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Short answer
Check the proof before you trust the pitch
Check the Florida license yourself. Get proof of insurance and three written estimates. Read the full contract before you pay. If insurance is involved, call your insurer before you sign. Walk away from any roofer who offers to pay your deductible.
How to use BasedOnReputation
We read the review record. You verify the live records.
We read written reviews for repeat patterns in build quality, job process, communication, insurance help, and value. One strong area does not hide a weak one.
See the Jacksonville review studyLicense, insurance, permits, and contract terms can change. Use the live state records and your final paperwork before you hire or pay anyone.
Use the 10-point checklistFive parts of the decision
A good roofer must do more than one thing well
Insurance is one part of the record. The full choice also depends on the work, the crew, the calls, and the price.Build quality
Materials, flashing, leaks, and work that holds up.
Communication
Clear calls, updates, answers, and follow-up.
Job process
Scheduling, crew care, cleanup, and closeout.
Insurance & financing
Claim help, paperwork, and payment choices when needed.
Value
A clear price, few surprises, and work worth the cost.
Use all five. A roofer may be great with claims but weak at calls, cleanup, or added costs.
Before you sign
10 checks to complete
- Find the roofer in Florida's DBPR license search. The status should say ACTIVE.
- Match the business name and licensed qualifier to the names on your estimate and contract.
- Get proof of general liability and workers' compensation coverage, or a valid state exemption.
- Collect at least three written estimates with clear prices for materials, flashing, decking, and permits.
- Call recent customers who had a roof like yours.
- Read detailed reviews. Look for repeat problems with work, calls, cleanup, claims, or added charges.
- Put the full job, materials, warranty, permit, dates, and change order rules in the contract.
- Pay with a check, card, or other traceable method. Get a receipt for every payment.
- Call your insurer before you sign claim papers. Never accept a promised deductible waiver.
- Do not sign under pressure. Read every notice and fill every blank first.
One place to compare
Have a quote or need another one?
Keep your current quote beside you to compare the scope. If you need another price, we can help you get local quotes.Checkpoint 01
1. How do you verify a Florida roofing license?
BasedOnReputation already did the first market check for Jacksonville. The BasedOnReputation Research Department compared 121 roofers and collected 11,552 public review records. Of those, 10,339 include written reviews and 1,213 are rating-only. Use that research to make a short list. Then check the live DBPR record before you sign, because a license can change.
Do not trust a license number on a truck, yard sign, or ad. Open the Florida DBPR search and look up the roofer yourself. The license should be active. The license type must allow the work where you live.
Next, compare the state record with your estimate. The business name and licensed qualifier should match. If the names do not line up, stop and ask why.
- Check whether the license is certified statewide or registered for local work.
- Read the public record for discipline or limits.
- Save a copy of the license record with your contract.
Sources: BasedOnReputation Research Department, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Checkpoint 02
2. Which insurance records should you verify?
Ask the insurance agent for a current Certificate of Insurance. Check the company name, type of coverage, and policy dates. A roofer saying "we are fully insured" is not proof.
Then use Florida's Proof of Coverage search to check workers' compensation. If the roofer claims an exemption, ask who will be on your roof and confirm that person's status.
Sources: Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation
Research note
The records behind the recommendation
We checked Florida license, insurance, payment, and property insurance rules. Some deadlines only apply to certain contracts, so the condition is shown with each number.- 3
- detailed estimatesFlorida DFS homeowner guidance
- 10 days
- cancellation windowEligible emergency-linked roof contracts
- 30 days
- permit applicationIf the initial payment exceeds 10%
- 90 days
- start after permitsSame payment rule; some exceptions apply
Florida roofer verification record
| Check | Record to request | What should match | Stop if |
|---|---|---|---|
| License | DBPR license record | Active status, business, qualifier, classification | Inactive, expired, or mismatched |
| Insurance | Current COI + state coverage record | Business name, policy dates, crew coverage | Only a verbal assurance is offered |
| Estimate | Three itemized written bids | Materials, flashing, decking, permit, cleanup | The price is one unexplained lump sum |
| Contract | Final signed scope | Dates, payments, change orders, warranty, permit | Blanks or oral promises remain |
| Claim work | Contractor damage estimate | Physical scope only; insurer decides coverage | Deductible or coverage promises appear |
Checkpoint 03
3. Why should you compare three itemized estimates?
Florida DFS tells homeowners to get at least three detailed estimates. Do not compare only the final price. A low bid may leave out bad decking, new flashing, roof vents, or permit fees.
Each estimate should name the roof product, underlayment, fastening plan, decking price, permit, and cleanup. If the details are missing, the low price may not be real.
Roof quote help
Make sure your roof quote is fair.
Start with the written scope, not the total alone. Local review evidence can show what homeowners noticed about value, communication, cleanup, and help after the job. It cannot prove that one price is fair.One place to compare
Have a quote or need another one?
Keep your current quote beside you to compare the scope. If you need another price, we can help you get local quotes.Checkpoint 04
4. Which review patterns reveal how a roofer operates?
Ask for recent customers who had a roof like yours. Call them. Ask if the crew came on time, kept the yard clean, and came back to fix problems.
