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What Questions Should I Ask Roofing Contractors Before Hiring?
Aaron Venegaz is the President and founder of Global Exterior Experts and has been in the construction / roofing industry for over 15+ years. He started the company back in 2010 and done everything from scheduling appointments to putting down roofs. He's also done everything from commercial roofing to residential roofing and has also worked with almost every single roofing material multiple times over the past 15 years.
Hiring the wrong roofing company can cost you far more than a bad roof. Before signing anything, verify your roofer's license through the Illinois IDFPR portal and request a current certificate of insurance. This guide walks you through every step, what to look for in the results, and the red flags that signal it is time to walk away.
The Short Answer: Check the License, Then Check the Insurance
To know if your roofing company is licensed and insured in Illinois, do two things. First, look up their state license on the IDFPR (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation) website. Second, ask for a certificate of insurance and call the carrier to confirm it is active. That is the whole process. Everything below explains how to do it correctly and what to watch for along the way.
Why This Matters More Than Most Homeowners Realize
Here is the thing: if an unlicensed worker gets hurt on your property, you could be personally liable. No license, no worker's comp coverage, no general liability insurance. That bill lands on you.
Beyond injury liability, hiring an unlicensed roofing company can void your homeowner's insurance claim if storm damage is involved. Insurance adjusters check contractor credentials. If the work was done without proper licensing, you may lose your payout entirely.
This is not a small risk. It is a financial exposure most people do not think about until something goes wrong.
Illinois Requires a State-Issued Roofing License
In Illinois, roofing is a state-regulated trade. Every roofing company operating in the state must hold a license issued by the IDFPR, specifically through its Division of Professional Regulation. A local business license or general contractor license alone is not enough. Roofing work requires its own separate credential.
Illinois law also requires licensed roofers to display their license number on all contracts, estimates, and advertising materials. If you cannot find a license number on a roofing company's website or written estimate, that is your first red flag.
How to Verify a Roofing Company's License: Step by Step
The fastest way to verify a roofer's license is through the IDFPR online License Lookup tool at https://online-dfpr.micropact.com./Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx
Here is how to do it:
- Get the license number. Ask the roofing company for their Illinois roofing contractor license number before your first appointment. Any legitimate company will give it to you without hesitation.
- Go to the IDFPR lookup portal. Select "Roofing Contractor" as the license type. Paste the nine-digit license number into the license number field. Complete the CAPTCHA and click Search.
- Read the results carefully. You want to see "ACTIVE" as the license status. Check that the business name and city match what the contractor told you.
- If searching by name. You can search by business name, but use the license number whenever possible. Small spelling differences, like "ABC Roofing" versus "ABC Roofing Inc.," can cause missed results. The database requires an exact match.
The whole verification takes about two minutes. There is no excuse to skip it.
What the License Results Should Show You
When the IDFPR result comes back, look at four things:
- Status: Must say "ACTIVE." Expired, suspended, or revoked licenses are disqualifying.
- License type: Should specifically say "Roofing Contractor," not just a general contractor classification.
- Business name: Should match the name on your estimate and contract.
- Expiration date: Confirm the license does not expire before your project is scheduled to finish.
Some roofing companies operate under a DBA (doing business as) name that differs from their registered legal entity. If the search returns no results, ask the company for both their legal business name and their DBA. Try both.
How to Verify Insurance: Do Not Just Take Their Word for It
If you want to take it a step further, you can find out if they're really insured becuase their certificate of insurance can be outdated, altered, or simply expired. Do this instead:
- Request a current certificate of insurance (COI). It should list general liability coverage and worker's compensation coverage.
- Call the insurance carrier directly. The carrier's name and phone number are printed on the certificate. Call and confirm the policy is active as of today's date.
- Check the coverage amounts. For a standard roof replacement on a residential home, look for at least $1 million in general liability coverage. Worker's comp coverage should list the roofing company as the insured, not a vague umbrella policy that may not cover roofing work.
This one phone call takes less than five minutes and eliminates a significant amount of risk.
Red Flags That Should Stop the Conversation
Alright, let us talk about what to watch for when a roofing company raises concerns before you ever sign anything.
- No license number on their website, estimate, or business card. Illinois law requires it. Its absence is not an oversight. It is a warning.
- Pressure to start immediately. Especially common after storms. Legitimate roofing companies schedule work, pull permits, and plan logistics. They do not demand a deposit today so they can start tomorrow.
- Out-of-state license only. Illinois requires an Illinois-issued license. An out-of-state credential does not qualify.
- Reluctance to provide COI. Any hesitation or excuse around insurance documents is a hard stop.
- No physical address. A P.O. box and a phone number are not enough for a company handling a $10,000 to $25,000 roof replacement.
Storm chasers, in particular, often use high-pressure tactics and disappear once a check clears. Verifying credentials upfront is the most effective defense.
Permits: The Step That Gets Overlooked
Most municipalities in Illinois require a permit for a full roof replacement. Your roofing company should pull that permit, not you. If they ask you to handle it yourself, or if they suggest skipping it to save time, walk away.
Unpermitted roofing work creates problems when you sell the home and can trigger issues with your homeowner's insurance. It also means there is no municipal inspection to catch installation errors. Permits exist for a reason, and a licensed roofing company knows that.
What to Expect on Cost and Timeline
A residential roof replacement in Illinois typically runs between $8,000 and $20,000 depending on roof size, pitch, and material. Architectural shingles are the most common and fall in the mid-range. Premium options like metal or synthetic slate push higher.
Timeline-wise, most standard residential jobs are completed in one to two days once the crew and materials are on-site. Lead times for scheduling vary. During peak storm season (late spring through early fall), expect two to six weeks from signed contract to install date. Material delays, especially after widespread storm events, can push that out further.
Get the timeline in writing before you commit.
Before You Sign: Questions Worth Asking
- What is your Illinois roofing contractor license number?
- Can I get a certificate of insurance sent directly from your carrier?
- Will you pull the permit for this project?
- What is the projected start date, and what happens if materials are delayed?
- What does your workmanship warranty cover and for how long?
A roofing company that hesitates on any of these should not be on your roof.
Summary: Protect Yourself Before the Work Starts
Verifying a roofing company's license and insurance takes about ten minutes total. Look up the IDFPR license status, call the insurance carrier to confirm coverage, and confirm the company pulls permits. Do not skip steps because the sales pitch sounded good or the price was attractive.
The next step is to get at least two or three written estimates from licensed, insured roofing companies. Compare the scope of work, not just the price. A lower quote that skips proper underlayment or uses substandard materials will cost more to fix than the money saved upfront. Start with the credentials, and the rest of the evaluation process becomes much easier.
