Get Quotes from Top Roofing Contractors in Seattle, WA

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Roofing Contractor in Seattle?

Anyone who intends to work as a roofing contractor in Seattle must first obtain a specialty contractor registration from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Once registered, the roofing contractor can bid, advertise, and perform all kinds of roofing projects. It is a gross misdemeanor to advertise, offer to do work, submit a bid, or perform any work as a

roofing contractor without being registered. Engaging in any of the following can attract a fine. Roofing contractors can avoid paying unnecessary fines by registering with the Washington Department of Labor and Industries.

To register with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, interested persons must first register their business with the Department of Revenue, get a surety bond or an assignment of savings, purchase a general liability insurance policy, complete an application for contractor registration, and pay the required application fee of $124.70.

Registration applications can be submitted in person or via mail. For the walk-in application, the applicant must visit the closest Washington State Department of Labor and Industries office with documents showing a business structure and name, a Washington specialty contractor continuous surety bond of $6,000, and insurance in the amount of $250,000 in public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit, a completed application for contractor registration form with notarized signatures, and the appropriate registration fee. Seattle applicants can complete their walk-in contractor registration application at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries office location at:

Applicants who do not wish to visit any of the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries office locations should consider using the mailing option. Applicants can mail a completed, signed, and notarized application for contractor registration form alongside a continuous contractor surety bond or assignment of savings, certificate of general liability insurance, and check or money order payable to the Department of Labor to:

Note that mailing applications are currently taking three to four weeks to be processed. However, applicants who meet all the requirements for obtaining a roofing contractor registration will eventually be issued a registration certificate. Once the registration is approved, the roofing contractor's name and business will be listed on the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson, or Business tool. Homeowners are always encouraged to confirm whether their preferred roofing contractor's name and business are listed on this tool. Homeowners can search for the contractor using the individual's name, Washington UBI number, trade license number, or workers' compensation account. Queries concerning a contractor's process, requirements, and registration status can be directed to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries via email or by calling (360) 902-5226.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Roofers in the City?

Seattle roofers consider several factors when determining the cost of their services. These factors include the nature of the task, the size of the roof or area of the roof that needs repair, the type of roofing materials involved, and whether the client wants add-on services like roof coating and roof restoration. Homeowners in the city should be wary of unscrupulous individuals who may try to exploit this fact to raise the cost of roofing services. As a homeowner, you can protect yourself from ridiculously high prices by getting estimates for the work from at least three different roofing contractors in the city. By doing so, you will be able to determine the average price of the service.

Roofers in Seattle earn an average wage of $62,540 annually. The average hourly wages of roofers in Seattle and those of roofers in other areas of Washington, as well as other major cities in the country, are compared below:

Will You Get the Roofing Permits Required as per the Seattle Building Code?

In Seattle, roofing contractors are required to obtain a permit from the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections before they can commence work on specific roofing projects. For instance, a roofing contractor will be required to obtain a re-roof permit when they are repairing an area greater than 500 square feet or replacing roofing materials on commercial and multifamily projects. In addition, a re-roof permit is also required when the roof cover, sheathing, or insulation will be replaced. Homeowners in the city must ensure that their roofing contractor applies for and obtains a re-roof permit because it is the only way to ensure that their project complies with the city's Energy Code requirements.

Roofing contractors can apply for a re-roof permit online or in person. The online application process starts with completing the Building & Land Use Pre-Application using the Seattle Services Portal. After that, roofing contractors can click on 'Create a new Trade and Construction Permit', select a re-roofing permit from the Building Permits section, and complete the contractor disclosure information section. Following that, roofing contractors can pay the permit fees online. Fees are due as soon as the application is submitted, and only applicants who complete their application and pay the fees will be issued a permit.

Walk-in applications can be made by downloading, completing, and submitting a 'Roof Replacement Affidavit' at the city's Applicant Service Center located at:

Note that re-roof permits can be obtained on the same day an application is submitted. Once a permit is obtained, the roofing contractor can commence work on the project. Unlike other construction activities, re-roof projects do not require an on-site inspection. Questions concerning re-roofing permits can be directed to the city's Applicant Services Center by calling (206) 684-8850.

What Kind of Roofing Services Do You Offer?

Seattle roofing contractors offer a variety of roofing services to the general public. Commercial roofing, residential roofing, roofing repairs, roofing replacement, and additional services like roof restoration, roof coating, and attic ventilation are among the services offered. However, while any roofing contractor can claim to be competent in providing any of these services, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to find out whether the roofing contractor can handle their roofing project expertly. For instance, Seattle buildings use a wide range of roofing materials, each of which requires skill and know-how to install. Some of these roofing materials are asphalt shingle, natural slate, wood shake or composite, tile, metal, solar, foam, and single-ply.

Homeowners can find out whether the contractor they intend to hire is fit for the work by asking about the contractor's area of specialization, the type of roofing materials they can install with little or no help, and their years of practice. Even when they answer these questions satisfactorily, homeowners should insist on getting references containing the contact information of past clients and pictorial evidence of the jobs they did for these clients. Homeowners can contact these clients to get a first-hand review of the contractor's work.

After confirming that the roofing contractor can handle your project, homeowners can proceed to discuss the cost of the roofing service. Provided below are the estimated costs of some roofing services that are commonly requested by property owners in Seattle. Note that factors like your location within the city and the reputation of the roofer that you hire may affect these costs:

Estimates based on task:

Estimates based on roof pitch (per square feet):

Estimates for roof repair/replacement based on roofing material (per square feet):

Estimates for roof repair/replacement based on shape (per square feet):

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Roofing Companies in Seattle?

Roofers are always at risk of both fatal and nonfatal injuries due to the amount of heavy lifting, climbing, kneeling, and bending required to complete their tasks. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 100 fatal work injuries occurred in the roofing contractor business across the country in 2020 alone. While the likelihood of fatal work injuries can be minimized by implementing adequate safety measures on the job, the fact that they are accidents makes their elimination impossible. As a result, contractors are advised to purchase the appropriate insurance that covers these types of events.

Homeowners must recognize that hiring a roofing contractor who is appropriately insured is in their best interests since it is the only way they can avoid bearing the financial responsibilities arising from property damage, bodily injuries, or deaths during their roofing project. Furthermore, homeowners must understand that any roofing contractor who is not adequately insured is not registered with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, and such a person may either be a scammer or unable to do a good job.

According to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, anyone who wishes to obtain a roofing contractor license must purchase both a Washington contractor continuous surety bond of $6,000 and insurance in the amount of $250,000 in public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. An applicant's failure to purchase the aforementioned bond and insurance will result in their disqualification for registration.

Homeowners can find out if the person they want to hire is insured by requesting a certificate of insurance and contacting the insurance company that issued it. Homeowners can also call (360) 902-5226 to see if the roofing contractor has an insurance policy on file with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.