A roofer's yard sign is a promise made in public. How to check the certification, reviews and insurance behind it before you call. From Round Rock, Texas.
Guides
Field Notes
A roofer's yard sign is a promise made in public. How to check the certification, reviews and insurance behind it before you call. From Round Rock, Texas.
Published November 4, 2026 · 3 min read · David Rodrigues
Guides
What a Roofing Yard Sign Tells You, and What to Check Before You Call
A yard sign tells you a roofer worked on that street. It does not tell you whether they are the right roofer for your home. Before you call the number, check four things: a manufacturer certification you can look up, reviews you can trace back, proof of insurance in writing, and whether they teach you your options or just push a sale.
Today The Roof Shepherd put out its first yard sign. It is a small moment for any company, and a big one for ours, because we are built one homeowner at a time. It also seemed like the right day to write down what I would want any homeowner to check before calling a number off a sign, ours included.
GUIDES
Why yard signs work, and why that is not enough
Neighbors talk, and a sign in a yard down the street feels like a referral. That is why roofers put them out. But a sign is advertising. It can show you a phone number, a logo and a badge or two. It cannot show you how the job went, how the crew treated the property, or what happened when something came up on the roof that nobody expected.
So treat a sign as a lead, not a verdict. The checking comes next.
GUIDES
Texas does not license roofers, so the checking falls on you
Texas has no state license for roofing contractors. No state agency tests roofers or issues a roofing license, so a sign or a website that says "state licensed roofer" is a red flag. Some cities ask contractors to register before they pull a permit, and that varies city by city.
With no state license to lean on, the other proof matters more.
GUIDES
1. A manufacturer certification you can look up
Shingle makers certify contractors who meet their requirements, and the certification controls which warranties that contractor is allowed to offer. A badge on a sign is easy to print. The real test is whether the manufacturer lists the company.
The Roof Shepherd is a GAF Certified Plus contractor. You can find us in GAF's own contractor search on gaf.com, and that is exactly how you should check any roofer who shows a GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed or other manufacturer badge.
GUIDES
2. Reviews you can trace back
Look for reviews on Google and other sites where you can see the reviewer's name, the date and the roofer's reply. A wall of five star quotes with no names on a roofer's own flyer proves nothing. Read the low ratings too. How a company answers a complaint tells you more than a hundred happy reviews.
If a sign shows a Better Business Bureau seal, look the business up on bbb.org. The seal should match a real, current profile.
GUIDES
3. Proof of insurance, in writing
Ask for a certificate of insurance before work starts. It shows the insurance company, the policy dates and the coverage. If a roofer gets vague when you ask, that is your answer.
GUIDES
4. Do they teach, or do they push?
A good roofer explains what they found, shows you photos, and lays out your options, including the option to repair instead of replace when a repair is the honest answer. You make the decision. If the visit feels like a pressure sale, it is fine to say thank you and walk them back to their truck.
GUIDES
Questions homeowners ask
Does a yard sign mean the roofer did that house?
Usually it means they did work there, and many homeowners agree to a sign for a few weeks after a job. It does not tell you how the job went. You can always ask the roofer for the address and a reference you can call.
Is a GAF Certified Plus badge the same as a license?
No. It is a manufacturer certification, not a government license. It means GAF recognizes the contractor in its program, which affects the warranties that contractor can offer. Texas does not license roofers at all.
What should a certificate of insurance show?
The insurance company's name, the policy dates and the types of coverage, such as general liability. The dates should cover the time your job will be done.
GUIDES
Keep learning
Our Learning Center covers the rest of what homeowners ask about, and roofing in Round Rock covers the local side: permits, storms and what we see on roofs here.
Have a question about your own roof?
Call or text 512-575-5052. Everything Under Your Roof — Guided Right™
Keep this note
Send this article to yourself
The full article lands in your inbox so you can read it later, forward it to a spouse, or bring it to a contractor conversation.