Roofing Contractors in Murfreesboro: 10 Questions to Ask First
Rutherford County gets a new crop of roofing contractors every spring. Some are local companies that will still be here in ten years. Some are crews that follow storms from state to state and will be gone before your first leak. The questions below sort them out in one conversation, and a good roofer will not mind answering any of them.
1. Which Tennessee license do you hold, and can I see it?
Tennessee licenses roofing at two levels, and Rutherford County is one of the counties where both apply. A job from $3,000 to $24,999 requires a home improvement license. A job of $25,000 or more requires a full state contractor license. Most full replacements on a two-story, and every metal roof, cross that line.
Ask which one they hold, ask to see it, and check it yourself on the Tennessee license verification site run by the Department of Commerce and Insurance. It takes a minute. If the license is in a different name than the truck, or the roofer suggests splitting the job into two invoices to stay under $25,000, walk away.
2. Can you send me your insurance certificates?
Two of them: general liability and workers' compensation. Ask for the certificates to be sent directly from the insurance agent, not photocopied. A crew without workers' comp that gets hurt on your roof can become your homeowners claim.
3. Will you go in my attic?
The right answer is yes, on every estimate. A roofer who prices a replacement from a satellite measurement and never opens the attic hatch has not seen the decking, the ventilation, or the water trail. Anything they missed shows up as a change order on install day.
4. How many nails per shingle?
Six. Four is the manufacturer's minimum and what the production crews used on most of the houses in Blackman, Salem and Smyrna, and four-nail roofs are the ones that shed shingles in every spring storm. Six nails is a few dollars a square in labor and the difference between a roof that stays on and one that does not.
5. What underlayment, and where does the membrane go?
Synthetic underlayment over the whole deck, not felt. Ice-and-water membrane in every valley, around every penetration, and along the eaves. Tennessee code does not require eave membrane in this county, so builders skipped it; wind-driven rain gets under the first course exactly the way ice does farther north.
6. Are the pipe boots and flashing new?
Every one. Plastic pipe boots are what failed on your last roof; you want metal or silicone. Step flashing at walls should be new and woven into the shingles, and chimney counter-flashing should be cut into the mortar, not caulked to the brick. A roofer who plans to reuse flashing is planning your next leak.
7. Is the permit in the price?
Murfreesboro Building and Codes permits full replacements, and so do Smyrna, La Vergne and Franklin. If the permit is not in the price, ask why. Usually it means they were not planning to pull one.
8. What is the decking allowance?
A real number per sheet — $90–$150 in this market — not "as needed." Ask for photos of any sheet they replace. On a 2010 house with a boot that has leaked for three years, expect one or two sheets; on a 1975 house with a long-ignored valley, expect more.
9. What are the warranties, in writing?
Two of them. The manufacturer's warranty on the shingle, which usually requires the roof to be installed to spec (see nails, above). And the workmanship warranty from the roofer, which is only worth anything if the roofer is still in business. Ask how long they have had a Tennessee license and a local address.
10. What happens to my deductible?
The only right answer is "you pay it." A roofer who offers to waive it, absorb it, or "work with you on it" is planning to inflate the invoice to your insurer by that amount. That is insurance fraud, it can get your claim denied, and it puts your name on the paperwork.
The storm-chaser tells
After a big storm the subdivisions off Veterans Parkway and Sam Ridley Parkway fill up with door-knockers. The pattern:
- A "free inspection" that finds damage on every roof on the street
- A contingency agreement or assignment of benefits to sign on the doorstep
- Pressure to sign today, before "the insurance window closes"
- An out-of-state number and a magnetic sign on a rental truck
- A crew you never see again after the check clears
None of those are illegal on their own. Together they are the pattern. Our post on roof repair scams explains the mechanics.
Questions about the job day
When will you start, and what happens if it rains? You want a crew that will not tear off with a storm on the radar, and a plan for drying in fast if one surprises them.
Who is in charge on site? Get a name and a phone number for the crew lead, not just the salesperson.
How will you protect the yard and the house? Tarps over landscaping and the AC unit, a plan for the driveway, and a magnet sweep for nails at the end.
What will you do if you find rotten decking? The answer should be: photograph it, tell you, and replace it at the per-sheet price in the contract.
Questions for a repair, not a replacement
Roofing contractors in Murfreesboro handle far more small repairs than full roofs, and a repair has its own short list.
- What do you think is causing the leak, and how did you confirm it?
- What exactly will you replace, and with what?
- Is caulk any part of the fix? It should be a supplement, never the repair.
- What happens if the stain comes back after the next rain?
- Is there anything else on the roof I should know about, even if I do not fix it now?
Questions about the paperwork
- Will the contract name the start date and the expected finish?
- What is the payment schedule, and is any deposit small and tied to a start date?
- Who registers the shingle warranty, and will I get a copy?
- Will I get the final invoice with the materials listed, plus photos of the finished roof?
A roofer who is happy to put all of that on paper is usually a roofer who expects to still be around when you call about it.
How to compare the answers
Write down what each contractor said, or ask them to put it in an email. Then line them up. The differences that matter are the specifics: one roofer names a shingle line, a nail count and membrane locations while another says "quality materials." One explains the leak and another just quotes a patch. A roofer who answers clearly and in writing is usually the one who builds the roof the same way.
What a good quote looks like
One or two pages. Tear-off, underlayment, membrane locations, shingle product and wind rating, nailing, boots, flashing, ventilation, decking allowance, permit, warranties, license class, and a total. Good for 30 days. The cost page has the ranges to compare it against, and the about page explains how this guide works and who handles estimate requests.
Common questions
How many contractors should I talk to?
Two or three for a replacement, one or two for a repair. More than that tends to blur together. Make sure each one has been in the attic and on the roof before you compare prices.
Is it rude to ask for insurance certificates?
No. It is a routine request, and any established roofer gets it often. Ask for the certificates to come straight from the insurance agent.
Do I have to use the roofer my insurance company suggests?
You can, but you do not have to. Your policy pays for the covered damage whoever does the work. Choose the contractor you trust after checking the license and comparing written quotes.
Need roof work in Murfreesboro?
Call for a free estimate. Mon–Sat 7am–7pm.