Clark County, WA · Vancouver · Camas · Battle Ground
Skip the self-ranked “top roofer” lists. Here is a practical way to check any roofing contractor yourself using public records, the written bid, the warranty, and seven questions worth asking before you sign.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF ROOFER GUIDE
Do Not Start With a “Top 5 Roofers” List
You have probably seen “best roofer” lists for Vancouver, Camas, or Battle Ground. A surprising number are published by roofing companies that somehow rank themselves first.
This guide is different on purpose. We are not going to rank anyone, including ourselves. Instead, we will show you how to check any roofer in about ten minutes. Everything below applies to Jobin Roofing too, and near the bottom of the page we give you our registration numbers and links to the same public tools.
SAVE THIS CHECKLIST
The 10-Minute Roofer Check
Before you spend hours comparing shingle brands, check the contractor first.
Check L&I
Confirm the business is active and that the name, bond, and insurance match the company quoting your roof.
Compare the Work
Make sure the bids describe the same tear-off, decking, flashing, underlayment, ventilation, and permit scope.
Read Both Warranties
Separate the manufacturer warranty from the contractor’s workmanship warranty and get both in writing.
Read the Newest Reviews
Look for recent, specific reviews and pay attention to how the contractor responds when something goes wrong.
Ask Who Does the Work
Find out whether the people on your roof are employees or subcontractors and how those crews are verified.
Confirm the Permit
Ask whether a reroof permit is required for your address, who is pulling it, and whether its cost is included.
CHECK 01
Look Up the Registration Yourself
In Washington, construction contractors must register with the Department of Labor & Industries. You can check the record yourself in a couple of minutes.
Is It Active?
Do not rely on a logo or a line on the estimate. Confirm the contractor’s current status in the state database.
Does the Name Match?
The business name on the state record should make sense next to the business name on the bid and contract.
Are They Current?
L&I lets you verify whether the contractor has the bond and liability insurance required for registration.
Any Bond Lawsuits?
L&I also shows lawsuits against a contractor’s surety bond. One dispute needs context. A pattern deserves questions.
If the work is in Oregon, check the contractor through the Oregon Construction Contractors Board too. A Washington registration does not replace the Oregon license required to perform contractor work there.
CHECK 02
What “Licensed, Bonded & Insured” Means in Washington
It matters, but it is the starting line, not proof that someone is a great roofer.
For roofing contractors, Washington’s system is contractor registration. The registration process requires the business to register, carry a surety bond, maintain liability insurance, and stay in good standing. It is not a roofing-skills certification.
$30,000 General / $15,000 Specialty
Current Washington minimum bond amounts are $30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors.
- Registration is still worth checking
- The bond gives consumers a form of financial recourse
- A bond is not a workmanship credential
Know the State Minimum
Washington requires $200,000 in public liability plus $50,000 in property damage, or a $250,000 combined single-limit policy.
- Ask what coverage the contractor actually carries
- Make sure the policy is current
- Do not confuse insurance with a workmanship warranty
Registration is a floor. It tells you the company has met the state’s registration requirements. It does not tell you how well someone flashes a chimney, handles a valley, or fixes a callback.
CHECK 03
Compare Roofing Bids Line by Line, Not Bottom Line
Two estimates can be thousands of dollars apart because they are describing two different roofing systems.
Tear-Off or Overlay?
If one bid removes the old roofing and another installs over it, the bottom-line prices are not directly comparable.
What If the Deck Is Rotten?
Ask for the price or pricing method for unexpected plywood or decking replacement before the roof is opened up.
What Underlayment Is Included?
Ask what underlayment and ice-and-water protection are included, where they will be used, and why.
Replace or Reuse?
Have the bid spell out how step flashing, wall flashing, pipe flashings, valleys, and chimney details will be handled.
Is Ventilation Addressed?
A roofing estimate should account for intake and exhaust ventilation where the roof system requires it.
Who Handles the Permit?
Clark County requires reroofing permits. Ask who is pulling the permit for your address and whether the cost is included.
CHECK 04
Understand the Two Roofing Warranties
Homeowners hear the word “warranty” and assume everything is covered by one promise. A roof normally involves two different kinds of coverage.
