Parisi Law Firm represents roofing contractors across Jefferson and Northeast Georgia on contracts, mechanic's liens, storm-damage insurance disputes, licensing, and OSHA compliance. Georgia roofers must file a lien within 90 days of last work and enforce it by filing suit within 365 days. Call (404) 594-5130 for a consultation.
Roofing is one of the toughest trades to run a business in. Your income is tied to weather you don't control, your biggest jobs depend on insurance adjusters you don't work for, and a single missed lien deadline or unsigned change order can turn a completed job into an unpaid one. Add licensing requirements, subcontracted crews, and OSHA's close attention to fall hazards, and it's easy to see why roofing companies face more legal exposure than almost any other trade in Northeast Georgia.
Jerry Parisi built his practice representing the contractors and trade businesses that keep this region running, and roofing companies are a core part of that work. From the contract you hand a homeowner before the first shingle comes off, to the lien you file when a customer won't pay, to the fight with an insurance carrier that undervalued a storm claim, we handle the legal side of your business so you can stay focused on the roof. You work directly with Jerry — not a case manager — from your first call.
We understand the roofing business
Roofing isn't like other trades, and a lawyer who treats it like one will miss what actually puts your business at risk. Your busiest months follow the worst weather. Your biggest invoices depend on an insurance company's willingness to pay a claim you didn't file and don't control. Your crews are on ladders and steep slopes every day, which puts safety compliance front and center in a way it isn't for a plumber or an electrician. And because so much roofing work follows storm damage, you're constantly dealing with homeowners who are stressed, underinsured, or being steered by an adjuster toward the cheapest possible fix.
We've built our business-law practice around these realities. That means contracts written for how roofing jobs actually get signed and priced, lien strategy that accounts for how fast a roofing job moves from tear-off to punch list, and insurance-dispute experience that recognizes how carriers try to minimize storm claims. We're not learning the roofing business on your file — we already know it.
Roofing contract essentials
Most roofing disputes trace back to a contract that didn't say enough. A thorough roofing contract needs to do more than list a price — it needs to anticipate the issues that come up on nearly every job.
- Scope of work — tear-off vs. overlay, decking replacement, flashing, ventilation, and exactly which areas of the roof are covered
- Change orders — a clear process for pricing and approving hidden decking rot, code upgrades, or added scope discovered mid-tear-off, in writing before the work proceeds
- Material and manufacturer warranties — what's covered by the shingle or membrane manufacturer versus your own workmanship warranty, and how a claim gets made under each
- Assignment-of-benefits (AOB) terms — clear language on whether and how the homeowner assigns insurance proceeds to your company, and what happens if the carrier disputes the assignment
- Payment schedule — deposit, draw amounts tied to milestones, and what triggers final payment
- Permits and code compliance — who pulls permits and who bears the cost of code-mandated upgrades
Storm-damage insurance advocacy
A large share of roofing revenue in Northeast Georgia comes from insurance-paid storm damage, and that's exactly where roofers run into the most friction. Adjusters routinely underestimate the scope of hail or wind damage, approve a partial repair when a full replacement is warranted, or deny a claim outright by attributing damage to age or wear instead of the storm.
When a carrier undervalues or denies a legitimate claim, the homeowner's frustration becomes your problem — the job stalls, the AOB gets disputed, or you're left holding unpaid work. We step in to push back on lowball estimates, challenge wrongful denials, and advocate for a scope and payout that actually covers the work your crew performed or is contracted to perform. That advocacy can mean a demand to the carrier, a formal appraisal process, or litigation when the insurer won't move.
Mechanic's liens for roofers
Roofing companies lose more lien rights to missed deadlines than to any legal defense a homeowner raises. Because a roof replacement can be completed in a day or two, contractors sometimes don't realize the 90-day filing clock is already most of the way run by the time a payment dispute surfaces. We track these deadlines for our roofing clients and file liens promptly and correctly so nonpayment doesn't become a total loss.
- A claim of lien must be filed within 90 days of the last day labor or materials were furnished on the job — this is the deadline roofers most often miss, because roofing jobs move fast and the 90-day clock starts running the moment the crew leaves the property
- A copy of the lien must be sent to the property owner within 2 business days of filing
- To actually enforce a filed lien, you must file suit within 365 days of the filing date, or the lien expires and becomes unenforceable
- Liens are filed in the superior court clerk's office of the county where the roofed property is located
- Georgia also uses a Notice of Commencement / Notice to Contractor framework and preliminary-notice steps that can affect your lien rights, particularly on larger commercial roofing jobs
- Lien waivers you sign or receive can be conditional or unconditional — signing the wrong type at the wrong time can waive rights you didn't mean to give up
Licensing for Georgia roofing contractors
Georgia's State Licensing Board for Residential & General Contractors requires a license for residential or general contracting work on projects over $2,500 — and most roof replacements and many roof repairs cross that threshold. Working without the required license carries penalties and can bar you from enforcing your contract or filing a valid lien if a customer doesn't pay, even when the work itself was done well.
