After a storm, stay safe, stop any water coming in, note the date and take photos from the ground, call your insurance company if you plan to file, and get a free inspection from a roofer you can check out. Then slow down before you sign anything. Illinois gives homeowners real protections, and this checklist walks through them in order, with links to the official sources at the bottom. Questions? Call (815) 624-6278.
On this page:
- The first few hours
- The first day or two
- Calling your insurance company
- Before anyone gets on your roof
- 8 storm chaser red flags
- Your rights on paper in Illinois
- Permits in Rockford and Winnebago County
- Picking who fixes it
The First Few Hours: Safety and Stopping Water
Stay off the roof. Wet shingles are slick, storm damaged decking can give way, and downed power lines can hide in branches or standing water. Keep everyone away from fallen lines and call the utility. Inside, put buckets and towels under drips and move what you can away from wet ceilings.
If water is coming in, a tarp or other temporary repair keeps the damage from spreading. The Illinois Department of Insurance tells homeowners to make temporary repairs to prevent more damage, keep every receipt, and hold off on permanent repairs until they have talked with their insurance company. We are open 24/7 and can tarp within 24 hours; our emergency roof repair page explains how that works.
The First Day or Two: Look From the Ground and Write It Down
Once it is safe, walk around the house and look without climbing anything. Write down the storm date, then take photos of what you see:
- Shingles or pieces of shingle in the yard, or bare spots on the roof
- Dents on roof vents and downspouts
- Cracked, holed or loose siding
- Water stains on ceilings, or wet insulation in the attic
That is enough to get started. If you want to keep more detailed notes, our insurance claims page has a full storm records checklist. For what each kind of storm does to a house, see hail damage and wind damage.
Calling Your Insurance Company
If you plan to file, you make the call and you file the claim. The Illinois Attorney General notes that your insurance company will likely send its own adjuster to review the damage at no extra cost to you.
Illinois law does not let a contractor file a claim for you or represent you on it. What a contractor can do is give you an estimate you may send to your insurer, talk with the insurer’s representative about the damage, and go over repair options with you and the insurer. We help homeowners with storm claims and can work with your adjuster if needed. Not sure a claim is worth it? Read should you file a claim before you call.
You may also hear from a public adjuster. A public adjuster works for you, not your insurance company, charges a fee, and must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Insurance. Before you sign with one, check the license, ask what the fee is, and ask whether the contract ties you to a specific contractor.
Before Anyone Gets on Your Roof
In Illinois, a contractor can’t climb on your roof or inspect it for exterior damage without your permission. Say yes once you know who you are dealing with.
Ask for ID and a business card with a local address, then look the company up. Free inspections are common, and they are fine from a company you can verify. The state’s consumer rights pamphlet warns about people who offer a free inspection but can’t show real identification for their business. If you are not sure, call the company’s office and confirm the person works there.
A knock on the door isn’t a red flag by itself. Local companies knock on doors after storms too.
How to Spot a Storm Chaser: 8 Red Flags
Storm chasers follow bad weather from town to town, sign up as many jobs as they can, and move on. These are the warning signs Illinois agencies point to:
- No Illinois roofing license number. Roofers in Illinois must be licensed by IDFPR. The license number starts with 104 and has to be on the contract and the bid, and you can check it with the IDFPR license lookup.
- An offer to pay, waive or “eat” your deductible. Illinois contractors can’t advertise or promise to pay or rebate any part of your insurance deductible to win the job.
- An offer to file or negotiate your claim for you. A contractor can’t file a claim on your behalf or represent you on it.
- Pressure to sign today. Don’t let a deadline rush you, and never sign a contract with blank spaces.
- Cash only, or full payment up front. Be wary of cash deals, payment apps like Venmo or Zelle, full payment before the work is done, or a check made out to a person instead of the company.
- No local address. A company that lists only a phone number or a P.O. box is hard to find once the work is done.
- No proof of insurance or references. Illinois requires home repair businesses to carry liability insurance. A real contractor can show proof and give you references when you ask.
- An out of town outfit using a local name. Illinois contractors can’t take payment to let an out of area contractor use their business name or license. The name on the license should match the name on the contract, the business card and the truck.
