A roof replacement is a five-figure decision most homeowners make only once or twice in their lives. Here is the checklist we recommend to anyone comparing roofing contractors in Severna Park — including us.
1. Verify Maryland Licensing and Insurance
Maryland home improvement contractors must be licensed through the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), and any roofer on your property should carry both liability insurance and workers’ compensation. Ask for certificates — a professional contractor expects the question.
2. Insist on a Written, Itemized Estimate
A real estimate spells out materials by brand and line, scope of work including tear-off and decking repair rates, ventilation and flashing details, cleanup, and payment schedule. “New roof — $X” on a single line tells you nothing and protects you from nothing.
3. Be Careful After Storms
Big storms bring out-of-state crews door-knocking through Anne Arundel County. Some are legitimate; many are not. Red flags: pressure to sign today, asking you to sign over your insurance claim, large cash deposits, and no verifiable local address or reviews.
4. Ask About Both Warranties
There are two: the manufacturer’s warranty on materials, and the contractor’s warranty on workmanship. Most roof failures are installation failures, so the workmanship warranty — and whether the company will be around to honor it — matters most.
5. Check Local Reputation, Not Just Star Ratings
Read the actual reviews. Do they mention communication? Cleanup? How problems were handled? A contractor’s response to a critical review tells you more than ten five-star ratings.
6. Ask How They Handle Ventilation
This is a quiet quality filter. Poor attic ventilation cooks shingles from below and voids warranties. A roofer who measures intake and exhaust ventilation before quoting is thinking about your roof as a system.
Questions to Ask Every Roofer
- Who is actually on my roof — your crew or subcontractors?
- What happens if you find rotten decking?
- How is my landscaping and driveway protected?
- What does the workmanship warranty cover, and for how long?
Magothy Roofing and Exteriors is licensed and insured in Maryland, locally owned in Severna Park, and happy to answer every one of those questions. Call 410-793-9516 for a free estimate.