We advise roofing companies on which license tier applies to their work, how licensing status affects contract and lien enforceability, and what to do if a licensing question is already complicating a payment dispute.
OSHA fall-protection compliance
Fall hazards are the single biggest safety and liability exposure in roofing, and OSHA treats the trade accordingly. Fall-protection compliance — anchor points, guardrails, personal fall-arrest systems, and proper training and documentation for your crew — isn't just about avoiding a citation. It's central to protecting your business if a jobsite accident leads to an injury claim, a workers' compensation dispute, or an OSHA investigation.
We help roofing companies understand how their safety practices and documentation affect their legal exposure, and we represent roofing employers when a jobsite incident turns into a legal matter.
Managing subcontractors and crews
Many Georgia roofing companies run on subcontracted crews, which adds a layer of contracts and liability that has to be managed carefully. A subcontractor agreement needs to clearly flow down scope, schedule, and payment terms from your agreement with the homeowner, address insurance and indemnity so you're not left exposed if a sub's crew causes damage or an injury, and set out how change orders and lien waivers move between you and your subs.
We draft and review subcontractor agreements built around how roofing crews actually work, and we step in when a dispute arises with a sub over payment, scope, or workmanship.
Customer payment and scope disputes
Payment disputes in roofing tend to follow a familiar pattern: a homeowner withholds payment over a workmanship complaint, disputes a change order that was approved verbally but never documented, or delays payment while an insurance claim is still being sorted out. Scope disputes often center on whether a repair or a full replacement was actually agreed to, or whether upgraded materials were authorized.
We resolve these disputes through demand letters, negotiation, lien filings, and litigation when necessary — always working to get you paid for work you've already performed while protecting the business relationships you rely on for referrals.
Roofing legal risk vs. how we help
| Risk | How Parisi Law Firm helps |
|---|---|
| Missed 90-day lien deadline | Track deadlines and file liens promptly so nonpayment doesn't become a total loss |
| Undervalued or denied storm claim | Push back on adjusters, pursue appraisal, and litigate when a carrier won't pay a fair claim |
| Vague or unsigned change orders | Draft contracts and change-order processes that hold up when scope shifts |
| Unlicensed contracting exposure | Advise on licensing tiers and how licensing status affects contract and lien enforcement |
| OSHA fall-protection citation or jobsite injury | Advise on compliance and represent you when a jobsite incident becomes a legal matter |
| Subcontractor payment or scope dispute | Draft flow-down subcontractor agreements and resolve disputes when they arise |
| Customer non-payment or scope disagreement | Pursue demand letters, liens, and litigation to get you paid |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do roofers need a license in Georgia?
Yes, for most jobs. Georgia's State Licensing Board for Residential & General Contractors requires a license for residential or general contracting projects over $2,500, and most roof replacements exceed that threshold. Working unlicensed can bar you from enforcing your contract or lien, even if the work was done correctly.
How long does a roofer have to file a lien in Georgia?
A claim of lien must be filed within 90 days of the last day labor or materials were furnished on the job, in the superior court clerk's office of the county where the property is located. A copy must go to the property owner within 2 business days of filing, and you must file suit within 365 days of filing to actually enforce it.
Can I put a lien on a homeowner who won't pay for a roof?
Often, yes. Roofing contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers can generally claim a mechanic's lien against the property for unpaid work, provided the lien is filed within Georgia's 90-day deadline and the proper notice requirements are met. We evaluate your specific job to confirm your lien rights and file correctly.
What should be in a roofing contract?
At minimum: a specific scope of work, payment schedule, a change-order process for issues discovered mid-tear-off, material and manufacturer warranty terms, and clear assignment-of-benefits language if insurance proceeds are involved. These provisions address the disputes that come up most often on roofing jobs.
Can a lawyer help with an underpaid storm-damage insurance claim?
Yes. When an adjuster undervalues the scope of damage or wrongfully denies a claim, a lawyer can push back with a formal demand, pursue the appraisal process, or litigate against the carrier to get the claim paid at a level that actually covers the work required.
What OSHA rules apply to roofing crews?
Fall protection is the central OSHA concern for roofing work, covering anchor points, guardrails, personal fall-arrest systems, and crew training and documentation. Strong compliance practices reduce citation risk and matter significantly if a jobsite injury later leads to a legal claim.
Do I need a lawyer to review subcontractor agreements?
It's strongly recommended, especially if you regularly use subcontracted crews. A properly drafted agreement flows down scope, schedule, and payment terms, and addresses insurance and indemnity so you're not left exposed if a sub's crew causes damage or injury on a job.
What happens if I sign the wrong type of lien waiver?
Signing an unconditional waiver before you're actually paid can waive your lien rights even if payment never arrives. Georgia recognizes both conditional and unconditional waivers, and using the wrong one at the wrong stage of a job can cost a roofing contractor real leverage in a payment dispute.