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What Should a Roofer Text to Ask for a Google Review?

By Ansh Singh · Updated November 8, 2026 · 9 min read

Short answer: A roofer should text every customer a short note with the Google review link soon after the job is finished and the yard is clean. Thank them and ask for an honest review. Do not offer a discount or a gift, and do not text only the happy customers. Google removes reviews that break those two rules.

Key facts

Google allows asking customers for reviews with a link or QR code, but rewards for reviews are strictly prohibited.
Send the same request to every customer; sending links only to happy customers is review gating.
In a Scorpion survey of 2,000 homeowners, 87% would not hire a business rated below 4 stars.
A text counts as a call under federal phone rules, so get permission and include "Reply STOP."
Zarla found businesses named by AI had a median of 444 Google reviews, versus 192 for others.

A roofer finishes a job, gets a warm thank-you at the door, and then hears nothing. The review never gets written because nobody asked in a simple way. This page gives you the texts, the timing for each kind of roofing job, and the rules.

A review request text is a short message you send a customer after a job. It thanks them and gives them a direct link to your Google review form, so one tap takes them to the star rating.

Is it allowed to ask customers for reviews?

Yes. Google's help page says you can ask customers to visit a Google link or scan a QR code.

Asking is fine. Paying, rewarding or picking who you ask is not.

Why do reviews matter so much for a roofer?

A roof is a big job and a big bill. Owners check ratings before they let a crew on the roof. In a Scorpion survey of 2,000 homeowners, 87% said they would not hire a business rated below 4 stars. The same report says 67% of home services business leaders struggle to collect reviews consistently. A steady habit puts you ahead of many rivals.

Reviews also seem to matter for AI answers. Zarla asked ChatGPT and Google's AI Mode for the "best" business in 10 trades and 10 cities. Roofers were one of the ten trades. The businesses that were named had a median of 444 Google reviews. The ones that were not named had 192. Ratings were close, 4.9 against 4.8 (Zarla: AI Visibility Index (2026)). The study pools all ten trades and is a snapshot from one day, so it is a hint, not proof. Our guide on how many Google reviews a roofer needs goes deeper.

What are the rules for asking?

Two rules matter most. One more, from the FTC, sits on top.

Rule 1: No payment, discounts or freebies for a review. Google says offering rewards such as discounts or free items in exchange for reviews is strictly prohibited. Its Maps policy says merchants may not offer payment, discounts or free goods or services for a review, and that content posted because of an incentive counts as rating manipulation (Google Maps contribution policy). So "$100 off your gutter job if you review us" is out. So is a free roof inspection for a five-star review.

Rule 2: No review gating. Gating means you send the link only to customers you think are happy. The same policy bars merchants from selectively soliciting positive reviews or discouraging negative ones. The same text goes to every customer, including the one who argued about the change order. The policy also says not to ask for specific content, and not to ask staff to collect a set number of reviews.

The FTC rule. In 2024 the FTC issued a final rule on fake reviews. It bars offering compensation or incentives conditioned on a review with a particular sentiment, whether positive or negative, even when the condition is only implied. It also bars unfounded legal threats and intimidation to prevent or remove negative reviews. The FTC can seek civil penalties against knowing violators. Do not tell an unhappy customer that you will sue over a review unless a lawyer has said you have grounds.

Do you need permission to text a customer?

A text counts as a "call" under the federal phone rules. The rule says that the term "call" includes a text message. It asks for prior express written consent for telemarketing or advertising messages sent with an autodialer. A plain thank-you with a review link is not clearly an ad, but the line can blur, and some states add rules.

Our advice, not legal advice: at the estimate or contract signing, say "Is it OK if we text you job updates and a review link when we finish?" and write the yes on the contract. End each text with "Reply STOP to opt out." The rule says a revocation request made in any reasonable manner must be honored within a reasonable time not to exceed ten business days. Do not add a coupon or a sales pitch to a review text. Ask a local lawyer before you text a long list of past customers.

When should a roofer send the text?

Timing changes by job type. This is our advice from how the jobs run, not a study.

Roof replacement: send it after the final walk-around, once the crew has run the magnet over the yard and the dumpster is gone. Waiting until the next morning lets the owner see the new roof from the street.
Repair or leak fix: send it the same day, after the owner has seen the dry ceiling or the finished patch. If rain is coming, wait until the rain has come and the repair held.
Storm and insurance job: send it after the work is finished, not while the claim is open and not tied to the insurer's payment. Do not link the request to anything about the deductible or the claim.
Commercial or multi-unit job: send the link to the property manager who signed, and ask once. Do not blanket a whole building's tenants.
Inspection with no work: send it a day later. An owner who hears "your roof is fine" has a good reason to say so.

