How to choose a roofer after a storm, and spot a storm chaser

After a hail storm rolls through St. Charles County or St. Louis County, yard signs and door knockers can show up within days. Some are established local companies, and some are crews that follow storms from state to state. Telling them apart takes a little homework, and that homework can save you money and grief.

This guide is that homework, with the Missouri rules that back it up.

Start with a local business you can verify

The Better Business Bureau warns homeowners after natural disasters to watch for "storm chasers" and out-of-town contractors soliciting business. Not all of them are scammers, the BBB says, but some lack proper licensing for your area, offer quick fixes or make promises they do not keep.

The caution is earned. Missouri's attorney general received more than 1,800 complaints about home repair, construction and real estate in 2025, many involving contractors who took money up front and did little or no work. The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) adds a specific warning about contractors offering repairs with upgraded or free materials.

A real address and phone number. Ask where the company is based, then look the address up. The BBB suggests checking the truck for a business name, a phone number and in-state license plates, and asking for identification. The Missouri Secretary of State's online business search shows whether a company is registered with the state.

References. DCI suggests finding out where an unfamiliar contractor is from and asking for references before you sign or pay anything. Ask for recent jobs near you, call those homeowners and, if you can, drive by.

Complaints. The attorney general recommends checking with both its office and the BBB for complaints. On BBB.org you can read a company's profile and complaint history and see whether it is BBB Accredited.

Licensing. Missouri has no state roofing license to look up. The Division of Professional Registration licenses electrical contractors, for example, but has no board for roofers, so local rules (covered below) are where licensing lives.

Ask for proof of insurance, then check it

DCI's post-disaster guide says to get copies of a contractor's business license, proof of workers' compensation insurance and proof of liability insurance. The certificate should come from a licensed agent or insurer and show the insurance company's name, phone number and policy number. Then call that company to confirm the coverage is active.

Workers' compensation matters on a roof. Missouri requires construction employers that build, alter, demolish or repair improvements to carry it if they have even one employee. The state's Division of Workers' Compensation runs an online lookup called "Are You Covered?" that shows whether an employer has a policy on file, though the division recommends confirming with the insurance carrier.

The BBB adds two practical questions for any roofer: how will the crew protect your gutters and landscaping from ladders and debris, and what happens if it rains in the middle of the job?

Get written estimates you can compare

Get more than one estimate. DCI cautions that a bid far below the others is not automatically the best deal and that every quote should include the same things. The BBB says a good proposal is broken into line items and covers:

• The roof covering, manufacturer and color
• Underlayment and any ice barrier
• Flashing work, including what will be replaced and what will be reused
• Who repairs any damage to landscaping or interior finishes
• Warranty length and what it covers
• Who hauls away the old roof, and whether that costs extra

Manufacturer warranties come with the materials, and registration and installation rules apply. Ask every roofer for the manufacturer and workmanship terms in writing. For what drives the price itself, see our roof replacement cost guide.

How deposits and payments should work

Deposits are common on roofing jobs. The trouble is a large payment to someone you cannot find later. Here is what Missouri agencies and the BBB advise:

• Get the contract first. The attorney general says a reasonable down payment may be required for some projects, but not to pay anything without a written contract.
• No cash, and no full payment up front. The attorney general says never to pay in cash. DCI says reputable contractors do not usually ask for full payment up front, and never to pay the whole bill before the work is complete.
• Tie payments to materials. The BBB notes some contractors want a deposit or payment for materials once they are delivered. Make sure the contract spells out the payment terms and that you can see what you are paying for.
• Keep your insurance check. The BBB says not to sign insurance checks over to a contractor. Get an invoice and pay the contractor directly. If you have a mortgage, DCI notes your lender is usually named on checks for major repairs.

Red flags that mean keep looking

• Pressure to sign today. The BBB calls out the "good deal" you only get if you hire on the spot. A real price will still be there tomorrow.
• Any offer involving your deductible. Missouri law bars contractors from paying or rebating any part of it, including through discounts, gifts, bonuses or referral fees.
• Offers to handle your claim. Under Missouri law a contractor may not represent you or negotiate with your insurer. DCI urges caution with any assignment of your insurance benefits, and the BBB says not to sign anything that gives a contractor rights to your claim.
• Leftover materials from another job. The attorney general and the BBB both flag this pitch.
• Inspections you cannot watch. DCI warns that some dishonest contractors cause damage to drive up repair costs. Be home for the inspection, and ask for photos you can tell were taken on your roof.
• No cancellation notice in the paperwork. Missouri and federal rules require one in the situations below.

Missouri rules that protect you if you sign

If your insurer says the work is not covered. Under section 407.725, a contract to be paid by a property insurance claim can be cancelled until midnight of the fifth business day after your insurer tells you in writing that all or part of the claim is not covered. The contractor must give you that notice in boldface, with a "NOTICE OF CANCELLATION" form, before you sign. After a cancellation, your payments come back within 10 days, less the reasonable value of any emergency work you approved in writing.

If you signed at your kitchen table. The Federal Trade Commission's Cooling-Off Rule gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel many sales made at your home, and the FTC uses a door-to-door roof sale as its example. The seller must tell you about that right and give you two copies of a cancellation form. Saturday counts as a business day under the federal rule.

Missouri's home solicitation law adds a similar three-business-day right for credit sales made at your home. Violations of section 407.725 count as unfair practices under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, and the attorney general's Consumer Protection Hotline takes reports at 800-392-8222. For more on how the claim itself works, see our Missouri roof insurance claim guide.

Check local permit and contractor rules

Permit and licensing rules change at the city line, so check where you live before work starts. A few examples, as of 2026:

• The City of St. Louis requires contracting businesses to hold a Construction Industry Contractor Graduated Business License.
• The City of St. Charles lists replacing roof shingles among projects that generally do not need a permit.
• O'Fallon's re-roofing guide says a permit is not required to re-cover or replace roofing but that the work must meet the adopted code, and the city's permit page lists fire, wind or impact damage among projects that do need one.
• St. Louis County's Department of Transportation and Public Works publishes a residential re-roofing checklist, and in unincorporated St. Charles County the county's Building and Code Enforcement Division answers permit questions at 636-949-7345.

DCI suggests asking your contractor to show you any required permits. The BBB adds that many towns require a permit for door-to-door solicitation, so it is fair to ask a salesperson to show theirs.

Where Correll fits

Our trucks and office wall say "Roofing With Integrity." Use this checklist on every roofer you talk to, including us.

Correll Roofing Co. is a family-owned company with an office at 1048 Rondale Ct. in O'Fallon, reachable at (314) 222-9529, and a BBB Accredited Business since May 2025. Inspections and estimates are free, with no obligation and no pressure. Schedule an inspection, or read about storm damage repair and our insurance claim help.