Q: A storm crew arrives in Tacoma after a windstorm and wants your signature immediately. What should you check before letting the roofing contractor take the job?

Verify the roofing contractor’s Washington registration, bond, insurance, business identity, references, and written contract. Check whether the registration is active rather than relying on a number printed on a truck or business card. Storm damage does not eliminate the need to vet the company.

Q: A property manager is hiring a roofing contractor for a $200,000 apartment reroof in Bellevue. Should the contract include a separate performance bond, and why?

Do not assume Washington’s standard contractor registration bond is the same thing as a project specific performance bond. The $15,000 specialty contractor bond is a registration requirement and is not a $200,000 performance guarantee. For a large private apartment project, the property owner can negotiate separate performance and payment bond requirements in the contract. If the project is public work, additional statutory bonding requirements can apply.

Q: The roofing contractor's bond and insurance use a slightly different business name than the contract. Is that a paperwork problem worth stopping the project over?

Yes. Washington requires the contractor’s bond and insurance documentation to identify the business correctly. A mismatch can create uncertainty about whether the protection actually applies to the company you hired. Get corrected documentation before the roofing contractor begins work.

Question 1

A roofing contractor in Seattle says the company is registered, but the registration number on the estimate belongs to another business name. What should I verify before signing?

Accepted Answer

Verify the exact business name attached to the Washington registration. The name on the registration, contract, bond, and insurance documents should match. Washington requires the bond and insurance information to use the exact business name on file. If the names do not match, stop and get the discrepancy explained before signing or paying.

Question 2

Your Spokane reroof is quoted at $28,000, and the roofing contractor says a $15,000 bond protects you personally. What does Washington's specialty contractor bond actually cover?

Accepted Answer

A registered specialty roofing contractor generally must carry a $15,000 continuous surety bond. The bond provides a potential source of financial recovery for certain claims against the roofing contractor, such as qualifying contractual violations or unpaid obligations. It is not the same as insurance, and it does not guarantee that you will recover the entire amount of a $28,000 dispute.

Question 3

A roofing contractor wants a large deposit before ordering materials. What should a homeowner put in writing about deposits, progress payments, and the final payment?

Accepted Answer

Put the complete payment schedule in the written contract. Washington does not impose a simple statewide rule saying every roofing contractor can collect only a specific percentage upfront. The contract should identify the deposit, progress payment triggers, remaining balance, and final payment conditions. For contracts exceeding $1,000, Washington also requires a consumer disclosure statement explaining important rights and responsibilities.

Question 4

The roofing contractor has a current Washington registration but says insurance is “handled.” What exact liability coverage should you verify before work starts?

Accepted Answer

Washington requires registered contractors to maintain general liability coverage of at least $200,000 in public liability and $50,000 in property damage, or a $250,000 combined single limit policy. Ask for current proof of coverage and make sure the insured business name matches the roofing contractor you are hiring.

Question 5

A storm crew arrives in Tacoma after a windstorm and wants your signature immediately. What should you check before letting the roofing contractor take the job?

Accepted Answer

Verify the roofing contractor&#8217;s Washington registration, bond, insurance, business identity, references, and written contract. Check whether the registration is active rather than relying on a number printed on a truck or business card. Storm damage does not eliminate the need to vet the company.

Question 6

A roofing contractor says it is a specialty roofing business and can bring in another unregistered company to perform most of the work. Can a Washington specialty roofing contractor subcontract like that?

Accepted Answer

Generally, no. Washington specialty contractors are restricted to their registered specialty and generally cannot subcontract work. There is a limited exception for incidental work associated with the specialty. If another company will perform most of the roofing work, determine whether the arrangement complies with Washington&#8217;s specialty contractor rules before proceeding.

Question 7

A property manager is hiring a roofing contractor for a $200,000 apartment reroof in Bellevue. Should the contract include a separate performance bond, and why?