Manufacturer Warranty
This comes from the roofing-material manufacturer and is governed by that manufacturer’s written terms, installation requirements, exclusions, and coverage level.
- Ask what product and warranty level are included
- Ask whether registration is required
- Keep the final warranty documents
Workmanship Warranty
This comes from the roofing contractor and covers the installation according to the contractor’s written terms.
- Ask how long it lasts
- Get it in writing
- Ask what is excluded and how claims are handled
Manufacturer certification programs from companies such as Malarkey, CertainTeed, GAF, and Owens Corning can be meaningful, especially when they unlock enhanced warranty options. Requirements vary by manufacturer and program, so treat the badge as one data point rather than a replacement for checking the contractor.
Read Jobin Roofing’s WarrantyCHECK 05
Read Reviews Like You Are Investigating a Claim
The star average matters less than what the review history tells you about the company that will actually be on your property.
Sort by Newest
A strong reputation should still look strong recently, not only several years ago under a different crew or owner.
Look for Specifics
Reviews that describe the job, communication, cleanup, timeline, or how a problem was handled tell you more than “great job.”
Read the Bad Ones
Every established contractor can get a complaint. The useful part is seeing whether the company responded, owned the problem, and fixed it.
Match the Business
If the reviews, estimate, website, trucks, and state registration use different business names, ask for an explanation before signing.
CHECK 06
Roofing Red Flags to Watch for After a Storm
High winds and storm damage create urgency. That is exactly when it is worth slowing the sales process down.
No Clear Local Record
If a door-knocker cannot quickly show you the business name, registration number, and a verifiable local track record, do not hand over a deposit.
“We’ll Make the Deductible Disappear”
Washington law prohibits a service provider from making a regular practice of waiving, paying, rebating, or offering to pay a property-insurance deductible.
Sign Today or Lose the Deal
A deadline can be real, but pressure should never replace enough time to read the scope, verify the contractor, and understand the final price.
No Washington Registration Number
Washington requires contractor advertising that shows the contractor’s name or address to show the current registration number, with limited exceptions.
A One-Line Bid
A total price without enough written scope leaves you guessing what happens when decking, flashing, ventilation, or other conditions change.
Too Much Money Up Front
Understand the payment schedule before signing. A request for a large upfront payment should come with a clear explanation and written contract terms.
BRING THIS TO THE ESTIMATE
Seven Questions to Ask Any Roofer, Including Us
You do not need to know roofing jargon. You just need questions that make the scope and the company easier to compare.
- 01 What is your Washington L&I registration number, and your Oregon CCB number if you work in Oregon?
- 02 Is this bid a tear-off or an overlay, and why are you recommending that approach?
- 03 How will unexpected rotten or damaged decking be priced if you find it after tear-off?
- 04 Which flashing is being replaced, and is any existing flashing being reused?
- 05 How long is your workmanship warranty, what does it cover, and can I read it before signing?
- 06 Is a permit required for my address, who pulls it, and is the cost included in this quote?
- 07 Who will actually be on my roof: your employees or subcontractors? If subcontractors are used, how do you verify them?
A good contractor should be able to answer these clearly. If an answer is vague, that does not automatically make the company bad. It tells you what you need to clarify in writing before you sign.
PUT US THROUGH THE SAME TEST
Start by Checking Jobin Roofing
We would rather you verify our information than take our word for it.
WA #JOBINRL824MZ
Open Washington L&I’s Verify tool and search JOBINRL824MZ or Jobin Roofing.
Check Washington RecordCCB #221810
Open Oregon’s CCB license search and enter 221810 or Jobin Roofing.
Check Oregon RecordThen put our estimate through the same bid-comparison checklist above.
Roofing Across Clark County, Washington
Jobin Roofing serves homeowners throughout Vancouver and surrounding Clark County communities.
Choosing a Roofing Contractor FAQ
Get a Roofing Estimate You Can Compare
Ask us the same seven questions. Check our records. Read the warranty. Then compare our written scope against the other bids you received.
Get a Free Roofing EstimateWashington (360) 952-3998 · Oregon (503) 523-3449
