Why Roofing Contractors Get Suspended More Often
Roofing contractors face higher-than-average suspension rates on Google Business Profile. This isn't because Google has something against roofers—it's because roofing businesses often unknowingly violate guidelines in ways specific to their industry.
Understanding these roofing-specific suspension triggers helps you stay compliant, maintain visibility, and avoid costly downtime that lets competitors steal your customers.
Common Suspension Causes for Roofing Contractors
1. Keywords in business name (the #1 killer)
Roofing contractors frequently add service keywords or geographic terms to their business names, thinking it helps with local SEO. It doesn't—it triggers instant suspension.
Examples of problematic names: ❌ "Best Roofing Services in Dallas" ❌ "Smith Roofing - Residential & Commercial Roofer" ❌ "Emergency Roof Repair | Johnson Roofing" ❌ "Affordable Roofing Contractors Dallas" ❌ "#1 Rated Roofer - Precision Roofs"
All of these violate Google's naming guidelines. Your business name must be your legal business name only—no keywords, no service descriptors, no marketing language.
Correct naming: ✅ "Smith Roofing" ✅ "Johnson Roofing Company" ✅ "Precision Roofing LLC" ✅ "Dallas Roofing Company" (if that's your actual legal name)
Check your business license or incorporation papers. Your GBP name must match exactly.
2. Virtual office or mail forwarding addresses
Many roofing contractors don't operate from a traditional storefront—you work from home, store materials at a yard, or run operations from a vehicle. To get a "professional" address, some roofers use UPS Stores, virtual offices, or mail forwarding services.
Google suspends these addresses immediately.
Why it's a problem: Google requires businesses to have a genuine physical presence at the address they list. A PO Box or virtual office where you just pick up mail doesn't count.
The roofing dilemma: You're rarely in the office because you're on roofs all day. But Google still requires a legitimate business location where:
- You store equipment, materials, or files
- Staff or ownership is present during some business hours
- Customers could theoretically visit (even if they rarely do)
Solutions:
- Use your home address if that's where you operate from (you can hide it if you're an SAB)
- Use a storage facility address where you keep materials and equipment
- Use your accountant's or lawyer's office if you have formal arrangements there
- Get a small office or warehouse where someone is present regularly
What doesn't work: Renting a "business address" from a third-party verification service, using a Regus or WeWork without dedicated staff, or borrowing an address from a friend's business.
3. Service area confusion (showroom vs. mobile)
Some roofing contractors have physical showrooms where customers can see samples, meet with salespeople, and discuss projects. Others operate purely as mobile services—you go to the customer's property for estimates and work.
This distinction matters tremendously for GBP compliance.
If you have a physical showroom/office:
- You can show your address publicly
- Customers should be able to visit during your stated business hours
- You need signage and visible business presence
If you're mobile/service area only:
- You MUST hide your address
- Set your service areas (cities/zip codes you serve)
- Don't show a public-facing address
Where roofing contractors go wrong: Many roofers show their business address publicly even though they're purely mobile. You have a shop where you store materials and park trucks, but customers never come there. That makes you a Service Area Business—hide your address.
How to check what you are:
- Do customers regularly come to your location for consultations?
- Do you have a showroom or office designed for customer visits?
- Can customers walk in during business hours?
If all three are "no," you're an SAB and must hide your address.
4. Incorrect business categories
Google has specific categories for roofing contractors. Choosing the wrong category—or adding categories that don't apply to your business—can trigger issues.
Correct primary categories for roofers:
- Roofing contractor (most common)
- Roof repair service
- Roofing supply store (if you sell materials)
Problematic category mistakes:
- Choosing "Contractor" instead of "Roofing contractor" (too generic)
- Adding "General contractor" when you only do roofing
- Including "Home improvement" or "Remodeling" if you don't actually do those services
- Selecting "Construction company" for what's really a specialty roofing business
Use the most specific category that accurately describes your business. Don't add extra categories hoping to appear in more searches—Google may see this as misleading.
5. Inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across platforms
Roofing contractors often have information scattered across multiple platforms: website, Yelp, Angi, HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack, BBB, and more. If your business name, address, or phone number varies across these platforms, Google flags your profile as potentially fraudulent.
Examples of problematic inconsistencies:
- GBP: "Smith Roofing" / Website: "Smith Roofing LLC"
- GBP: "123 Main Street" / Angi: "123 Main St Suite 5"
- GBP: (555) 123-4567 / Website: (555) 987-6543
While minor variations (Street vs. St) might not cause issues, significant differences—especially in business name or phone number—raise red flags.
