The SaifHaven Gazette
How to choose a roofer in Northern Illinois
Updated
The article
The short answer
Choose a roofer with an Illinois roofing license you can look up, proof of insurance, a local address and recent work nearby you can see. Get a written estimate that spells out the work, the materials and the warranty, and ask who pulls the permit. Compare at least two estimates for the same work.
Check these first
- An Illinois roofing license: ask for the number and look it up on the IDFPR license lookup.
- Insurance: ask for certificates of liability and workers’ compensation insurance, sent to you by the insurer.
- A local address and office number, not only a cell number on a flyer.
- Recent jobs near you that you can drive past, and reviews on their Google listing.
What a good estimate includes
- The work: whether the old shingles come off, how many layers, and where the debris goes.
- The materials: the shingle brand and line, underlayment, ice and water shield, flashing and vents.
- What happens if they find rotten decking, and how that’s charged.
- Who pulls the permit, and the planned start date.
- The warranty: what the manufacturer covers, what the roofer covers for workmanship, and for how long, in writing.
- How and when you pay.
Northern Illinois weather
Winters here bring snow, ice dams and freeze-thaw cycles, and spring and summer storms can bring hail and strong wind. Ask how the roofer handles ice and water shield along the eaves and valleys, how they ventilate the attic, and what they do if the weather stops a job halfway.
Red flags
- Pressure to sign today, or a price that only lasts until they leave.
- A request for full payment up front.
- No written contract, or blank spaces in it.
- No license or insurance they can show you.
General information for homeowners, not advice about your roof, your insurance policy or a contract. Have a local, licensed roofer inspect before you decide.
Questions, answered.
Does Illinois license roofers?
Yes. Illinois licenses roofing contractors through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Ask for the license number and check it on the IDFPR license lookup.
How many estimates should I get?
Two or three written estimates for the same work make it easier to compare. The lowest isn’t always the best value: compare the materials, the warranty and who does the work.
Do I need a permit for a new roof?
Many towns require one. Ask the roofer whether they pull it, or check with your village or city building department.
Run a roofing company?
We build pages like this one for roofers’ own websites: guides that start with the answer, written so homeowners and AI assistants can read them, plus tools like an estimate calculator set to your rates.
Websites and tools for roofers Try the sample roof estimate calculator
Your next step
Start with the free audit.
We look at your website, how you show up on Google, and whether AI assistants mention you. Real people review every report before it’s sent.