Questions worth asking

"What underlayment, and how are the valleys done?"

This is the question that reveals whether you are comparing the same roof. Underlayment, ice-and-water placement, drip edge and valley treatment are where quotes quietly diverge.

"Who is actually doing the work?"

Ask how long this specific crew has worked together. Roofing companies keep their name and change their hands more often than most trades.

"Can I see a job you finished five years ago?"

Recent work shows tidiness. Older work shows competence. Ask for the older one.

"What is your licence number, and who holds it?"

Then look it up. You are checking that the licence is current and that the name on it matches the name on the contract you are being asked to sign.

"What does your workmanship warranty cover, and for how long?"

Ask for it in writing, in the company name, with a term. Five to ten years is common; the term matters less than whether they will still be trading.

"What happens if the decking is rotten?"

The right answer is a specific price per sheet, written into the contract before work starts. A vague answer here is how a fixed price stops being fixed on day two.

In short

Write the answers down. Two weeks later, when the quotes have blurred together, the notes are what you will actually decide on.