5 Essential Questions You Must Ask Before Hiring a Roofing Contractor in Metro Detroit

Choosing the right roofer can leave you shaking in your boots. With over 1,000 registered roofing contractors operating just in the Metro Detroit area, separating the reliable professionals from the fly-by-night operations is a massive challenge for homeowners. As an industry, we haven’t always done a great job of educating consumers, but at Four Seasons Kanga Roof, we believe in radical transparency. You deserve to know exactly how to protect your home and your wallet.

Before you sign a contract or let anyone tear off your old shingles, you need to put them to the test. Based on decades of experience and the highest standards set by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), here are the exact questions you should ask any roofer before hiring them to work on your home.

1. Can you show me the calculation for how to ventilate my roof? This is one of the most difficult questions for average roofers to answer because proper ventilation requires specific computation based on your attic’s square footage and roof pitch. A balanced system extends the life of your shingles and prevents ice dams. Today, there are great apps available that make this calculation simple, and any professional roofer should be able to instantly calculate and explain your ventilation needs.
2. What is the difference between an SBS shingle and a regular asphalt shingle? If your contractor doesn’t know this, show them the door. An SBS (Styrene Butadiene Styrene) shingle is a Class 4 impact-resistant shingle engineered with rubberizing compounds. Leading manufacturers like GAF and CertainTeed produce these highly durable shingles because they withstand extreme weather far better than traditional asphalt. Your roofer should be able to explain this distinction clearly and easily.
3. Will you share active copies of your license and insurance? Never take a contractor’s word for it. Any legitimate roofing contractor must have these documents readily available for you to review. Always double-check the expiration dates to ensure you are fully protected from liability in case of an on-site accident.
4. How do you properly transition from a shingle roof to a flat roof? If your home features a flat roof section, this question is critical. When transitioning from a steep-slope shingle roof to a low-slope membrane (like those manufactured by Elevate or Carlyle), the contractor must use transition metal. This ensures you don’t end up with leaks where the shingles and the low-slope membrane meet. They should also explain the proper length to run the flat roof membrane up the shingle roof.
5. How will you get the ice and water shield 6 to 8 inches up the wall? Michigan’s heavy snow loads require specific protective measures. When a roof runs into a wall, the ice and water shield must run 6 to 8 inches up the wall behind the siding or trim, which is required by code. If you have a brick wall, the contractor needs to explain exactly how they will terminate the shingle roofing system into the brick to prevent massive leakage and vulnerability.

Bonus Question: How many years has your business been in continual operation? Do not settle for a contractor who simply claims they have “experience”. You want a company with a proven track record of continual operation. Statistics show that roughly 97% to 98% of roofing businesses close their doors within the first five years. When a contractor works out of their truck or home, it is incredibly easy for them to vanish, leaving your warranty worthless. Look for a commercial or residential roofing contractor with a real brick-and-mortar office and an in-house service department. If there is an issue 10 years from now, you need to know exactly where to go and that human beings will be there to stand behind their work.

As one of our recent customers shared in a Google Review: “Four Seasons Kanga Roof is top notch. They didn’t just give me a price; they explained the science of my roof, showed me their credentials without me asking, and gave me total peace of mind. True professionals.”

Stop Guessing and Start Protecting Your Home Today You cannot afford to roll the dice on a cheap, uninsured, or inexperienced roofer. The cost of a botched roof replacement will haunt you for decades. We know our team passes this test with flying colors, and we are ready to prove it. Do not wait until your ceiling is leaking to find out who you can trust.

Call 586-566-0308 right now. We still have live, local humans answering the phones ready to help solve your problems and brighten your day. Prefer to start online? Visit Kanga-Roof.com to book your appointment or get a free AI-powered custom estimate for repairs, gutters, or full replacements. Secure your spot on our schedule today and have a Kanga-Rific day!

Sources & Citations:

• National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) – Roofing Standards & Code Requirements (nrca.net)
• GAF – SBS Modified Asphalt Shingles (gaf.com)
• CertainTeed – Impact Resistant Roofing (certainteed.com)
• Elevate (formerly Firestone Building Products) – Low-Slope Roofing Systems (holcimelevate.com)
• Four Seasons Kanga Roof – Kanga-Roof.com