Can You Trust a Roofing Company That's Less Than 10 Years Old?

If you're taking the time to research roofing companies and compare your options, you're already taking a big step toward making a confident decision about who you partner with. A roof is one of the biggest, most important investments you'll make in your home, and who you choose to install it matters just as much, if not more than, the shingles you pick.

One detail that homeowners often think about when making their decision is a contractor's time in business. If you see that a roofer has only been in business for five or six years, or even less, it's common to wonder: Can I really trust them? Should I go with the company that's been around the longest?

At Happy Roofing, we've completed hundreds of roof replacements across the greater Naperville area over the 6 years we've been in business. We get similar questions to the ones above all the time from homeowners who want to make the safest decision. We understand that roofing feels high-stakes, and with so many horror stories out there, a newer roofing company can feel risky.

It's a fair concern, but here's what we've learned from years in this industry: Company age alone doesn't guarantee quality or credibility. Some younger companies are run by highly experienced professionals who've broken off to build something better, and others may struggle with inexperience, poor processes, or a lack of follow-through that ultimately erodes trust.

In this article, you'll learn:

• Whether newer roofing companies are a risk to work with

• What matters more than years in business when comparing roofing contractors

• Five smart questions to ask that will help you evaluate any roofer with confidence

Table of Contents

• Are Established Roofing Companies More Trustworthy Than Newer Ones?

• How Can You Tell If a Contractor Is Trustworthy?
• Finding the Right Contractor for You

Are Established Roofing Companies More Trustworthy Than Newer Ones?

The age of a roofing company doesn't necessarily determine its level of trustworthiness or quality of work. While some long-standing roofing companies have truly earned their reputations over decades, not every long-standing roofing contractor is guaranteed to deliver long-lasting results. Regardless of their time in business, a company can build a strong reputation by focusing on things that matter most to homeowners today: good communication, clean and professional installs, and a customer-first approach.

Does a Contractor's Time in Business Matter at All?

A contractor's time in the industry can certainly be a key factor in choosing a reputable partner for your roofing project, but it shouldn't be the only factor you consider when you're researching.

It's easy to assume that the longer a company has been around, the safer the choice, especially if you need to make a quick decision after a storm or during a stressful situation. While many years in business can signify trust and quality workmanship, age alone doesn't guarantee much.

Relying solely on company age can cause you to:

• Overlook high-performing, newer companies that may be a better fit for your long-term goals.
• Miss red flags with long-standing companies that may be relying purely on their time in the industry, or may have gotten complacent due to their brand recognition.
• Assume stability based on years in business, but even older companies can change ownership, leadership, or crews without updating their branding. While companies with decades in business may appear more financially stable, longevity alone doesn't guarantee they'll always be around, and even well-established contractors can close their doors unexpectedly.

Ultimately, age is just one data point. It doesn't tell you how they handle service issues, communicate during a project, or stand behind their work.

How Can You Tell If a Contractor Is Trustworthy?

If you want to know whether a roofing contractor is truly trustworthy, get a sense of how they operate, how they communicate, and what others say about working with them. Whether a company is brand new or has been around for decades, here's what actually reveals trustworthiness:

Leadership Experience

Some companies are led by seasoned roofing professionals who've spent 10-20+ years in the industry before launching their own business. These leaders often bring fresh energy, deeper oversight, and a clear drive to build a reputation the right way.

Contrastingly, some roofing companies, regardless of how long they've been in business, operate more like brokers than builders. The owner's role may be limited to finding jobs, hiring the first available subcontractor, and moving on to the next project - often with a different crew each time.

Age alone has little to do with how a roofing company operates, and without the right leadership in place to hold the crews performing the work accountable, quality can be inconsistent or poor overall.

Homeowner takeaway: Ask your contractor what their process is for roof installations.

• Will there be one primary point of contact for you to speak with during your project?
• Will there be a supervisor on site at all times?
• Has the crew (whether subcontractors or in-house employees) worked with the company before?

These questions can help give you a sense of whether or not a contractor has a good system of checks and balances to ensure a consistent level of quality workmanship.

Systems and Communication

Trustworthy roofing companies, regardless of their age, run on clear and repeatable systems. That includes not just how they install your roof, but how they manage your entire experience as a homeowner.

