The hardest part of a roof replacement isn't the work — it's picking the contractor. South Philadelphia has dozens of legitimate roofers and a smaller number of operators who shouldn't be in business. Telling them apart isn't obvious from a Google search; the bad ones often have the best-looking websites.
This guide walks through the four hard checks (PA HIC registration, insurance, references, permit history) plus the soft signals that separate contractors who'll do good work from ones who'll cost you twice.
In this guide
PA HIC: the non-negotiable first check
Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (73 P.S. § 517.1) requires any contractor doing more than $5,000 of work to register as a Home Improvement Contractor with the PA Attorney General. Roof replacement always qualifies. If a contractor isn't HIC-registered, they're operating illegally and you have limited legal recourse if the job goes wrong.
The check takes 30 seconds. Go to hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov and search by the contractor's business name. Their HIC number, address, registration status, and any complaint history will come up. The contractor should also put their HIC number on every estimate and contract.
No HIC number on the estimate is an instant red flag. So is a "pending" status that's been pending for more than a few weeks.
Watch out
Some smaller operators avoid HIC registration to save the fee. They may do good work, but you carry all the risk if something goes wrong. PA HIC is non-negotiable for any roofing job over $5,000.
Insurance verification — both kinds
Two insurance certificates matter:
- General liability insurance — covers damage the contractor causes to your property or a neighbor's. Minimum $1 million in coverage is the standard. Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) listing you as the certificate holder.
- Workers' compensation — covers injuries to the crew on your job. This is the critical one: if an uninsured contractor's worker falls off your roof, you can be held personally liable for their medical bills. Pennsylvania law requires workers' comp for any business with employees.
Red flags that disqualify a contractor immediately
Stop the conversation if you see any of these:
- Cash-only payment. Legitimate contractors take checks, credit cards, or financing. Cash-only means no paper trail, no warranty enforcement, no tax records.
- Demanding more than 30% deposit. Standard deposit is 10-25%, with the rest due at completion or in milestone payments. 50%+ upfront is a sign the contractor needs your money to start the job.
- Door-to-door sales after a storm. "Storm chasers" — out-of-state contractors who roll into Philadelphia after a major nor'easter to pitch roof replacement door-to-door — are almost always a bad deal. Local, established contractors don't cold-call.
- Pressure to sign the same day. Anyone claiming this price is only good if you sign now is using high-pressure sales tactics. Real estimates are valid for 30+ days.
- Verbal estimates only. Everything in writing, every time. Verbal commitments mean nothing in PA.
- No physical business address. A P.O. box or a "we work out of trucks" answer means you can't serve them legal papers if you need to.
Questions to ask before signing
Ask these on the estimate visit. Honest contractors answer them directly; evasive answers tell you what you need to know.
- "What's your PA HIC number?" — should be immediate, written on the estimate.
- "Will you pull the L&I permit?" — yes is the only acceptable answer. See our L&I permits guide for what that involves.
- "What if you find deck rot during tear-off?" — should have a clear per-square-foot rate and a change-order policy in writing.
- "Can I see three references from South Philly jobs in the last year?" — should be able to provide them immediately. Then actually call the references.
- "Who's on the crew and are they your employees or subs?" — sub-contracted crews aren't inherently bad, but they affect insurance coverage and quality control. Worth knowing.
- "What's the workmanship warranty length?" — manufacturer warranty covers material; workmanship warranty covers the install. 5-10 years on workmanship is standard from reputable contractors.
Getting (and comparing) three quotes
Get three free quotes from contractors who walk the roof. Phone or photo-based estimates aren't reliable for South Philly rowhomes.
When comparing, the lowest quote is almost never the right answer. Look for the quote that breaks down scope clearly, includes the permit, names the material brand and warranty, and comes from a contractor who answers your questions without dodging. Sometimes that's the middle quote, occasionally the highest, almost never the lowest.
If two quotes are wildly different in price, ask the cheaper contractor what they're leaving out. Honest answer: "we're re-covering, not doing a full tear-off" or "we didn't include the permit". Dishonest answer: "they're overcharging you".
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