Your roof protects everything under it, so the contractor you choose matters more than almost any home decision. Here's how to separate the pros from the problems in New Jersey.
Verify these first
- NJ Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration — required to do this work in New Jersey.
- Insurance — general liability and workers' comp, so you're not liable for an injury on your property.
- Manufacturer certification — a GAF-certified roofer is trained and vetted to install (and warranty) the system properly.
- Real, recent reviews — look for a strong Google rating with a high review count and specifics.
10 questions to ask
- Are you licensed and insured in New Jersey? (Ask for proof.)
- Do you pull the permit and handle the inspection?
- Is the quote itemized — and do you have a no-change-order policy?
- Do you require a deposit? (The best answer is no.)
- What shingle line and warranty tier are you proposing?
- Who is on-site running the crew?
- How do you protect my landscaping and clean up?
- What happens if you find rotted decking?
- What's the workmanship warranty?
- Can I see reviews from homeowners near me?
Red flags — walk away if you see these
- High-pressure "sign today" closing and prices that drop three times.
- Large upfront deposits before any work begins.
- Storm chasers who knock on your door after a storm and pressure you to sign over your insurance claim.
- No written, itemized quote — or vague language that invites change orders.
- No NJ license or insurance.
The Lightning standard
Lightning Construction is a veteran-owned, GAF-certified, licensed and insured NJ contractor with a 4.9-star rating from 264 homeowners. We give one honest, itemized number with no money down and no change orders — and zero pressure. Compare us on your own timeline. Get a free estimate.
The checks that take five minutes and matter most
- New Jersey HIC registration. Required by law. Verify the number with the Division of Consumer Affairs rather than taking it off a truck.
- Certificate of insurance sent directly from the insurer — general liability and workers' compensation. A PDF forwarded by the contractor proves nothing.
- Manufacturer certification. GAF and the other majors only extend their longer warranties through certified installers.
- A physical New Jersey address and a local phone number, not a magnetic sign and a cell.
- Reviews that mention the job going wrong and being fixed. Uniformly perfect reviews tell you less than one detailed recovery.
Questions that separate contractors quickly
- "How far up from the eave does your ice barrier run?" — the code minimum is a starting point, not a target.
- "How much intake ventilation are you adding?" — if the answer is only about ridge vent, they are exhausting an attic with nothing coming in.
- "What is your per-sheet price for replacement decking?" — a real contractor has a number.
- "Who is actually on my roof — your crew or a sub?" — either can be fine, but the answer should be direct.
- "What happens to the price if you find a third layer?" — the correct answer is that it does not change, because they looked first.
Signals to walk away from
A large deposit. A price that expires today. A door-knock after a storm. An assignment of benefits. Refusal to pull the permit. A quote written on a single line with no scope. Any of these on their own is enough.