7 Critical Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Commercial Roofing Contractor in Illinois

The Storm Chaser Problem

After every major storm event, out-of-state "storm chaser" contractors flood the affected region. They appear within days, offer aggressive discounts, and often disappear before work is completed or shortly after — leaving property owners with poorly installed roofs and no one to call for warranty issues. This is a documented national problem, and northern Illinois is no exception after March 10.

Here are the seven questions you must ask before signing any contract:

1. Are You Licensed in Illinois?

Illinois requires roofing contractors to be licensed. Ask for their license number and verify it at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation website. Do not work with any contractor who cannot provide a current Illinois license.

2. Do You Have a Local, Permanent Address?

A local office, not a P.O. box, demonstrates permanent presence. Ask how long they've been operating from that address. Storm chasers typically use temporary addresses or list only a website.

3. What Is Your Certificate of Insurance?

Request certificates of General Liability insurance (minimum $1 million, preferably $2 million) AND Workers' Compensation insurance. Your property could be liable for injuries on-site if a contractor lacks proper workers' comp. Get this before work begins.

4. Do You Have Manufacturer Certifications?

For TPO, EPDM, and Modified Bitumen systems, leading manufacturers (Firestone, GAF, Carlisle, Johns Manville) offer certifications to qualified installers — and only certified installers can offer manufacturer warranties. Ask which systems they're certified to install and request documentation.

5. Can You Provide Local References for Commercial Projects?

Ask for references from commercial projects completed in your area within the last two years. Call them. Ask specifically about their experience with insurance claim handling, timeline, and post-completion communication.

6. How Do You Handle the Insurance Claim Process?

A qualified contractor should be able to explain the insurance claim process clearly, offer to attend your adjuster meeting, and provide direct billing to your carrier. If they're vague or say "you handle the insurance, we do the roof" — that's a red flag.

7. What Does Your Warranty Cover?

Get all warranty terms in writing: what's covered, for how long, who stands behind it (manufacturer vs. contractor), and what the process is for warranty claims. A standard quality installation should include at least a 5-year workmanship warranty and 20+ year manufacturer warranty on the membrane system.

Why Aspen Checks Every Box

Aspen Contracting has been locally owned in Kankakee, IL since 1995. We are fully licensed in Illinois, carry $2 million in general liability, are manufacturer-certified for all major TPO systems, and have a 4.9/5.0 Google rating based on 127+ reviews. We've processed thousands of commercial insurance claims with a 98%+ approval rate.