Hiring A Contractor
Six things worth verifying before you sign a contract — most take five minutes to check.
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SINCE 2013
CERTAINTEED, GAF & IKO SHINGLES
CERTIFIED ROOFING CONTRACTOR
CCC1331129 / CBC1259476
Don’t take a contractor’s word for their license status. Florida’s Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) publishes a free online license lookup at myfloridalicense.com where you can confirm a roofing license is active, see its exact scope, and check for any disciplinary history in under a minute.
Ask for a certificate of insurance naming the coverage amounts for general liability and workers’ compensation before any work begins. If an uninsured worker is injured on your property, you can be held liable — a legitimate contractor will provide this documentation without hesitation.
Scope of work, materials and manufacturer/product names, timeline, payment schedule, and warranty terms should all be in a signed contract before any deposit changes hands. Verbal promises about materials or timelines are not enforceable if something goes wrong.
For most construction projects above a set value, Florida law requires a Notice of Commencement to be recorded with the county before work begins. This document protects you from subcontractor or supplier liens if your contractor fails to pay them — a licensed contractor will handle this as a standard part of the process.
Be cautious of door-to-door storm chasers demanding full payment upfront, pressure to sign a contract the same day, contractors with no permanent local address, or anyone unwilling to provide references from completed local jobs. Legitimate contractors are comfortable with you taking time to verify their credentials.
Customer Reviews
★★★★★ 4.8 out of 5 · 106 Google reviews
“Ricketts handled our roof repair after a bad storm and made the whole process easy — showed up when they said they would, explained what was actually wrong, and kept the property clean every day. Would recommend them to anyone in South Florida.”
A RICKETTS CONSTRUCTION CUSTOMER
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South Florida’s roofing and construction contractor.
Ricketts Construction is a licensed, family-owned roofing and construction contractor proudly serving Fort Lauderdale and South Florida since 2013.
(954) 588-5670 · estimate@rickettsconstruction.com · © 2026 Ricketts Construction. Licensed & Insured CCC1331129/CBC1259476