Choosing Who To Hire
Roofing is the trade with the most door-knocking and the shortest company lifespans, which makes verification worth the hour it takes.
Short answer
Verify WSIB coverage and liability insurance with certificates, check they are HST registered and will issue a proper invoice, get a written scope rather than a price, and ask who is actually on the roof. A warranty from a company that will not exist in three years is not a warranty.
What to verify
WSIB clearance, which you can confirm directly and which protects you if somebody is hurt on your property.
General liability insurance, with a certificate naming your address.
HST registration and a proper invoice, because a cash job with no paperwork leaves you with no warranty and no recourse.
How long the company has operated under its current name, which in this trade is a meaningful question.
Whether the crew are employees or subcontracted, and who supervises.
And references from jobs of a similar type and age, with addresses you can drive past.
Door-knocking after a storm
A crew that appears after a wind event, offers to inspect for free, finds damage and wants a signature today is the pattern to decline. Get your own inspection, get your own quotes, and involve your insurer through their process rather than through a contractor who has appeared at your door.
What the quote should contain
Tear-off or overlay, stated.
The underlayment and the ice and water shield coverage.
Drip edge, starter strip, and new flashing throughout rather than reused.
The ventilation work, including what happens to any bath fan discharging into the attic.
The decking replacement rate and how it will be assessed.
And the material warranty, the workmanship warranty, the term of each, and what voids them.
Answers that should concern you
A price with no written scope.
A large deposit demanded up front, which in Ontario consumer protection terms is a reason to pause.
Pressure to sign today, or a discount that expires this afternoon.
No WSIB clearance, or an unwillingness to produce it.
A cash-only arrangement with no invoice.
And a lifetime warranty offered verbally, which means nothing without a company behind it and a document describing it.
Common questions
What should I verify first?
WSIB clearance and liability insurance, with certificates.
Is a cash job a problem?
It leaves you with no warranty and no recourse. Get a proper invoice.
What about storm door-knockers?
Decline, get your own inspection and quotes, and go through your insurer process.