Picking a roofing contractor is one of the biggest decisions you will make as a homeowner. A new roof costs $8,000 to $18,000 or more depending on the size and materials, and the contractor you choose determines whether that investment lasts 25 years or starts giving you problems in 3. Charlotte has no shortage of roofers. After every major storm, the number doubles as out-of-state crews roll in looking for work. The trick is separating the experienced, reliable local companies from the fly-by-night operators who will be gone before the first leak shows up.
What to look for, what to ask, and what should make you walk away.
Start With Licensing and Insurance
North Carolina requires roofing contractors to hold a general contractor's license for projects over $30,000. For most residential roof replacements in the Charlotte area, that means your roofer needs to be licensed through the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors. You can verify any contractor's license status on the Board's website. If a roofer can't or won't provide a license number, that's the end of the conversation.
Insurance is just as important. Your contractor needs two types:
- General liability insurance: This covers damage to your property during the project. If a crew member drops a tool through your skylight or a ladder scratches your siding, liability insurance pays for it. Without it, you pay for it.
- Workers' compensation insurance: Roofing is one of the most dangerous trades. If a worker is injured on your roof and the company doesn't carry workers' comp, you as the property owner could be held liable. That's not a theoretical risk. It happens.
Ask for certificates of insurance and verify them directly with the insurance company. A legitimate contractor hands these over without blinking. Any pushback on providing insurance documentation is a serious red flag.
Get Three Quotes (At Least)
Never hire the first roofer who knocks on your door or the first one you call. Get at least three written quotes from different Charlotte roofing contractors. This gives you a realistic picture of what the job should cost and helps you spot outliers, both high and low.
When comparing quotes, make sure each one includes the same scope of work. A proper roofing quote should specify:
- Full tear-off of existing shingles (not layering over old ones)
- Inspection and replacement of damaged decking
- Ice and water shield installation in valleys and along eaves
- Synthetic underlayment across the entire roof deck
- The specific shingle brand, product line, and color
- Ridge vent or other ventilation details
- Drip edge, flashing, and pipe boot replacement
- Cleanup, debris removal, and magnetic nail sweep
- Warranty terms for both materials and labor
If a quote is missing any of these line items, ask about them specifically. A vague quote that just says "roof replacement, $9,500" without details isn't a quote you can trust. You need to know exactly what you're paying for so you can make an apples-to-apples comparison.
If you need a full roof replacement in Charlotte, expect quotes to range from $8,000 to $15,000 for a standard 2,000-square-foot home with architectural shingles. Anything significantly below that range should raise questions about what is being left out.
Red Flags That Should Stop You Cold
These are the warning signs that tell you to keep looking:
Door-to-door solicitation after storms. This is the biggest one. After a major hailstorm or windstorm hits Charlotte, crews from out of state flood the area offering free inspections and pushing homeowners to sign contracts on the spot. These companies are often here for three to six months, collect insurance money, do the work as cheaply as possible, and move on to the next storm-hit city. If your roof needs repair after a storm event, call a local company with an established presence, not the guy who just knocked on your door.
Cash-only payment or large upfront deposits. A legitimate roofing company will accept standard payment methods and typically asks for a deposit of no more than 10% to 30% before work begins, with the balance due on completion. Anyone asking for 50% or more upfront, or insisting on cash, is a risk you don't need to take.
No written estimate or contract. Every part of your roofing project should be documented in writing: the scope of work, materials, timeline, payment schedule, and warranty terms. A verbal agreement protects nobody. If a contractor won't put their promises on paper, those promises are worthless.
Pressure to sign immediately. "This price is only good today" is a sales tactic, not a real deadline. A reputable roofer will give you time to review the quote, ask questions, and compare options. High-pressure sales tactics almost always come from companies that know their work won't hold up to comparison.
No local office or physical address. Search for the company's address. Is it a real office, a P.O. box, or a virtual mailbox? A contractor with no local roots has no reputation to protect and no accountability to the community.
Manufacturer Certifications Matter More Than You Think
The major shingle manufacturers, GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed, all run certification programs for roofing contractors. These aren't just stickers on a truck. They actually mean something, because they directly affect your warranty coverage.
