), ideally street-view the location, and confirm at least 3 years in Colorado operation via SOS filings or BBB.
Want a legit roofer without doing the research?
Western Edge Exteriors is Colorado-local, fully insured, SB38-compliant, and happy to walk through any of the above before you commit. Free inspection, no pressure.
Why this checklist matters
After every major Colorado hailstorm, out-of-state storm chasers descend on affected neighborhoods. These operators:
- Use aggressive door-knocking tactics and "today only" pricing
- Often violate Colorado SB38 (deductible waiving, missing disclosures)
- Disappear after the job, leaving homeowners without warranty support
- Sometimes submit inflated scopes of loss to insurance, putting your claim history at risk
A 10-minute verification with this checklist is the single best investment you can make before signing. A legitimate roofer welcomes scrutiny — none of these checks inconvenience a reputable contractor.
Related reading: Colorado Hail Season Guide · About Western Edge · Request current insurance documentation