How to Choose a Roofer in Franklin County, MO
After every major storm, Franklin County fills up with roofers. As founder Matt's partner John Casey put it, there were thirteen different roofing companies within a half-mile block of where one storm had hit, everyone suddenly a roofer. The hard part is not finding a roofer. It is telling the family that will still be here next storm season from the out-of-town crew that will be gone before the check clears. This guide gives you the questions and the red flags to do exactly that.
We are writing this as the local family that has worked these storms since 1990, so read it with that in mind, but every test below is one you can apply to any contractor, including us. A good roofer welcomes these questions. The ones who get cagey when you ask where their yard is, whether they subcontract, or what is named on the estimate are telling you something. Emmendorfer Exteriors has roofed roughly 2,400 Missouri homes, and we would rather you hire carefully than fast.
The questions to ask any roofer before you sign
- Where is your yard, and how long have you worked this county?
A real local contractor has a physical base and a verifiable history here. We moved our shop to Union around 2003 and have roofed Missouri homes since 1990. A storm chaser will give you a vague answer or a metro address an hour away with a Franklin County landing page.
- Are you factory-certified, and by which manufacturers?
Certification means the shingle maker stands behind the installer. We are factory-certified across CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Malarkey, and GAF, which is rare here, where most roofers name one brand at most. Ask to see it.
- Do your own crews do the work, or do you subcontract?
This is the question that separates accountability from a hand-off. Our in-house family crews do every job, so the same name that sells your roof is on it. National franchises and landing-page outfits routinely subcontract the labor.
- Will you name the manufacturer and product in writing?
A trustworthy estimate names the exact system going on your home before any work begins. If a quote just says 'shingles' with a price, you have no idea what you are buying. Ours names the brand and product, and the price you approve is the price you pay.
- Do you tear off or lay over?
A full tear-off is the only way to inspect and fix the decking underneath. A layover hides rot and voids most warranties. A roofer pushing a layover to win on price is hiding the part of the job that matters most in this climate.
- How do you handle insurance claims and my deductible?
A straight answer: Tom documents the damage, meets your adjuster on the roof, and you pay your deductible, which no roofer can legally pay or waive in Missouri. Anyone who offers to eat your deductible is breaking the law.
Storm-chaser red flags to walk away from
- They knocked on your door after a storm
Reputable local roofers are busy after a storm handling their existing customers, not canvassing neighborhoods. An aggressive door-knocker with out-of-state plates is the classic storm-chaser profile. You called us. We did not ambush you.
- They offer to pay or waive your deductible
This is illegal in Missouri under Revised Statute 407.725 and is a deceptive practice under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. A contractor willing to commit insurance fraud to win your job will cut corners on your roof too. It is the single biggest red flag there is.
- They pressure you to sign today
High-pressure, sign-now-or-lose-the-price tactics exist to stop you from getting a second opinion or checking them out. A real roof is a real decision. We give you a written number and let you think about it, because we will still be here when you are ready.
- They have no local yard or history
Some of the biggest names that show up for Franklin County searches are metro landing-page operators or national franchises with no local presence. One reportedly had its roofer license expire in 2024. If you cannot verify a local yard and a track record, that is your answer.
- They subcontract the actual work
Franchise roofers often sell the job and hand the labor to whichever subcontractor crew is available. You lose the accountability you thought you were buying. Ask directly whether the people on your roof are employees.
- The quote is vague or suspiciously cheap
A low number usually means a thin scope: a layover, no decking budget, the cheapest shingle, and a warranty that leaves with the truck. Cheap on paper, expensive over the life of the roof. Compare the scope, not just the bottom line.
Why local and family-owned actually matters here
A roof warranty is only as good as the company still standing behind it. An out-of-town crew that replaces your roof and leaves the county is a warranty you can never collect on. A family whose name is on the truck, whose kids went through the Union and Washington schools they still sponsor, and whose office manager answers the phone is a warranty you can knock on the door of. When something comes up after the job, you come to the family, not a call center.
Local also means fast. Because we are based in Union, we are not driving in from another county when you have a leak. We aim to be there the same day to look and get your house under the dry. And local means we know what a Franklin County roof looks like after thirty years of this specific storm-and-freeze-thaw pattern, which a crew that follows hailstorms across three states simply does not.
Why factory certification is more than a logo
Factory certification means the shingle manufacturer has vetted the installer and stands behind their work, which is why certified installers can offer stronger manufacturer warranties. It is a credential a storm chaser cannot fake on a landing page. We are certified across CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Malarkey, and GAF, which is unusual in this market where most roofers carry one brand at most.
The practical benefit to you is choice without a sales agenda. Because we are not locked to one supplier, we match the shingle to your home and budget rather than to the only line we are allowed to sell. If hail is your concern we can recommend Malarkey's Class 4 impact-resistant shingle. If a housing job wants GAF, we can do that. The brand is named on your estimate before we order anything, so you always know exactly what is going on your home.
How to Choose a Roofer: common questions
Hire the family that will still be here next storm
A real Emmendorfer walks your roof, names the manufacturer in writing, and gives you a number that does not change. Local, family-owned, and factory-certified since 1990. Free across Franklin County.
- We walk your actual roof before we quote it
- The manufacturer is named on your written estimate
- The price you approve is the price you pay
- Tom handles your insurance claim start to finish