Your Rights on Paper in Illinois
The Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act gives you these protections. Read any contract with them in mind.
| Your right | What it means |
|---|---|
| Written contract | For home repair over $1,000, the contractor must give you a written contract before work starts, with the total cost, the materials and the business name and address. |
| Consumer rights pamphlet | For contracts over $1,000, you get the pamphlet “Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights” and sign a form saying you received it. |
| 3 business days to cancel | You can cancel a contract signed at your home within 3 business days. If you are 65 or older and the contractor came to you uninvited, you have 15 business days. |
| Insurance denial | If the work is to be paid by insurance and your insurer denies all or part of the claim, you can cancel in writing before midnight on the earlier of the 5th business day after the written denial or the 30th business day after the insurer received your proof of loss. Payments come back within 10 business days, except for emergency work you agreed to in writing. |
| Liens | Before you pay, ask for a sworn statement that lists the subcontractors and suppliers, and get lien waivers. |
This is general information, not legal advice. If you have questions about a contract, talk with an attorney or the Illinois Attorney General’s office.
Wisconsin has its own storm chaser law; see our Janesville roofing page.
Permits and Licenses in Rockford and Winnebago County
In Rockford, a building permit is required for all roofing work, and roofing contractors must hold a State of Illinois roofing license. The city does not license general contractors, so the state roofing license is the one to check. The city’s roofing permit application asks for the roofer’s license number.
Illinois law also says a city or county that issues building permits can’t issue one to a roofing contractor without proof of a current state roofing license. Ask your roofer for the permit number.
Outside the city, Winnebago County’s Building Division issues permits for Cherry Valley, Durand, New Milford, Rockton, Roscoe, South Beloit and unincorporated Winnebago County, and its permit application asks for the roofing contractor’s 104 license number. In Loves Park, Machesney Park, Belvidere and other towns, check with your city or village hall.
Picking Who Fixes It
Whoever you choose, you should be able to check everything above. Here is how to check us:
- Illinois roofing license 104.017824, and Wisconsin dwelling contractor #1436189
- Our main office at 11704 Main St in Roscoe and our Rockford office on Fincham Drive
- Family-owned since 2006 and open 24/7
- Free inspections for everyone, with photos of what we find
- We help homeowners with storm claims and can work with your adjuster if needed
See storm damage repair for how we fix what a storm leaves behind. Schedule a free inspection or call (815) 624-6278.
After a Storm FAQ
Can a roofer file my insurance claim for me in Illinois?
No. Illinois law doesn’t allow a contractor to file a claim for you or represent you on it. You file the claim with your insurance company. A roofer can give you an estimate to send your insurer, talk with the insurer’s representative about the damage and go over repair options. We help homeowners with storm claims and can work with your adjuster if needed.
Is it legal for a contractor to pay my insurance deductible in Illinois?
No. Illinois contractors can’t advertise or promise to pay or rebate any part of your insurance deductible to win the job. On a covered claim, you pay your deductible.
How do I check if a roofer is licensed in Illinois?
Ask for the roofing license number, which starts with 104 and must be on the contract and bid, then look it up on the IDFPR License Lookup at idfpr.illinois.gov. The name on the license should match the company on your contract.
Can I cancel a roofing contract if my insurance company denies the claim?
Yes. In Illinois, if the work was to be paid by insurance and your insurer denies all or part of the claim, you can cancel in writing before midnight on the earlier of the fifth business day after you get the written denial or the thirtieth business day after the insurer received your proof of loss.
Do I need a permit to replace a storm damaged roof in Rockford?
Yes. The City of Rockford requires a building permit for all roofing work, and a roofing contractor has to show a current state roofing license to get one. Outside the city, Winnebago County or your city or village hall issues the permit. Your roofer should pull it and give you the permit number.
Sources
- Illinois Attorney General, consumer alert on storm repair scams, July 1, 2026; Avoid Home Repair Fraud
- Home Repair and Remodeling Act, 815 ILCS 513: Sec. 15 (written contract), Sec. 18 (deductibles, claims, insurance denial cancellation), Sec. 20 (consumer rights pamphlet), Sec. 22 (age 65 and older), Sec. 25 (insurance)
- Roofing Industry Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 335/5 (license number on contracts and permits)
- IDFPR, roofing contractor brochure and license lookup
- Illinois Department of Insurance, Disasters (temporary repairs) and Public Adjusters
- City of Rockford, Building Permits and Roofing Permit Application
- Winnebago County, Building Division and Building Permit Application
