How to Choose a Roofing Contractor in Illinois

Step 1: Verify the IL license

Illinois licenses roofing contractors through IDFPR (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation) under the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act. Any contractor installing roofs in Illinois must hold an active IDFPR roofing license.

To verify a contractor’s license:

1. Go to IDFPR’s public license lookup
2. Search by license number (the contractor should give you this on their first contact) or by business name
3. Confirm the license shows as Active, not Expired or Disciplined
4. Note the license number for your records

Trill Roofing carries IL roofing license #19HC00108700. Active in good standing. You can verify it at the link above.

If a contractor:

• Won’t give you their license number
• Claims to be “licensed in [other state]” but not specifically IL
• Has a license that shows Expired or Disciplined

…walk away. Unlicensed roofing work has cascading problems with insurance, warranty, and resale.

Step 2: Verify insurance

Two insurances matter for roofing contractors:

General liability insurance: covers damage the contractor causes to your property or surrounding properties. A worker drops a ladder on your siding, a tool damages your neighbor’s car parked nearby – general liability covers it.

Workers compensation insurance: covers injuries to the contractor’s employees on your property. Without this, an injury at your house could potentially expose you to personal liability claims (especially in IL, which has strong premises-liability laws).

Ask the contractor for a certificate of insurance (COI) with you listed as a certificate holder. The COI shows the insurance carrier, policy numbers, coverage amounts, and expiration dates. Verify directly with the insurance carrier if you have any doubt.

Coverage minimums to look for:

• General liability: $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate
• Workers comp: required by IL law for any contractor with employees

Step 3: Verify they’re actually local

Storm-chasing out-of-state crews follow weather events from state to state. They have a temporary address (often a UPS Store mailbox), no roots in the community, and they’re gone after the work is done. Legitimate local contractors have:

• A physical office address (not a mailbox)
• IL plates on their vehicles and permanent vehicle wraps
• Local phone number with the area code matching the service area
• Years of Google reviews tied to the physical location
• Local references – previous customers in your area you can call

Trill Roofing is at 2705 St Ambrose Dr Suite 1, Godfrey, IL 62035. You can drive by. The phone is (618) 304-7094. We’ve been here since founding.

Step 4: Ask the right questions on the quote

Beyond license and insurance, the technical questions separate informed contractors from sales-driven ones:

1. What shingle product (manufacturer + line) and what warranty applies? Vague “30-year shingles” is not an answer.
2. What underlayment is specified? (Synthetic is the right answer; felt is the cheap shortcut.)
3. Where will ice and water shield be installed? (Should mention eaves, valleys, and penetrations per IL code.)
4. What’s the nailing pattern? (Should be six-nail for premium wind warranty.)
5. How is ventilation being addressed? (Should mention NFA calculation and intake/exhaust balance.)
6. Is decking inspection and replacement included? At what cost per sheet?
7. What flashing is being replaced? (Should include step flashing at sidewalls, chimney counter-flashing, pipe boots.)
8. Will you pull the permit? Who handles the inspection?
9. What workmanship warranty applies? (Trill standard is 5 years.)
10. Can I see the written estimate with all line items?

If the answers are vague or rushed, the contractor is selling, not specifying.

Red flags – when to walk away

These patterns from a roofing contractor are reasons to end the conversation:

• “We’ll waive your insurance deductible.” This is fraud under IL law (215 ILCS 5/155.36). Any contractor offering this is asking you to commit fraud and probably has other problems.
• Pressure to sign today. “This price is only good if you sign right now” is sales pressure, not legitimate urgency. Real quotes are valid for 30+ days.
• Asking for full payment up front. Standard industry practice in IL is 0-50% down, balance on completion. Anything more than 50% up front is a flag.
• No physical office or vehicle wraps. Out-of-state plates and no permanent local address = storm chaser.
• Won’t show license or insurance certificates.
• Door-to-door solicitation immediately after a storm. Legitimate contractors don’t door-knock; they wait for you to call.
• Refuses to itemize the quote. A real estimate has line items for materials and labor.
• Claims to be “manufacturer-certified” without specifying which manufacturer or what level.
• Offers to file your insurance claim for you. Only you (or a public adjuster) can legally file your own claim in IL. Contractors who offer this are operating outside the law.

Get a second opinion

For any significant roofing work, get at least two quotes – three is better. Compare:

• Specific shingle product and warranty tier
• Underlayment specification
• Flashing scope
• Decking replacement allowance
• Permit handling
• Workmanship warranty terms
• Total cost

The cheapest quote isn’t always the worst, and the most expensive isn’t always the best. Compare the specifications, not just the bottom-line number.

Trill Roofing’s free inspection always produces a written report you can take to other contractors for an apples-to-apples comparison. Schedule at /free-inspection/.

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No-pressure, written estimate. Family-owned. IL-licensed. Serving Godfrey and the Riverbend.