What to expect from a roofing company, from the first call to the final payment: an inspection with photos, a written estimate that lists the materials and scope, a home improvement contract that follows California law, a permit where one is required, installation with daily cleanup, a final walkthrough, and warranty paperwork. At each stage there is something you should see or receive. To start with an inspection, call NEMA Roofing at 866-631-3366.
Stage by stage: what you should see and receive
| Stage | What happens | What you should have in hand |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection | The roof, flashing, gutters and, where possible, the attic are checked | Photos and a plain explanation of what was found |
| Estimate | The roofer turns the findings into a scope | A written estimate with materials and work listed item by item |
| Contract | You agree on scope, price, payments and dates | A signed copy, with the notice of your right to cancel |
| Permit | The contractor applies to the building department for your address | The permit number, posted or given to you |
| Installation | Tear-off, deck repair, underlayment, flashing, covering | A signed change order before any extra work |
| Closeout | Cleanup, final inspection, walkthrough | The permit final, lien releases for what you paid, warranty documents |
The inspection: more than a look from the street
A proper roof inspection checks the covering, flashing, underlayment where it is exposed, ventilation, and the gutters and downspouts, and it includes the attic when there is access, because stains and daylight there show problems that cannot be seen from above. Expect photos of anything the roofer calls a problem. If the roofer recommends replacement, the photos should show why a repair will not do. Read more about what our roof inspection covers.
The estimate: every line should mean something
A clear estimate names the covering by product, the underlayment, which flashing is replaced, the ventilation work, tear-off and disposal, how deck repairs are priced if rotten wood turns up, the permit, and the warranty. Vague lines such as “roof labor” or “misc. materials” make it impossible to compare bids. A good roofer answers questions about each line and revises the scope if you change your mind about a material.
The contract: what California law requires
A home improvement contract in California has to follow Business and Professions Code section 7159. Among other things, it must:
- Limit the down payment to 10 percent of the contract price or a fixed dollar cap set in the law, whichever is less.
- List any progress payments in a schedule tied to described phases of work. The contract must also state that it is against the law for a contractor to collect payment for work not yet completed or for materials not yet delivered.
- Show an approximate start date and an approximate completion date.
- Make extra work and changes part of the contract only through a written change order signed before that work begins, stating the added or subtracted cost and the effect on the schedule.
- Include a statement that, after each payment, the contractor will give you a full and unconditional release from mechanics lien claims for the work you paid for.
- Include a notice of your right to cancel: three business days after you receive the signed contract, five for a senior citizen, and seven for repairs to a home damaged in a disaster for which a state of emergency has been declared (with some exceptions, such as a contract negotiated at the contractor’s place of business).
If subcontractors will be used, the contract must say so, and the contractor must give you their names, license numbers and classifications on request.
Installation days
Expect tarps over landscaping and walkways before tear-off, a loud first day, and a pause once the deck is exposed so any rotten boards can be shown to you and approved as a change order if they were not already priced. Underlayment, flashing, vents and the new covering follow, with the building inspector’s visits where the permit calls for them. Nails and debris should be picked up at the end of each day, not only on the last one. If you are replacing the whole roof, our roof replacement page explains the process in more detail.
Cleanup, final review and paperwork
At the end, the crew should sweep the yard, driveway and gutters with a magnet and remove all debris, then walk the finished roof with you or show you photos of the details. Keep a file with the contract and change orders, the permit final, lien releases and the warranty documents. On a NEMA roof, that can be a GAF enhanced warranty (NEMA holds GAF Master Elite status, the level needed for the Golden Pledge Limited Warranty, in which GAF covers installation workmanship) or the Owens Corning Preferred Protection warranty with its workmanship coverage, which NEMA files as an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor.
Why the company you pick matters
The National Association of Home Builders’ study of home component life expectancy notes that the life of a roof depends on local weather, proper building and design, material quality and adequate maintenance. Two of those, how the roof is built and the quality of its materials, are decided by the roofing company you hire, and a good one helps with the third, maintenance. For more on the upside of hiring close to home, read the benefits of hiring a roofing company near me.
NEMA Roofing (CSLB license #1083283) takes on jobs from five Google-verified locations, Downey, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Oxnard and Santa Barbara, for homeowners anywhere in the five counties it covers: Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino; the Ventura County service area page is one place to start. See our roofing contractor near me page, or call 866-631-3366 to book the first step.