Accepted Answer

Do not assume Washington&#8217;s standard contractor registration bond is the same thing as a project specific performance bond. The $15,000 specialty contractor bond is a registration requirement and is not a $200,000 performance guarantee. For a large private apartment project, the property owner can negotiate separate performance and payment bond requirements in the contract. If the project is public work, additional statutory bonding requirements can apply.

Question 8

The roofing contractor's bond and insurance use a slightly different business name than the contract. Is that a paperwork problem worth stopping the project over?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Washington requires the contractor&#8217;s bond and insurance documentation to identify the business correctly. A mismatch can create uncertainty about whether the protection actually applies to the company you hired. Get corrected documentation before the roofing contractor begins work.

Question 9

A roofing contractor's registration is active today, but the insurance policy expires next month. What happens to the registration if the required insurance lapses?

Accepted Answer

The registration can be suspended when required insurance expires or is canceled and the roofing contractor does not maintain the required coverage. Do not assume an active registration today means the company will remain properly registered throughout your project. For a long project, verify that the coverage remains current.

Question 10

A homeowner in Everett receives three bids, and the cheapest roofing contractor refuses to provide references. How much weight should that carry when choosing between bids?

Accepted Answer

A refusal to provide references is a legitimate reason to slow down the hiring decision. Price alone tells you very little about whether the roofing contractor has a reliable project history. Ask for recent customers, especially projects similar in size and property type, and independently verify the references when possible.

Question 11

The roofing contractor says the crew members are independent subcontractors, so the property owner has nothing to verify. What should a commercial buyer check before allowing those workers on site?

Accepted Answer

Verify who employs the workers and whether each company is properly registered and insured when required. Washington warns that simply calling someone an independent contractor does not automatically make them one for every legal purpose. A commercial owner should also establish who is responsible for injuries, property damage, payroll obligations, and subcontractor payments.

Question 12

A roofing contractor advertises online but does not display a Washington contractor registration number. Is that something the homeowner should treat as a serious warning?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Washington requires registered contractors to comply with contractor advertising requirements, including displaying their registration information in advertising. A missing registration number does not automatically prove fraud, but it is enough reason to verify the business before requesting an estimate or signing a contract.

Question 13

A roofing contractor finishes the work but leaves unpaid suppliers behind. What protection does the Washington contractor registration bond actually give a property owner?

Accepted Answer

The registration bond can provide limited financial recourse for qualifying claims, but it is not a blanket guarantee against every lien or unpaid supplier problem. The $15,000 specialty contractor bond has a limited dollar amount and multiple potential claimants can have rights against it. For larger projects, payment documentation and appropriate lien releases are important.

Question 14

The roofing contractor's registration shows one specialty, but the proposal includes work outside that specialty. Can the roofing contractor legally take the entire scope under that registration?

Accepted Answer

Not automatically. A Washington specialty contractor is limited to the specialty for which it is registered, except for limited incidental work. If the proposal includes substantial work outside the roofing specialty, determine whether another properly registered contractor needs to perform that portion.

Question 15

A roofing contractor asks you to make the check payable to an individual instead of the registered business. Why is that worth stopping and verifying?

Accepted Answer

Because the payment should clearly correspond to the legal business you contracted with. Paying an individual can create confusion about who actually received the money and whether the payment satisfies your contract. Get a written explanation and make sure the payment instructions are consistent with the contract and business identity.

Question 16

A large reroof in Yakima will use several subcontracted crews. What should an investor put into the contract to protect against unpaid workers, suppliers, and subcontractors?

Accepted Answer

The contract should identify who is responsible for subcontractors and require the roofing contractor to provide documentation showing that qualifying workers and suppliers are being paid. For a large project, consider requiring lien releases, payment documentation, current insurance certificates, and a clearly defined subcontracting process. Also verify whether the roofing contractor is a general or specialty contractor, because Washington places different restrictions on their ability to subcontract.

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