Most shingle products come with a manufacturer's material warranty of 25 to 50 years. But if the shingles are installed incorrectly, that warranty is void. Manufacturer-certified contractors have been trained and vetted by the shingle maker, and when they install the product, you get access to extended warranty coverage that includes both materials and workmanship.
For example:
- GAF Master Elite: Only about 3% of roofers nationwide hold this certification. It qualifies homeowners for GAF's Golden Pledge warranty, which covers materials for 50 years and workmanship for 25 years.
- Owens Corning Preferred/Platinum: Certified contractors can offer the Preferred Protection or Platinum Protection limited warranties, which add labor coverage to the standard material warranty.
- CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster: Provides access to CertainTeed's SureStart Plus warranty with up to 50 years of material coverage and 25 years of workmanship coverage.
When you compare contractors, ask which manufacturer certifications they hold. You can also look up certified contractors directly on each manufacturer's website. Our roofing brands page has more information on what each manufacturer offers and why it matters for your roof.
Check References and Reviews the Right Way
Online reviews are a starting point, not the finish line. Look at Google reviews, BBB ratings, and any industry-specific review platforms. Pay attention to the following:
- Volume and recency: A company with 200+ reviews accumulated over several years is more trustworthy than one with 15 five-star reviews posted in the last month.
- Response to negative reviews: Every company gets a bad review eventually. What matters is how they handle it. Do they respond professionally and try to resolve the issue? Or do they get defensive or ignore it?
- Specific details: Reviews that mention specific aspects of the job (communication, cleanup, timeline accuracy, crew behavior) are more valuable than generic "great work!" posts.
Beyond online reviews, ask the contractor for references from recent jobs in your area. If you are in Huntersville, ask for Huntersville references. If you are in Ballantyne, ask for Ballantyne references. A good contractor will have plenty. Call at least two or three, and ask these questions:
- Did the project finish on time and on budget?
- How was the crew's behavior and cleanup?
- Were there any issues, and how were they handled?
- Would you hire them again?
If you want to see which contractors other homeowners in the Huntersville or Ballantyne area are using, our directory pages list contractors with verified reviews and ratings.
Understand Your Warranty Options
A roof comes with two separate warranties, and most homeowners don't realize they're different things:
Manufacturer's warranty: This covers defects in the shingle or roofing material itself. If the shingles crack, curl, or deteriorate prematurely due to a manufacturing defect, the manufacturer will cover replacement materials. This warranty typically lasts 25 to 50 years, but it only covers materials, not the labor to install them.
Workmanship warranty: This is the contractor's warranty on their installation work. If a leak develops because of improper flashing installation, bad nailing patterns, or inadequate sealing, the workmanship warranty covers the repair. This warranty is only as good as the company standing behind it. If the contractor goes out of business, the warranty goes with them.
This is why choosing an established, local company matters so much. A 10-year workmanship warranty from a company that has been in Charlotte for 15 years means something. A 10-year warranty from a storm chaser who will be in another state next month means nothing.
The Comparison Checklist
Before you make your final decision, run each contractor through this checklist:
- NC general contractor license: verified
- General liability insurance: certificate on file
- Workers' compensation insurance: certificate on file
- Local office with a physical address in the Charlotte metro
- At least 5 years in business in the Charlotte area
- Manufacturer certification from at least one major brand
- Written, detailed estimate with full scope of work
- Clear warranty terms for both materials and workmanship
- Strong online reviews (4.5+ stars with 50+ reviews)
- Positive references from jobs in your specific area
- No complaints or unresolved issues with the BBB
Any contractor who checks all of these boxes is worth considering. If they are missing more than one or two, keep looking. There are plenty of qualified roofing companies in Charlotte that meet every criterion on this list.
A Final Word on Price
The cheapest quote is almost never the best value. Roofing is one of those trades where you get exactly what you pay for. A contractor who undercuts everyone else by 30% is cutting corners somewhere, whether it is cheaper materials, skipping steps, or underpaying their crew (which leads to sloppy work and high turnover).
The sweet spot is usually the middle quote from a well-credentialed contractor who provides a detailed written estimate and stands behind their work with a real warranty. That is the contractor who will still be answering the phone five years from now when you have a question about your roof.
If you are ready to start comparing local roofers, you can request free quotes from vetted Charlotte roofing companies through our directory.