Solution: Audit all your online listings. Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are exactly identical everywhere. Update any inconsistencies immediately.
6. Storm chasers and temporary locations
Some roofing contractors travel to areas hit by storms or natural disasters, set up temporary operations, and create local GBPs to capture business. This is high-risk behavior.
Why it's problematic:
- You're claiming a business address you don't have long-term presence at
- Google may see this as fake or misleading location
- Local competitors might report you
- You violate guidelines requiring genuine, ongoing business operations
If you do storm work:
- Keep your GBP at your primary, permanent business location
- Adjust your service areas to include the storm-affected region
- Don't create temporary GBPs in storm zones
- Make it clear on your website/profile that you serve disaster areas
7. Multiple profiles for different services
Some roofing contractors offer distinct services—residential roofing, commercial roofing, roof repair, gutter installation, etc. They mistakenly create separate GBPs for each service, thinking it helps them rank for different keywords.
Google prohibits this. One business location = one GBP.
Why this happens: Contractors see competitors with multiple listings and assume it's allowed. But those competitors are violating guidelines too—and risk suspension.
Correct approach: One GBP listing all services you offer. Use service categories, website pages, and Google Posts to highlight different service offerings.
Roofing-Specific Compliance Best Practices
Use your truck as branding, not your profile
Many roofers put marketing language on their trucks: "Best Roofer in Dallas" or "Emergency Roof Repair 24/7." That's fine for your vehicle, but don't put this language in your GBP business name. Keep your GBP name clean and legal.
Document your physical business presence
Have ready:
- Utility bill for your shop/office
- Business license with your business address
- Lease or property deed if renting/owning your location
- Photos of your shop with signage
- Insurance certificates showing your business address
These documents prove you have a legitimate physical presence if Google questions your profile.
Be honest about your business model
If you're mobile, embrace it. Hide your address, set service areas, and optimize your profile as an SAB. Don't pretend to have a showroom if you don't.
If you have a legitimate physical location customers visit, show your address proudly and make sure it's accessible during your stated hours.
Handle seasonal work correctly
Some roofers reduce operations in winter or close temporarily during slow seasons. If you do this:
- Update your business hours to reflect seasonal changes
- Don't mark your business as "permanently closed"
- Keep your GBP active year-round even if hours are reduced
Marking your business as closed and then reopening can trigger additional verification or scrutiny.
Manage reviews carefully
Roofing is a high-ticket service, and reviews matter enormously. But don't incentivize reviews or create fake ones. Google monitors review patterns, and suspicious activity can lead to suspension.
Acceptable: Asking satisfied customers to leave reviews Not acceptable: Offering discounts for reviews, having employees leave fake reviews, creating reviews from the same IP address
What to Do If Your Roofing Business Gets Suspended
Step 1: Identify the violation
Review your profile against the common causes above:
- Keywords in name?
- Virtual office address?
- Address showing when you're an SAB?
- Incorrect categories?
- Inconsistent information?
Step 2: Fix the violation immediately
Don't wait. Make the correction in your GBP dashboard:
- Remove keywords from business name
- Hide address if you're an SAB
- Update to legitimate physical address
- Correct categories
- Align information across all platforms
Step 3: Gather documentation
Collect:
- Business license
- Utility bill at business address
- Contractor license
- Insurance certificate
- Photos of your business location or trucks with branding
Step 4: Submit reinstatement request
Fill out Google's reinstatement form:
- Specify what violation you fixed
- Explain how your business now complies
- Attach documentation proactively
- Keep explanation professional and concise
Typical reinstatement timeline for roofing contractors: 1-3 weeks if you fix the violation and provide solid documentation.
Key Takeaways for Roofing Contractors
- Remove all keywords from your business name - This is the #1 suspension trigger
- Use a legitimate physical address - No virtual offices or mail forwarding services
- Hide your address if you're mobile - Most roofers are SABs and should hide addresses
- Choose correct categories - Use "Roofing contractor" or specific roofing categories
- Keep NAP consistent everywhere - Match your website, directories, and GBP exactly
- One location = one profile - Don't create multiple GBPs for different services
Worried your roofing business might be at risk? Run our free diagnostic tool to identify potential compliance issues before Google does. Prevention beats reinstatement every time.
Need expert help with a suspended roofing contractor profile? Check out our Reinstatement Review ($200) or Done-For-You Reinstatement ($500) services.