How to Tell If a Roofer Is Lying
Most advice about spotting a dishonest roofer is vague. Trust your gut, watch for high pressure, look for reviews. Useful, but not decisive. Kansas gives you something better: a legal requirement with a public record attached to it.
The four checks
Four checks that filter out most storm chasers
- 1Kansas AG registrationEvery roofer working in Kansas must hold a state registration. Ask for the number and confirm it reads In Good Standing.
- 2Local city or county licenseOverland Park, Olathe, Lenexa and Johnson County each run their own licensing. State registration alone is not enough.
- 3Certificate of insuranceGeneral liability plus workers compensation, sent directly by their insurance agent rather than forwarded by the salesperson.
- 4A local address you can drive toNot a PO box, and not an out of state number that appeared the week after the storm.
What a lie actually sounds like
Someone who was on your roof
- Names the slope and the course where the damage is
- Shows you dated photos from your address
- Can explain why a bruise is hail and not a blister
- Tells you when damage does not meet a claim threshold
Someone who was not
- Describes damage in general terms only
- Photos could be any roof in the neighborhood
- Cannot distinguish hail from ordinary wear
- Every roof they look at needs full replacement
That last line is the pattern worth remembering. Hail is scattered and random. Ordinary wear is even across a slope. A roofer who finds a total loss on every house on the street is not inspecting, they are selling.
Hail damage versus ordinary wear
Hail strike
- Random, scattered pattern
- Granules knocked off
- Soft and bruised to the touch
- Black mat showing through
Normal wear
- Even across the whole slope
- Uniform granule thinning
- Firm underfoot
- Raised blisters, not dents
The contract is where it gets expensive
Before you sign anything
- The exact shingle line and color are named, not just the brand
- Underlayment type is specified, synthetic rather than felt
- Ice and water shield coverage at eaves and valleys is stated
- Deck replacement is priced per sheet
- Payment is tied to milestones, not paid in full up front
- The workmanship warranty length is written on the contract
- The contractor, not you, is named as pulling the permit
Storm chasers, specifically
Reasonable after a storm
- A local company you can find a shop address for
- A free inspection with a written report and photos
- A quote that gives you time to compare
- Willingness to meet your insurance adjuster on site
Reason to close the door
- Out of state number that appeared days after the hail
- Signing required today to hold the price
- Large cash payment before any work begins
- An offer to cover or waive your deductible
The Kansas Attorney General issues consumer alerts about unregistered crews after major storms for a reason. The metro had a record severe weather season in 2026, with 244 severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings issued through late April alone. Volume like that brings crews in from out of state, and some of them do not register.
This guide answers
- How to tell if a roofer is lying?
- How to spot a bad roofing company?
- How to tell a cowboy roofer?
- What are some signs a roofer is reputable?
- What to watch out for in a roofing contract?
- Should I accept a free roof inspection?
Want a straight answer about your own roof?
Free inspection, written report, no sales pitch. We cover Johnson, Douglas, Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties.