Here's what a professional, well-run roofing company should offer:

• Prompt scheduling and proactive updates: You shouldn't have to repeatedly ask about your project's timeline. A good contractor keeps you in the loop before, during, and after your install, so you're immediately aware of what's going on and what progress has been made.
• Written estimates that are detailed and clear: Vague or verbal pricing is a red flag. You should receive a written proposal, broken down by line item (like the example found below this list), to explain what's included in the scope of your project and why.
• Transparent contracts and documented warranties: Legitimate companies are upfront about what they guarantee, how long it lasts, and what it covers. If you're confused about your contract or warranty information, ask your contractor for clarification before you sign anything. If they're speaking in circles or refuse to help you make sense of the language, that's a red flag.
• Responsive communication from start to finish: When you call or email with questions, you should get a timely, helpful response. Ideally, you'll have direct communication with the project manager or supervisor who's familiar with your project.

Homeowner takeaway: Ask how you'll be kept in the loop during your roofing project:

• How often will you get updates about the job, both during planning and installation?
• Will you receive a written and detailed quote?
• What happens if you have additional questions before the job begins?

Well-constructed systems often lead to fewer surprises, clearer communication, and a better result.

Quality of Labor

Some companies manage their labor tightly with in-house crews or long-standing subcontractor relationships that they actively train and supervise. This helps provide a consistent level of quality across all jobs, ensuring crews maintain the contractor's standards. 

Others (regardless of how long they've been in business) may outsource every job to the lowest available bidder, with little to no oversight on who's actually performing the work. Even contractors who repeatedly work with the same crews may not deliver the same scope or quality standards.

In some cases, this can result in:

• Inconsistent workmanship from job to job, if your contractor uses multiple different subcontractors with whom they don't have an existing relationship.
• Cut corners or an incomplete job scope (like reusing flashing or skipping a ventilation assessment) if the crew isn't properly trained, supervised, or aligned with the company's standards. This can directly impact the longevity of your roof.
• Installation errors (like improper nailing) may not be apparent for months or even years down the road. Like an incomplete job scope, these errors can negatively affect the longevity of your roof.

Homeowner takeaway: A trustworthy contractor will make quality control a non-negotiable. They might use in-house teams or trusted subcontractors, but what sets them apart is how involved they are in vetting, training, supervising, and holding those crews to a consistent standard. Ask your contractor:

• What's your process if there's a workmanship issue?
• What kind of warranties do you offer?
• Do you have any mid-installation photos of previous jobs you could share?

Getting clear answers to these questions can tell you more about a company's standards than any sales pitch, and it helps you gauge how much they value workmanship. Be on the lookout for contractors who are willing to share progress photos like the one below:

Reputation and Reviews

A strong reputation isn't something a company can claim for itself, it's something they have to earn. In today's world, it's easier than ever for homeowners to verify whether that reputation is legitimate, as long as you know what information to pay attention to.

Don't just look at the star rating, dig a little deeper on sites like Google and even Facebook. A roofing company with a 4.7-star average from 125 recent, detailed reviews may be more trustworthy than one with a 5.0 average from just three vague ones.

Here's what to pay attention to when reading reviews:

• Recent reviews with specific feedback: Look for mentions of timelines, communication, problem-solving, and what happened when things didn't go perfectly.
• How the company responds to reviews: Do they thank happy customers and address concerns respectfully? Or are they defensive, dismissive, or silent altogether?
• Patterns in customer experience: Are there consistent mentions of quality work, professionalism, and thorough clean-up? Or are there red flags repeated across multiple reviews?

Homeowner takeaway: Use reviews to verify, not assume, a company's credibility. Years in business might tell you how long they've existed, but reviews tell you how they operate today and show you a track record of what the homeowners they've worked with have to say about them.

How Can You Find the Right Roofer for You?

Choosing the right roofing contractor is about finding a company that communicates clearly, takes pride in its process, and stands behind the work it delivers. Company age can give you context, but it shouldn't be the only deciding factor. By asking the right questions, paying attention to how a company operates, and reading what real customers have to say, you'll gain the confidence you need to make the best decision for your home.

Whether you can trust a roofing company that's less than 10 years old depends on how their approach to roofing and the quality that they provide. If you've narrowed down your list of potential contractors to work with, it's smart to compare quotes from your top choices. Not only does this help you evaluate cost, but it also lets you see how different contractors define scope, materials, timelines, and warranty coverage.

If you're wondering whether Happy Roofing might be the right fit for your project, we've written a dedicated article that lays it all out for you: Is Happy Roofing the Right Roofer for Me? Inside, we'll walk through which types of homeowners we're a great fit for, and who may benefit more from another contractor.

Prefer to jump straight to an accurate assessment of your roof? We offer no-obligation consultations designed to give you clear answers, honest recommendations, and flexible options, all with zero pressure to move forward with us.