How to check a roofer's Rhode Island registration

What registration tells you

Contractors who work on Rhode Island homes register with the CRLB. To register, they have to show the board proof of liability insurance and complete the education the board requires. A registration does not test roofing skill, so it is a floor, not a recommendation, but it is the first thing to check.

Step by step

1. Ask the roofer for their CRLB registration number and the exact business name it is under.
2. Look the number up on the CRLB website, crb.ri.gov, and confirm it is active.
3. Use the board’s complaint search to see whether complaints have been filed.
4. Ask for proof of liability insurance, and call the insurer to confirm the policy is current.
5. If the roofer has employees, ask about workers’ compensation coverage.

The written contract

The CRLB says homeowners have the right to a written contract for larger jobs, along with the board’s summary of what homeowners should know, before work starts. The Attorney General’s guidance says the contract should cover:

• All the work the contractor has agreed to do, including tear-off and any decking terms
• The start date and the expected completion date
• The type and quality of materials, such as the shingle or membrane product
• The total contract amount, including labor, and the payment schedule

Red flags

• Cash only, or full payment before any work starts
• Door-to-door offers, especially “leftover materials from a job down the street”
• No registration number, or a number under a different name
• Pressure to sign on the spot

Next, agree on who will pull the permit: see roof permits.