Hiring guide
Choosing a roofing contractor in Memphis: What to ask
What a good estimate looks like, the questions that separate careful roofers from quick ones, and the red flags after a storm.
By Cora Padgett, Roofing Guides Editor Updated October 2026
We answer 24/7 across Memphis and Shelby County
Quick answer
Choose a Memphis roofing contractor on evidence rather than a sales pitch: a local office you can find, a phone that gets answered, a written estimate that names every material and explains how decking is handled, photos before and after the work, and a payment schedule tied to progress. Never sign on the spot after a storm.
Start with a local office and a phone that gets answered
A roof is a long-lived product, and questions come up after the crew leaves: a nail pop, a storm, a warranty registration. A contractor with a local office and a phone that gets answered is one you can reach when that happens. After big storms, out-of-town crews arrive and leave with the weather, so check that the company you hire will still be here next year.
What the estimate should tell you
- The number of squares and how the roof was measured
- Tear-off of every existing layer
- How soft decking will be found, shown to you and priced
- Underlayment and ice and water membrane, by product
- New flashing, drip edge and ventilation
- The shingle or metal product line and color
- Cleanup, disposal, and the permit if deck work requires one
Our roof replacement cost guide explains what each line typically adds.
Questions worth asking
- Who will be on the roof, and who do I call with questions?
- Will I get photos of the deck, underlayment and flashing before they are covered?
- What happens if you find soft decking or a second layer?
- Do you replace the flashing or reuse it?
- How do you protect landscaping and clean up nails?
- Who registers the manufacturer's product warranty, and who keeps the paperwork?
Want an estimate you can compare line by line?
We measure, photograph and name every material, so you can hold any quote up against ours.
Call (901) 459-6395After a storm: Door knockers and pressure
After a big storm, people knock on doors offering free inspections and pressing for a signature the same day. Some are legitimate; many are not local. Take the card, do not sign anything on the doorstep, and get your own inspection. A contract signed in a hurry can commit your insurance payout to a company you have not checked. Our storm checklist covers what to do instead.
Payment and paperwork
A fair payment schedule follows the work: a reasonable deposit for materials, with the balance due when the roof is finished and you have walked it. Be wary of anyone asking for the full amount up front. Changes should be written and priced before the work happens, and at the end you should get a final invoice, photos of each stage and any product registration paperwork.
Why photos matter in Shelby County
Shelby County does not require a permit to reroof a single-family home unless decking is replaced, so most reroofs are never seen by an inspector. That makes the contractor's own photos the only record of what went under your shingles: the deck, the membrane, the underlayment and the flashing. Ask for them, keep them, and hand them to the next owner when you sell.
Red flags
- Pressure to sign the same day
- An estimate with no materials named
- No local address you can find
- An offer to waive or absorb your insurance deductible
- Full payment demanded before work starts
- Reluctance to show photos of the work
FAQ
Hiring a roofer: Common questions
Two or three is usually enough, as long as they cover the same scope and materials so you can compare them fairly.
Not always, but it often leaves something out, most often flashing, ventilation or a decking allowance. Ask what is not included.
A reasonable deposit for materials is normal. Full payment before the work is not.
A final invoice, photos of each stage, product information and any warranty registration paperwork.
Yes. Expect noise, and keep pets and cars clear of the drop zones.
Look for an office address you can find on a map and a phone that gets answered, and ask how long they have worked in the area.