How do you send a roofing review request step by step?

Step 1: Get your review link

Google says you can share a link or a QR code. Find yours in your Business Profile, copy it and test it on your own phone.

Step 2: Ask for text permission up front

Add one line to your estimate or contract, as above. Put the answer in the job notes.

Step 3: Send at the right moment

Use the timing list above. Send the text from a phone number your customer can reply to, so it looks like a person, not an alert.

Step 4: Send the same message to everyone

No filters, no skipping the grumpy ones. If you use a tool to send the texts, set it to send to every completed job.

Step 5: Follow up once, then stop

If there is no review after a week, send one gentle reminder. Do not send a third. Offer nothing in return.

Step 6: Reply to every review

Google asks for replies that are professional, short and relevant, not promotional. Thank the customer by first name and mention the job. For a bad review, answer fast, apologize when it is fair, say what you will do and offer a phone call. Do not share private details.

What are some copy-ready review request texts for roofers?

Swap the names in brackets. Keep them short.

After a roof replacement

Hi [First name], this is [Your name] from [Company]. Thanks for trusting us with your new roof. Would you leave us an honest review? It takes a minute: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.

After a repair

Hi [First name], [Your name] from [Company]. The leak is fixed and I hope the ceiling stays dry. If you have a minute, an honest Google review helps other homeowners find us: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.

After a storm damage job

Hi [First name], this is [Your name] at [Company]. Thanks for letting us handle your roof after the storm. If you want to share how it went, here is our Google review page: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.

After a free inspection with no work

Hi [First name], [Your name] from [Company]. Thanks for having us look at your roof. An honest review would help us a lot: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.

To a property manager

Hi [First name], this is [Your name] from [Company]. The work at [property] is done and signed off. Would your team leave a quick, honest Google review? [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.

One reminder, a week later

Hi [First name], [Your name] again. I do not want to bug you. If you have a minute, here is the review link: [link]. Thanks again for the work. Reply STOP to opt out.

Reply to a five-star review

Thank you, [First name]. It was a pleasure working on your roof. If you ever see a stain or a loose shingle, call us.

Reply to a one-star review

[First name], I am sorry we missed the mark. I would like to make this right. Please call me at [number] so I can hear what happened.

What mistakes should you avoid?

Writing the review for the customer. Google bars asking for specific content.
Texting during the job. Wait until it is done.
Offering a gift card. Even a small one is an incentive.
Skipping unhappy customers. That is review gating.
Using the same crew photo and wording in every reply. Short, plain, specific replies read as real.

How do reviews connect to your Google profile and website?

Reviews feed your profile, and your profile feeds the map results. See our guide on roofer Google Business Profile tips. You can also show real reviews on your site, but never hide the bad ones in a way that implies the page shows all of them, which the FTC rule addresses. Read the hub guide on contractor review examples too. If you want a site built to show your reviews, you can see a free demo site.

If you're working through this list, these guides cover the next steps: How Do Roofers Get Found on Google? Roofing SEO in Plain English and What Are the Best Lead Sources for Roofers? Google LSA, Angi, Thumbtack and Storm Leads Compared.

Licensing rules, code editions and the number of local competitors change from state to state. Our state pages pull those facts together, for example California and Florida.

Common questions

Can a roofer offer a discount for a Google review?

No. Google says offering free or discounted goods or services for a review is strictly prohibited, and the FTC rule bars incentives tied to review sentiment. Say thanks and ask for an honest review.

How soon after a roof job should I ask for a review?

Soon after the work is finished. For a replacement, after the final cleanup. For a leak repair, once the owner has seen it hold. Avoid asking while a claim or a payment is open.

Can I text a review link to a customer?

Yes, with care. A text counts as a call under the federal rules, so get permission when you book, include "Reply STOP to opt out" and honor stops quickly. Ask a local lawyer if you plan to text a large list.

Should I send the link only to happy customers?

No. Google's policy bars selectively soliciting positive reviews. Send the same request to every customer.

How many reviews does a roofer need?

There is no magic number. The Zarla study found a gap in review counts between businesses AI assistants named and ones they did not, but it covers ten trades. See our guide on how many Google reviews a roofer needs for how to compare yourself with the roofers in your own area.

Sources

About the author

Ansh Singh runs Contractor Websites. He builds websites for electricians, plumbers, roofers and other home service trades, and writes the guides on this site. More about Ansh Singh.

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