Roofer vs. General Contractor: Who Should Install Your Roof?
If you need work done on your roof, deciding who to call may not be as obvious as it sounds. Should you hire a roofing contractor who specializes in roofs? Or can you hire a general contractor to take care of the roofing project instead?
Both may be options depending on your project, but they don’t necessarily play the same role. And if all you need is roof work, you may be wondering what benefit there is to hiring one over the other.
At Happy Roofing, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners throughout the greater Naperville area inspect, repair, and replace their roofs. Since we’re a roofing contractor, you might expect us to simply tell you to hire a roofer every time; but there are projects where working with a general contractor may make more sense.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- The key differences between roofing contractors and general contractors
- When it may make more sense to hire one over the other for your roofing project
- What to ask and compare before deciding which contractor to hire
By the end, you’ll understand how hiring a roofing contractor compares to working with a general contractor, the pros and cons of each, and which option makes the most sense for your situation.
Key Takeaways
- Roofing contractors specialize in roofing, while general contractors typically manage a broader range of construction work and trades.
- In Illinois, roofing work must be performed by a properly licensed roofing contractor or qualifying party, even when a general contractor oversees the project.
- Hiring a roofing contractor directly typically makes more sense when the project is centered around your roof, such as a repair, replacement, inspection, or roof-related improvement.
- A general contractor may provide more value when roofing is one part of a larger project involving multiple trades, such as an addition, structural changes, or extensive renovation.
- Whichever route you choose, understand who will perform the roofing work, what’s included, and who is responsible afterward. Comparing quotes and asking these questions can help you make a more informed decision.
Table of Contents
- The Difference Between a Roofer and a General Contractor
- Is It Better to Hire a Roofer or a General Contractor?
- What Should You Ask Before Hiring a Roofer or General Contractor?
- How Can You Decide Between a Roofer and a General Contractor?
What’s the Difference Between a Roofer and a General Contractor?
A roofing contractor specializes in roof systems, while a general contractor typically oversees larger construction projects involving multiple trades. The table below shows how those roles typically differ when it comes to roofing projects.
| Factor | Roofing Contractor | General Contractor |
| Primary focus | Roofing and related roof systems | Managing a broader range of construction work |
| When homeowners typically hire them | When the primary project is a roof repair, replacement, or other roofing work | When roofing is part of a larger home project that involves multiple types of trade work |
| Other work they may coordinate | Usually work closely related to the roof, like siding, depending on the company | May coordinate unrelated trades such as electrical, plumbing, framing, drywall, and other construction work |
| Main benefit | A more direct relationship with a company focused on roofing | One point of contact for coordinating multiple parts of a larger project |
A roofing contractor specializes in roofing projects, while a general contractor typically coordinates multiple parts of a larger construction project.
Can a General Contractor Legally Handle Roofing Work in Illinois?
A general contractor can oversee or sell a project involving roofing in Illinois, but the actual roofing work must be performed by a properly licensed roofing contractor or qualifying party.
Under the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act, roofing construction, reconstruction, alteration, maintenance, and repair generally must be performed by a licensed roofing contractor or qualifying party. That means a general contractor can be responsible for a project that includes roofing and subcontract that portion of the work. However, the roofing subcontractor performing that work must be properly licensed.
In this setup, the general contractor acts as the overseeing party. They manage the larger project and coordinate the subcontractors who perform specialized work, including roofing.
It’s important to point out, though, that subcontracting isn’t unique to general contractors. Some roofing companies also use subcontracted roofing crews rather than in-house employees (including us at Happy Roofing, where we work with the same dedicated subcontracting crew for all of our projects). The difference is that roofing companies specialize in roofing, while general contractors oversee construction work across a broader range of trades.
Is It Better to Hire a Roofer or a General Contractor?
If you only need roofing work, hiring a roofing contractor directly typically makes more sense. A general contractor is more useful when your roof is part of a larger project or renovation that requires multiple trades.
Either route can result in a properly installed roof. The difference is less about whether one can handle the job and more about what each brings to the project.
When Does It Make More Sense to Hire a Roofing Contractor to Install Your Roof?
A roofing contractor will usually be the more straightforward choice when the work you’re planning is centered around your roof.
That includes things like:
- Roof repairs: You have a leak, missing shingles, visible damage, or another roofing issue that needs to be diagnosed and repaired.
- Roof replacement: Your existing roof has reached the end of its life or has enough damage that replacement makes more sense than repair.
- Roof inspections: You want to understand the condition of your roof before deciding whether any work is necessary.
- Roof-related improvements: You’re addressing ventilation, flashing, skylights, or other components tied directly to the roofing system.
The main advantage of working with a roofing contractor is specialization. Roofing is what they deal with every day, so they’re more likely to recognize roof-specific problems, understand how the different parts of the roofing system work together, and know what to look for when something isn’t performing as it should.
But depending on the roofing company, they may not be equipped to coordinate additional work outside of the roofing or exterior systems they normally handle.
When Does It Make More Sense to Hire a General Contractor to Install Your Roof?
A general contractor may offer more value when the roofing work is connected to a broader construction project.
For example, you may be:
- Building an addition: The project involves framing, roofing, siding, electrical work, drywall, and other trades.
- Making structural changes: Changes to the roof are tied to framing or alterations elsewhere in the home.
- Completing a larger renovation: The roof is only one part of several home improvement projects happening at the same time.
- Restoring extensive damage: Multiple parts of the home need repairs that involve different trades.
In those situations, the benefit of a general contractor is the simplified coordination. Instead of you hiring and scheduling several contractors independently, the general contractor oversees the larger project and keeps the different pieces moving together.
Hiring a general contractor just for a roof isn’t necessarily wrong. If they’re working with a properly licensed roofing subcontractor and you feel comfortable with the price, process, and people involved, there’s nothing inherently wrong with going that route.
What Should You Ask Before Hiring a Roofer or General Contractor?
Before hiring either one, make sure you understand who is performing the work, what is included, and who will be responsible for the finished roof. The title on the contractor’s business card matters less than the answers they give you.
Here are some questions worth asking any contractor you’re considering working with:
- Who will actually install my roof? If the company you’re hiring isn’t performing the roofing work themselves, find out who is.
- Is the roofing crew properly licensed in Illinois? Whether you hire a roofing company or a general contractor, confirm that the roofing work is being performed by a properly licensed crew.
- Who is my main point of contact? You should know who to call with questions before, during, and after construction, regardless of who is handling your project.
- Who handles a problem after the project is finished? You don’t want to figure this out for the first time when you notice a leak two years later.
A reputable contractor should be comfortable answering these questions. If the answers are vague, inconsistent, or make it difficult to determine who’s actually responsible for your roof, that’s worth paying attention to.
How Can You Decide Between a Roofer and General Contractor?
If you’re still unsure which is right for your project, talk to any contractor you may be interested in working with and get a few quotes before making your decision.
A roofing contractor and general contractor may approach the same project differently, and getting estimates gives you a chance to compare options, price, and how each company operates.
Pay attention to what each contractor recommends, what’s included in their scope of work, who will be completing the roofing work, and how comfortable you feel with the answers they give you. To learn more about comparing roofing quotes, read our article What Questions Should I Ask After Receiving a Roofing Quote?
If you’d like a professional assessment of your roof, we offer no-commitment roof consultations. We’ll inspect your roof, explain what we find, and provide our recommendations so you can compare your options and decide what makes the most sense for your home.
