Homeowner guides

Know the trade before you hire it.

A roof is the most expensive thing most homeowners ever buy from a stranger at the door. These guides cover the parts of the decision that go wrong most often — written plainly, with nothing to sell and no lead form at the end.

1. How to choose a roofing contractorA practical vetting checklist: what to ask, what to get in writing, and the order to do it in — before anyone gets on your roof.9 min
2. Storm chasers: spotting the door-knock rooferAfter hail or high wind, out-of-town crews work damaged streets door to door. How the pattern works, why it ends badly, and how to check who you're dealing with.8 min
3. Roof insurance claims, step by stepWhat to document, when to call the insurer, where a contractor belongs in the process — and the one thing you should never sign at the door.8 min
4. What actually drives roof replacement costSize, pitch, layers, material, access and local labor — how each moves the bill, and why two quotes for the same roof can be far apart.7 min
5. Roofing warranties: what's actually coveredManufacturer warranties cover the shingle, workmanship warranties cover the install — and most leaks fall on the second. How to read both before you sign.7 min
6. How to read a roofer's reviewsWhy the star average hides the story, which complaints predict trouble, and what a business's replies to bad reviews tell you about how your job will go.6 min
7. A leak right now: emergency repair triageWhat to do in the first hour, what a tarp job should and shouldn't cost you, and how to avoid making a bad decision while water is coming in.6 min
8. Shingle, metal or tile: choosing a materialLifespan, weight, climate fit and repairability for the common roofing materials — and why the right crew matters more than the product.8 min

Guides are general information, not advice about a specific business. When you’re ready to check on an actual roofer, look them up in the directory — or read how we read reviews first.