Door Knocking vs Direct Mail for Roofers: Which Works Better?

Ask any roofing contractor how they got their first jobs and most will say "door knocking." But is it still the best approach in 2026?

Door Knocking: The Pros

Face-to-face connection. Nothing builds trust like looking someone in the eye. Immediate feedback. You know right away if they're interested. Free (sort of). No printing costs — just your time. Storm response. Fastest way to reach homeowners after a hailstorm or hurricane.

Door Knocking: The Cons

It doesn't scale. One person can knock 40-60 doors per day. High rejection rate. Most people don't want a stranger on their porch. You're guessing. Half your knocks are on homes with 2-year-old roofs. Legal restrictions. Many municipalities require solicitation permits.

Direct Mail: The Pros

It scales infinitely. Send 100 postcards or 10,000. Data-driven targeting. When paired with permit data, every postcard goes to a homeowner whose roof is actually old. Professional impression. A well-designed postcard stays on the kitchen counter for days.

Direct Mail: The Cons

No immediate connection. A postcard doesn't shake hands. Delayed response. Mail takes 3-7 days. Responses trickle in over 1-3 weeks.

The Real Math

Door knocking: 50 doors x 5% rate = 2.5 appointments. Cost: 8 hours of labor ($200-400). Cost per appointment: $80-160.

Targeted direct mail: 500 postcards at $3.10 each = $1,550. At 2% response = 10 calls, 5 appointments. Cost per appointment: $310. But those 500 postcards took 10 minutes to set up, not 8 hours.

The Best Approach: Use Both

Use Lead-Spy to identify which neighborhoods have the most aging roofs, then send postcards AND send your door-knocking team to the same streets. Two impressions = higher close rate.