A legitimate Colorado Springs roofer has an active license with the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD), an insurance certificate that covers reroofing, a business name that matches state records, years of reviews rather than weeks, and an office you can walk into. You can check all of that in about 15 minutes before you agree to an inspection, and you should.
The 15-minute check
| Check | Where | What a legitimate roofer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| License | PPRBD contractor search | Active license under the exact business name on the card or contract |
| Insurance | Ask for the certificate | General liability that includes reroofing; workers’ compensation if it has employees |
| Business name | Colorado Secretary of State business search | Same legal name as the license; PPRBD requires an exact match |
| BBB | bbb.org | Accredited for years, complaints answered and resolved |
| Reviews | Google and other sites | Hundreds of reviews spread over years, owner replies to the bad ones |
| Permits | PPRBD permit search | A steady record of permits and passed inspections in your area |
License and insurance
PPRBD will not issue a roofing license without an exam and proof of insurance, and a lapse or reduction in coverage suspends the license automatically. Roofers need a license before they can pull a permit, and it is a code violation to advertise or contract for permitted work without one. An out-of-town company cannot use a license from another building department here, because PPRBD does not reciprocate.
Reviews worth trusting
A five-star rating built on three reviews tells you little. Look for a long, steady history, specific details (names of the crew, the type of roof, how a problem was fixed), and how the company answers complaints. A burst of reviews in the last month is a warning sign.
Lead sites
Sites that sell homeowner leads to contractors usually do little vetting; the contractor pays for the lead. They are a fine way to find names, not to verify them. Run the same checks on anyone you find there.
The check you make in person
Visit the office. A real local company has a physical address, regular hours and people who know your file. A homeowner once came to our office for help after hiring a company that had a good BBB rating and an address near his home. When the new roof leaked, he went to that address and found an empty parking lot. The company was from out of state, the roof had no permit, and nobody answered. A five-minute visit before signing would have shown him.
Red flags that end the conversation
- Offers to pay, waive or rebate your deductible (illegal under C.R.S. 6-22-105).
- Pressure to sign the same day, or a contract with a cancellation fee.
- No written estimate, or one with no materials listed.
- Materials dropped in your driveway before a permit is issued.
- A license under a different company’s name.
The full list of storm-season tactics is in roofing scams after a Colorado Springs hailstorm, and the step-by-step hiring process is in how to choose a roofing contractor in Colorado Springs. If you are on an insurance claim, also read what a Colorado Springs roofer should check in your policy. Outside El Paso County the rules differ: in Texas, see how to check a local Austin roofer.
Check us the same way
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, BBB accredited with an A+ rating, with 650+ Google reviews. Visit us at 115 N Union Blvd, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Read why a local contractor matters in Colorado Springs, then call (719) 488-2800 or book a free roof inspection. We reach out the same business day.
For a printable version that also covers Texas contracts, use our hiring a roofer checklist for Colorado and Texas.
Sources: Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Licensing FAQ, Roofing Contractors: Common Licensing Questions and Contractor and Mechanic Search; C.R.S. 6-22-103 and 6-22-105 (unofficial reproduction).
