What every Lakewood homeowner should check before hiring a roofer

Hiring a roofer in Lakewood is a different exercise from hiring one in most American cities, because Colorado has no state roofing licence and Lakewood’s credential is a city registration, not a state licence. The roofer who cannot explain that difference is the roofer to avoid. This guide sets out the checks that matter, the questions to ask, and the warning signs that should stop you signing.

Check the registration before anything else

Colorado has no state roofing licence. Say that plainly, because any roofer who claims a Colorado roofing licence is either mistaken or misleading you. What Lakewood requires is a City contractor registration, Class 5h (Roofing & Waterproofing). In unincorporated Jefferson County, the credential is a county licence resting on a passed ICC exam. The two are different, and which one applies is decided by your address — a mailing address that says Lakewood does not always mean the property is inside the City of Lakewood, and the Applewood area is the classic trap: City, unincorporated county, and Wheat Ridge addresses sit side by side there.

Ask the roofer which jurisdiction your address falls in, and which credential they hold for it. Then verify it: the City of Lakewood and Jefferson County both maintain registration and licence records, and a roofer who is properly registered will not mind you checking. Never accept a registration number you cannot verify, and never accept a roofer’s licence claim without the jurisdiction named. Roof Authority LLC is based at 200 Union Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80228, and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 26 October 2021, with an A+ rating and no complaints in the last 3 years according to the BBB. The business has been in business since 2021.

Verify insurance on the day you get the bid

Ask for proof of insurance with the bid, and verify it that day. You want to see general liability coverage and workers’ compensation coverage, current and in the roofer’s name — not a certificate that expired last year, and not a policy in a different company’s name. If a worker is injured on your roof and the roofer has no coverage, the question of who pays becomes your problem.

Ask, too, who will actually be on your roof: the roofer’s own crew, or a subcontracted crew. Both arrangements exist in Lakewood, and neither is automatically wrong, but you should know which one you are hiring, and the insurance should cover whoever is actually doing the work.

How do you know a roofer actually knows Lakewood roofs?

A roofer who knows Lakewood roofs knows four things without being prompted. First, the code: 2021 IBC and IRC, tear-off to deck, one layer only, Class A covering citywide, and a permit before tear-off on any re-roof or repair of 100 square feet or more, filed through eTRAKiT. Second, the hail: the 8 May 2017 supercell is the benchmark, hail season runs mid-April to September, and Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are the hail conversation at re-roof time. Third, the housing stock: the median home was built in 1977, the typical re-roof is the second or third roof on a 1970s deck, and decking and ventilation surprises are the norm, not the exception. Fourth, the jurisdiction trap: City versus county, and the Applewood addresses where the mailing address does not decide the permit authority.

Ask the roofer to talk through your roof in those terms. If the answers are generic — “we do great work, we use quality materials” — without a single Lakewood-specific fact, you are talking to a salesperson, not a roofer. And check the address: a roofer who claims a Lakewood base should have a verifiable Lakewood address. Ours is 200 Union Blvd, and our Google listing shows 5.0 stars from 7 reviews.

Questions to ask a roofer in Lakewood before you sign

• Which registration do you hold for my address, City or county? The answer should name the jurisdiction and the class.
• Who meets the adjuster? If the job is insurance-related, ask whether the roofer will be present at the adjuster’s visit, and what they will and will not do there. A roofer may document damage and be present; under SB 12-038 a roofer may not negotiate the claim or act as a public adjuster.
• What workmanship coverage is included in writing? Ask what workmanship coverage is included in writing, for how long, and what voids it — and get the answer in writing. Do not accept a verbal promise.
• What is the written scope? The scope should name the measured roof area, the material, the decking price per sheet, the flashing work, the ventilation work, and the permit.
• How is the deductible handled? The correct answer is that you pay it. Under SB 12-038 a roofer may not pay, waive, or rebate any part of your deductible. Any other answer is a reason to walk away.
• What is the cancellation period? Under SB 12-038 you have a 72-hour right to cancel a residential roofing contract.

What should the written estimate actually contain?

A complete estimate names the scope in writing: the measured roof area in squares, the material and its Class 4 status if applicable, the tear-off and disposal, the decking price per sheet, the underlayment, the flashing work item by item, the ventilation work, and the permit — Lakewood’s flat $110 fee for a single-family or duplex re-roof, with the current fee verified with the City. It should also state the payment schedule, the start window, and the cancellation period.

For cost context, published Denver-metro market ranges (October–November 2026) put architectural shingle replacement at roughly $4.50–$8.50 per square foot installed, or about $9,000–$18,000 for a typical home. The full breakdown is in our Lakewood roof replacement cost guide. If an estimate is far outside those ranges, ask why — in either direction.

Common mistakes Lakewood homeowners make when hiring

• Hiring the first door-knocker after a storm. Out-of-town crews canvass Lakewood after every hail event. A verifiable local address and a BBB record are worth more than a fast pitch.
• Accepting a licence claim without a jurisdiction named. There is no state roofing licence in Colorado. Ask which registration, and for which jurisdiction.
• Signing before the scope is written. You cannot judge a price without a scope, and you have a 72-hour right to cancel — use it to read the scope.
• Not asking about the deductible. If the roofer offers to cover it, that is not a bargain. It is a violation of SB 12-038.
• Skipping the HOA question. The only HOA roofing rule our research found in Lakewood is Solterra’s Design Guidelines §3.45, which requires design-review approval for a material change, but none for a like-for-like repair. If you live in a covenant community, ask your association before you sign — do not assume there is no rule, and do not assume a roofer knows your covenants.
• Choosing on price alone. On a 1970s deck, the lowest-priced re-roof is often the one that skips the flashing and ventilation work the next storm will expose.

When to call a professional

Call a roofer when you have a scope to compare, a storm to assess, or a roof that needs an honest answer about repair versus replacement. Call (720) 817-3348 and we will inspect the roof, give you a written scope, and answer the questions in this guide about our own work — registration, insurance, who meets the adjuster, and what the written scope contains. Roof Authority LLC works on residential roofs across Lakewood, including Applewood, Belmar, and Green Mountain. See also our roof inspection page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a state roofing licence in Colorado?

No. Colorado has no state roofing licence. Lakewood requires a City contractor registration, Class 5h (Roofing and Waterproofing), and unincorporated Jefferson County requires a county licence resting on a passed ICC exam.

What should I check before hiring a roofer in Lakewood?

Registration for your jurisdiction, current insurance verified that day, local storm and code knowledge, a written scope, and the answers to three questions: who meets the adjuster, what workmanship coverage is included in writing, and how the deductible is handled.

Can a roofer waive my deductible in Colorado?

No. Under SB 12-038 (2012), a roofer may not pay, waive, or rebate any part of your deductible. Any roofer who offers to cover it is breaking Colorado law.

What should a roofing estimate include?

Measured roof area in squares, material and Class 4 status, tear-off and disposal, decking price per sheet, underlayment, flashing item by item, ventilation, the permit, the payment schedule, and the 72-hour cancellation period.

How do I check a roofer in Lakewood?

Verify the City registration or county licence, check the BBB record (Roof Authority LLC is BBB Accredited since 26 October 2021, A+, with no complaints in the last 3 years according to the BBB), and check the Google listing for a verifiable local address and reviews.

Get help with Roofing in Lakewood

If you are choosing a roofer, call (720) 817-3348. We will inspect your roof, give you a written scope, and answer the questions in this guide about our own work.

Roof Authority LLC is based at 200 Union Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80228, and works Monday to Saturday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Phone is the way to reach us.