10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Roofer in South-Central Wisconsin

1. Are You Licensed and Insured in Wisconsin?

This is non-negotiable. Wisconsin requires dwelling contractor certification for residential roofing work on one- to four-family homes. Ask for the license number and look it up on the DSPS website yourself.

Beyond the license, the contractor needs general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage. If a worker gets hurt on your roof without workers' comp, you could be liable. Ask for certificates of insurance - not just a verbal "yes, we're covered."

2. Do You Have a Physical Address in the Area?

A local address matters more than most people think. Storm chasers often operate out of a P.O. box or a temporary office. A contractor with a real, permanent address in south-central Wisconsin has skin in the game - their reputation lives here, their crews live here, and they'll still be around if something goes wrong.

Ask where their office is. Ask how long they've operated in the area. A company that's been working Dane, Rock, and Green counties for decades isn't going anywhere.

3. Can You Provide Local References?

Any contractor worth hiring should be able to hand you a short list of recent customers in your area - people you can actually call or drive by to see the work. Online reviews matter too. Check Google, Angi, and Birdeye. Look for patterns, not just star ratings.

You can see what real customers say about Buckshot Exteriors on our customer reviews page. We've been doing this work in south-central Wisconsin since 1979 - the references aren't hard to come by.

4. Will You Do a Full Tear-Off or a Layover?

This is a question a lot of homeowners don't think to ask, and it's a big one.

A layover (adding new shingles over old ones) is cheaper and faster. It's also, in most cases, a shortcut. Wisconsin's freeze-thaw cycles are brutal - ice dams, wind uplift, and moisture trapped between layers will shorten the life of a layover roof significantly. Most manufacturers also void their warranty on a second-layer installation.

A quality contractor will pull off the old material, inspect the decking underneath, replace any rotted or damaged boards, and start fresh. That's what your home deserves.

5. What Shingles Are You Installing - and What's the Warranty?

"Architectural shingles" covers a wide range of products, from budget lines to premium systems. Ask for the specific brand and product name. Then look it up.

More importantly, understand the difference between a manufacturer's material warranty and a workmanship warranty. Material warranties cover defective shingles. They don't cover a leak caused by improper installation - and that's where most problems actually come from.

To get a warranty that covers both materials and labor, you need a manufacturer-certified contractor. Buckshot Exteriors is a GAF Master Elite contractor, which puts us in the top tier of GAF-certified roofers and allows us to offer enhanced system warranties that cover workmanship. Fewer than 2% of roofing contractors in the country qualify for that designation.

6. Who Actually Does the Work?

Some contractors sell the job and then hand it off to a subcontractor you've never met. That's not always a problem - but you should know. Ask whether the crew installing your roof are employees of the company or subs. If they're subs, are they covered under the contractor's insurance? Are they trained to the same standards?

You want accountability all the way down the line, not just at the sales level.

7. How Do You Handle Permits?

In Wisconsin, most roof replacements require a permit from the local municipality. Some contractors skip this to save time and money. That's your problem, not theirs - an unpermitted roof can complicate a home sale, void your homeowner's insurance claim, or get flagged during an inspection years later.

A reputable contractor pulls the permit. Full stop. If they suggest skipping it, walk away.

8. What's the Payment Schedule?

A reasonable deposit - somewhere in the range of 10-30% - to lock in your date and order materials is standard. Anything more than that upfront is a red flag.

Never pay in full before the work is done. Hold the final payment until the job is complete, the site is cleaned up, and you've done a walkthrough with the project manager. Any contractor who pushes back on that isn't someone you want on your roof.

9. How Do You Handle Storm Damage Claims?

If your roof damage is storm-related, the insurance claim process adds a whole layer of complexity. A good contractor doesn't just hand you a quote and wish you luck - they help you document the damage properly and, ideally, meet with your adjuster on-site.

This matters because adjusters don't always catch everything on the first visit. A knowledgeable contractor knows what hail damage looks like on different shingle types, what wind damage patterns indicate, and what code upgrade costs your policy may cover.

Buckshot Exteriors handles storm damage claims regularly in south-central Wisconsin. We meet your adjuster on-site and make sure nothing gets missed. That's a service that can mean thousands of dollars in legitimate claim coverage you'd otherwise leave on the table.

10. What Does Cleanup Look Like?

Roofing is messy work. Thousands of old shingles, nails, and underlayment scraps end up on your lawn, in your gutters, and around your foundation. A professional crew plans for cleanup from the start - tarps on the ground, a dumpster or trailer positioned to catch debris, and a magnetic nail sweep after the job is done.

Ask specifically: who handles cleanup, and what does it include? Your landscaping and your dog's paws will thank you.

A Quick Note Before You Sign Anything

If you're in Madison, Janesville, Monroe, Stoughton, or anywhere else in south-central Wisconsin, you have options. Don't let a high-pressure salesperson rush you into a decision. Get at least two estimates. Read the contract carefully - especially the warranty language and cancellation terms.

And if a contractor can't answer the questions above clearly and confidently, that tells you everything you need to know.

Thinking about getting an estimate soon? Our residential roofing page walks through what a Buckshot project looks like from first call to final walkthrough - worth a read before you start comparing bids.

Buckshot Exteriors Has Been Answering These Questions Since 1979

We're family-owned. We're local - Madison, WI and surrounding counties. We've been doing this work long enough that we've seen every shortcut, every storm-chaser tactic, and every way a roof can fail when it's installed wrong.

When you call us, you get a straight answer on every one of those ten questions. Licensed and insured - yes. Local references - absolutely. Full tear-off with proper decking inspection - standard. GAF Master Elite certified - yes, with the warranties to back it up. On-site adjuster meetings for storm claims - that's just what we do.

We offer free inspections and free estimates with no pressure and no obligation. If your roof has taken storm damage, we offer 24-hour emergency response.

Call Buckshot Exteriors or reach out online to schedule your free roof inspection. We'll come out, give you an honest assessment, and let the work speak for itself - the way we've been doing it for over 47 years.