residential Illinois license

Animated Dirt

I've been a carpenter and general tradesman for 45 years - just got a letter that I will need a Illinois roofing license to get future roofing permits. Any advice?

Grumpy

You JUST got this letter? It's been the law that a roofing license is required to roof for quite some time.

I smell storm chaser. Hire a licensed sub contractor, problem solved.... but you'll have to pay more than $50 a square that the unlicensed improperly insured subs charge.

__________________
-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

red_cedar

since 86' pretty sure

Animated Dirt

Grumpy,

You may be like a guy that only has a hammer and views all the world as a big nail with this "storm chaser" stuff. I started carpentry in '65 and have been doing it ever since. I was told that I'm covered by the city license. Since getting the letter I am in pursuit of the license - the books are on the way. I'll have other work to do until then.

Grumpy

I can't beleive that this is the first time you are hearing about a roofing license requirement in the state of IL if you've been in business almost 50 years. What part of the state are you located? I know some small villages don't require permits and some might not require the state license to get the permit, but regardless if you were doing roofing without the state license you were breaking the state law. Thank God nobody sued you, or else you would have lost the suit on those grounds alone "Operating in a licensed trade without a license. Dismissed." I have heard it before from many unlicensed guys who would still be unlicensed but only got their license because someone stiffed them money and they had no legal recourse to collect.


I bring up the "storm chaser" due to recent storms that hit in IL that has brought a MASSIVE SURGE of out of state contractors or general contractors looking to hop on the gravy train of insurance pay outs.


Put the two together and what other conclusion can I come up with? I am more than happy to help any contractor who wants to be legit, but I do not consider storm chasers legit. Convince me and I'll help to the best of my ability.

__________________
-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

roofing for Jesus

What is the prosess to becoming a licensed roofer?

Where I live you don't need a permit to do a roof as far as I know. I have never heard of anyone getting one.

You don't even need a permit to build a house as long as it's not in city limits.

I have been wondering about getting a license.

Animated Dirt

Grumpy,

It's not the first time I've heard about the license, but remember there was no internet, I barely had TV (I had no cable), I was making 7$/hour in the 80's and I went to the city attorney who told me the city didn't require state roofing license - as long as I was satisfying the requirements of the city (liability insurance, contractor license) I was covered. That has been the case until now. I have put on roofs, removed the same roof after 20 years, put on a new one and removed/replaced that one during this 45 years.

As far as "storm chasing", no tragedy a thing to waste, profiting from a bad situation, I have no interest in any of that. Our church has helped with those situations - both sending money and labor to Katrina victims.

I understand how you could find a more informal view of these things foreign to you living in Chicago. I've heard some stories at Kiwanis from an old doctor whose dad was a labor union boss in Chicago. I had a thread on Fine Home Building's forum once asking what it was like to work construction in New York City - a different world. Nevertheless, I have been interested in making a living for my family, enjoying my work, giving people good value, and contributing to the well being of the city and country rather than be a parasite. If you don't believe that I understand there are limits to this medium building trust, so that's ok.

I have the books now and will be studying for the test. There is an old carpenter in town in his 70's who is still roofing. So I'm studying the "Pocket Guide to Safety". I have been fortunate - never fell off a roof, all fingers, both eyes. I don't think it should be illegal to work, and I don't have any leaking roofs or unhappy customers, and don't aim to. Somebody came along and passed through a law that has a obstacle course to navigate to pass this test - but that doesn't make you honest or careful in itself. It's a tax and a means of doing things more in the direction that you indicate you disdain - taking unfair advantage.

By the way, I do a lot of things other than roofing. We even replaced the rim on a 35 seat canoe recently and put a teak deck in a boat. The thing that gets me is that the state would come along and throw a wrench into honest people doing honest work just because of a few abusers. The customers in the small city I live in are fully capable of discerning who can do leak proof roofs and who can't and they can also take care of disqualifying them - without the state's help BTW.

I'm not seeing much so far in this book that applies. There are only 5 questions on the test that apply to roofing. How can you honestly stand on a lofty perch and defend this license as credentials to good work? You can educate dishonest people and have educated crooks - armed and ready to extort. I'm just making a living here, and plan to continue. And though there are no end to laws being generated, in reality I am not a law breaker just because they have generated a new one. And I think a legalistic attitude would make a guy grumpy.

Valley.Guy

See testing services at the following link:

http://www.continentaltesting.net/Pr...ty=2&ProfID=60

See specific requirements for the State of IL at the following links:
http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/who/roof.asp
and
http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/apply/roof.asp

Good Luck!

jimsonburg

Train first to become a roofer by enrolling in an apprenticeship program or construction training course. You will need to obtain the certification that makes you eligible to take the licensing exam. Although an extensive knowledge of roofing is required to pass the exam, a college degree isn't necessary.

Grumpy

So you're a handy man that wants a roofing license but you can't pass the test and don't understand since you do so many other things besides roofing? LOL

That's the reason for the exam.

__________________
-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing