Questions to Ask a Metal Roofing Contractor Before You Sign

A clear answer is a number you can look up on the spot, with C-39 Roofing among the classes. Some metal roofers also hold C-43 Sheet Metal. Check it yourself on the CSLB license check, and see our license check guide for what each field means.

The license record shows the issue date. Time in business does not guarantee quality, but a workmanship warranty is a promise about the future, and a long licensing history is some evidence the company will be there to keep it. Eclipse Metal Roofing has worked in Los Angeles since 2006.

Residential roofs have their own details: dormers, skylights, chimneys, wall flashings against stucco or siding, and landscaping to protect. A company that works on homes every day will talk about those without being prompted. We are a residential company.

The clearest answer is a simple yes. If the answer is that a subcontractor installs it, ask who that company is, whether it is licensed, and who on your contractor's side checks the work. We use our own crews. No subcontractors, ever.

You want a name, and a person who will be on the roof, not only in the office. That person should be able to explain the flashing plan for your roof in plain words.

There are two common answers: bought from a supplier, or formed in-house. Both can work. A good answer explains how the panels are sized to your roof and who is responsible if a run needs to change once the old roof is off. We custom-fabricate panels and trim in our own Van Nuys shop, cut to the measured length of each roof plane.

Expect specific words: the panel profile and seam type, steel or aluminum, the gauge, and the finish system by name. "Standard metal roof" is not an answer you can compare.

On most residential roofs, panels formed to length can run from ridge to eave in one piece. If a plane is too long for that, a good contractor will tell you where the laps will be and how they are sealed.

We do not lay new panels over an old roof. Taking it off lets the deck be inspected and repaired. A good answer also explains what happens when damaged sheathing turns up: how it is shown to you, documented and priced.

Metal roofs get hot in Los Angeles sun. Ask for the product name and whether it is rated for high temperatures under metal, and whether it covers the whole roof.

This is where most leaks start on any roof. Listen for specifics: flashings formed for your roof, counter-flashing at walls and chimneys, and how skylights and vents are handled. The photo above shows a formed flashing around a chimney during installation.

The contractor should pull the permit in its own name and schedule the inspections. Homes in Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Sherman Oaks and other City of Los Angeles neighborhoods go through LADBS; Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Malibu each have their own building departments.

California limits the down payment on a home improvement contract, and the rest should follow work completed. A clear answer ties each payment to a stage, such as materials delivered, tear-off and dry-in, and final inspection. The CSLB explains the rules at cslb.ca.gov.

The finish warranty comes from the coil or paint maker and covers the coating under its own terms. Ask for the document, not a summary, and ask whether it needs to be registered.

This is the contractor's promise about the installation. A clear answer is a written document that says what is covered, for how long, and how you make a claim. Read it before you sign, and compare it across bids.

Expect the signed-off permit, both warranties, and a record of the materials used. Keep them with your house papers; a future buyer will ask.