How to Choose a Roofing Contractor in San Antonio

Most roofing complaints stem from the wrong contractor selection — not roofs that failed early. Every San Antonio hail season brings waves of out-of-state operators who install cheap, leave town, and aren't reachable when the workmanship issue surfaces a year later. Here's the checklist we give homeowners who ask how to evaluate us and our competition honestly. Use it on every bid.

Step 1: Verify local presence

The single most important check. A warranty from a contractor who leaves Texas is worthless. Verify:

• Physical address in San Antonio or nearby. Not a PO box, not a UPS store, not a Virginia address masquerading as local.
• Local phone number. 210, 830, 512 area codes — not 888 or out-of-state area codes.
• At least 5 years of history in San Antonio. Check Texas Secretary of State business filings or Texas Comptroller taxable entity search.
• Local reviews with specifics. Generic 5-star reviews are easy to fake. Specific reviews that mention neighborhoods, claim carriers, or project details are real.

Step 2: Check licensing and insurance

Texas doesn't license roofers at the state level. But legitimate contractors carry:

• General liability insurance. Protects you if the contractor damages your property. Ask for a current Certificate of Insurance (COI).
• Workers' compensation insurance. Protects you from liability if a worker is injured on your property. Required in Texas for crews with 1+ employees.
• City business license for municipalities that require one.

Any contractor should send both COIs without hesitation. If they hedge or delay, disqualify them.

Step 3: Verify manufacturer certifications

Manufacturer certifications enable enhanced warranties that cover labor and tear-off (not just materials). Only certified contractors can offer these. Check:

• Owens Corning Platinum Preferred — top tier of OC certification
• CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster — CertainTeed's highest tier

Verify independently — call the manufacturer or check their online contractor directory. Don't take a claimed certification at face value; it's too easy to fabricate.

Step 4: Red flags — what to avoid

• Door-knockers after a storm. Out-of-state operators flood neighborhoods after major hail events. Legitimate local contractors don't cold-knock; they get referrals.
• Deductible waiver offers. "We'll eat your deductible." Insurance fraud in Texas under Insurance Code § 27.02 (Class B misdemeanor). Disqualify immediately.
• AOB (Assignment of Benefits) contracts. Transfer your insurance claim rights to the contractor. High abuse potential. Our strong advice: don't sign.
• High-pressure closing tactics. "We need a signed contract today to lock in pricing." Legitimate contractors don't pressure. Their pricing is their pricing.
• Bids significantly below market. A bid 20–30% below average usually means omitted work (no ice-and-water, 15-lb felt instead of synthetic, 4-nail instead of 6-nail, no starter strip).
• Vague or bundled pricing. "$12,000 for a new roof" without a breakdown = no accountability. Demand line-item pricing.
• Cash-only payment requests. Legitimate contractors accept check, credit card, or insurance settlement.
• Full payment up front. Standard practice is deposit (10–30%), progress payment at install, final payment at completion.

Step 5: What a good bid should include

• Line-item pricing by component (shingles, underlayment, ice-and-water, drip edge, starter strip, flashing, vents, labor, tear-off, disposal)
• Specific material brands and product lines (not just "architectural shingle")
• Nail pattern (6-nail for wind-rated products)
• Underlayment type (synthetic, not 15-lb felt)
• Warranty terms (manufacturer material + enhanced + workmanship) with specific durations
• Decking allowance (how many sheets included, per-sheet cost for additional)
• Permit handling (who pulls it, who pays for it)
• HOA coordination if applicable
• Cleanup commitment (magnetic sweep, debris removal)
• Payment schedule (deposit percentage, progress, completion)
• Project timeline (start date, duration, weather contingency)

Step 6: Get 3 bids — and compare scope, not just price

The lowest bid is usually the one cutting corners. Compare line-item scope across bids. If Contractor A's bid is $12,000 and Contractor B's is $15,000, the question isn't "which is cheaper" — it's "what's different between them?" Often the answer is that B includes ice-and-water shield in valleys while A doesn't, or B uses synthetic underlayment while A uses felt, or B includes proper ridge vent while A reuses the existing one.

For insurance claim-driven replacements, scope is often dictated by the settlement. But the execution details (nail pattern, underlayment type, flashing method) still vary by contractor. Choose based on who will execute the scope properly, not just who will execute it cheapest.

Step 7: Check references and online reviews

Ask for 3–5 local references and call them. Questions to ask:

• Did the crew show up when scheduled?
• Did they clean up thoroughly?
• Did they hit the quoted price or come in higher?
• Has any workmanship issue surfaced since install? Did the contractor respond?
• Would you hire them again?

Check Google reviews, BBB accreditation, and Angi/Nextdoor mentions. Read 1-star and 3-star reviews specifically — 5-star reviews can be curated; complaints reveal real issues.