Do not trust the star score by itself. Read the words. One angry review may mean little. The same complaint across many detailed reviews is a warning.
BasedOnReputation checks five parts of the customer record: build quality, job process, communication, insurance and financing help, and value. Our first Jacksonville deep dive covers insurance claims. We checked 10,339 written reviews from 112 roofers and found 1,382 that mention insurance. This is one part of the choice, not the whole score.
Sources: Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), BasedOnReputation Research Department
Insurance shows up in about 13 of every 100 Jacksonville roofing reviews
This is one slice of BOR's five-part review model. The full model also looks at build quality, job process, communication, and value.
- 121
- roofers compared
- 112
- roofers with written reviews
- 10,339
- written reviews checked
- 1,382
- reviews that mention insurance
What this means: A roofer can be strong with claims and weak in another part of the job. Check all five parts before you hire.
How BasedOnReputation got this number
Sample: 10,339 written reviews from 112 Jacksonville roofing companies.
Dates: Reviews captured through May 27, 2026; release checked August 25, 2026.
Method: BOR screened the full written-review set, then checked insurance matches across eight claim questions.
Limit: This is a Jacksonville sample. It does not describe every Florida roofer or prove what a company will do next.
Checkpoint 05
5. What must the roofing contract say in writing?
Put every promise in the contract. It should list the job, exact materials, full price, payment dates, permit, start date, finish date, and rules for added work. Do not sign with empty blanks.
Ask who will run the job each day. If another crew will do the work, the contract should explain who is in charge and when you will get lien releases.
Checkpoint 06
6. How should Florida roofing payments be scheduled?
Do not pay cash or pay the full price before work starts. Use a payment method you can track. Tie each payment to a clear step, such as material delivery, tear off, or final inspection.
Florida law adds rules when the first payment is more than 10% of the contract price. With some exceptions, the roofer must apply for needed permits within 30 days and start work within 90 days after the permits are issued. Keep the final payment until you receive the inspection, warranty, and lien papers listed in the contract.
Sources: Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), Florida Legislature Official Statutes
Three deadlines worth putting on your calendar
Use each date only when your contract meets the condition shown below.
Send the cancellation in writing before day 10 or the official start date, whichever comes first.
Ask for the permit number and verify the application with the local building office.
Put the start window in writing and save every payment and scheduling message.
Read your contract and the current law before you rely on a date. Section 489.147 covers the emergency cancellation rule. Section 489.126 covers some payments, permits, and start dates.
Checkpoint 07
7. What can a roofer say about an insurance claim?
A roofer may inspect the damage and write a repair estimate. That is where the roofing job should stop. A roofer cannot act as your public adjuster unless the person also has that license.
Your insurer or lawyer should answer coverage questions. Ask the roofer for a clear repair price, not a promise about what the policy will pay.
Sources: Florida Legislature Official Statutes, Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS)
Checkpoint 08
8. Why are deductible waivers an immediate red flag?
Florida law does not let a contractor pay, waive, rebate, or hide your insurance deductible. The law also limits gifts or cash offered to get a roof inspection or claim.
If a roofer promises a "free roof" or says "we pay your deductible," walk away. A good roofer gives you a clear price and follows the law.
Sources: Florida Legislature Official Statutes, Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS)
Checkpoint 09
9. When does Florida’s 10-day cancellation rule apply?
Some roof contracts tied to a governor-declared emergency come with a 10-day right to cancel. The deadline may end sooner if the official start date comes first.
This rule does not cover every roof contract. Check the emergency, property, contract date, and current law before you rely on it.
Checkpoint 10
10. Which proposal is the most defensible choice?
Do not pick a roofer because the ad is loud or the price is low. Pick the company that proves its license and insurance, answers hard questions, and gives you recent customers to call.
Before you sign, place the estimate next to the contract. The materials, price, permit, warranty, and lien release terms should match. If they do not, ask for a new contract.
One place to compare
Have a quote or need another one?
Keep your current quote beside you to compare the scope. If you need another price, we can help you get local quotes.Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a roofing contractor is licensed in Florida?
Use the Florida DBPR license search. Look up the business name or license number. The status should say ACTIVE, and the listed qualifier should match your contract.
How many roofing estimates should I collect in Florida?
Get at least three detailed written estimates from licensed and insured roofers. Compare the decking price, flashing, vents, permits, and cleanup. Do not compare only the total.
How can I tell if a roofing estimate is fair?
Compare at least three itemized estimates. Check the exact roof system, decking price, flashing, vents, permits, cleanup, payment steps, and warranty. One total cannot show whether a price is fair when the job details are different.
Can a Florida roofer pay or waive my insurance deductible?
No. Florida law does not let a contractor pay, waive, rebate, or hide a property insurance deductible.
Can my roofer negotiate my insurance claim for me?
A roofer may inspect damage and give you a repair estimate. The roofer cannot act as your public adjuster unless the person also has an active public adjuster license.
Does BasedOnReputation verify a roofer’s license and insurance?
BasedOnReputation reads written reviews and compares repeat customer patterns. A score does not replace a live license or insurance check. Use Florida’s official records and call the insurance agent before you hire or pay a roofer.
Primary sources