Identify current manufacturer-certified installer credential programs (e.g., GAF Master Elite, Owens Corning Contractor Network tiers) before hiring a re-roof contractor

Steps

1. Confirm the contractor's certification directly on the manufacturer's own contractor-locator/verification tool (not just the contractor's self-reported marketing claim), since certification status can lapse and manufacturer sites are the authoritative source.
2. Understand the tier structure is not uniform across manufacturers: check the specific manufacturer's current program levels and what each tier unlocks (e.g., extended warranty eligibility, workmanship coverage) rather than assuming all 'certified' labels mean the same thing.
3. Confirm which enhanced warranty (if any) is actually available through that certification tier for the specific product line being installed, since top-tier certifications are often required to unlock the manufacturer's best non-prorated labor-and-materials warranty.
4. Ask what continuing requirements (sales volume, training renewal, quality audits) the contractor must maintain to keep the certification, since these programs typically require ongoing qualification, not a one-time credential.
5. Cross-check the certification against state contractor licensing separately — a manufacturer certification is not a substitute for, or proof of, state/local contractor licensing.