How to choose a kitchen remodeler in Illinois

Hiring a kitchen remodeler is a large decision. This guide goes in the order you will meet each step. Where the law says something, the section number is next to it. Where we found no official source, we say nothing rather than guess.

1. Know what the law covers

The Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act (815 ILCS 513) names kitchens in its list of covered work (Sec. 10). It covers a single-family home or a building with 6 or fewer dwelling units. It does not cover original construction of new homes or repairs to buildings with more than 6 units. Maintenance, service or repair jobs under $500 are carved out.

2. Get more than one estimate, in writing

The Attorney General's home repair page says to get more than one estimate and to get them in writing. The Attorney General's guide to choosing a contractor says to compare an estimate with those from at least two other contractors. It also warns against high-pressure sales tactics and prices that seem too good to be true. If a company charges for an estimate, the contract has to say so (Sec. 15).

For ideas about price, see kitchen remodel cost in Illinois. Those figures are survey estimates, not quotes, so only a written estimate tells you what a company will charge.

3. Check that the business is real

The Attorney General's guide says to verify the contractor's name and address and to visit the contractor's business office if possible. The Secretary of State's business entity search covers corporations, not-for-profit corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and limited liability partnerships. The state pamphlet adds that a contractor working under a name other than the real name must be incorporated or registered under the Assumed Business Name Act. Check with the Secretary of State, or with the county clerk for an assumed name.

Ask for references too. The Attorney General lists a contractor who refuses proof of insurance and references as a warning sign.

4. Check local licensing

Illinois does not require a state license for general contractors. The Attorney General says general contractors are not required to be licensed or certified, though they may need a permit from the municipality where they work. Cities and villages set their own rules, so what to check depends on where the kitchen is.

• Chicago. A City of Chicago general contractor license is required for most building construction, alteration, repair and demolition work in the city. The Department of Buildings issues it, in five classes by project size, and a license lasts one year. The license is inactivated automatically if the insurance policy expires. The city runs a licensed contractor lookup. See the Chicago directory page.
• Rockford. The city says general contractors are not required to be licensed. See Rockford.
• Schaumburg and Evanston. Schaumburg requires hired contractors to be registered before a permit is issued. Evanston requires each contractor working under a building permit to be registered with the city. See Evanston.
• Plumbing. Plumbing work in Illinois must be done by plumbers licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (225 ILCS 320/3). The department has a license verification page. An owner-occupant of a single-family home may do plumbing in that home under conditions the law sets.
• Electrical. State law lets each municipality require electrical contractors to register (65 ILCS 5/11-33-1). A contractor registered in one municipality cannot be forced to register again in another. Electrical contractors are registered or licensed by cities and villages.

The Attorney General's checklist puts it in one line: make sure the contractor has the appropriate licensing, registration and insurance. We do not verify licenses on this site, and a listing is not an endorsement.

5. Ask for proof of insurance

Illinois requires a home repair contractor to carry public liability and property damage insurance in the amount of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence of bodily injury and $50,000 per occurrence for property damage, unless the contractor has a net worth of at least $1,000,000 (Sec. 25). A second paragraph of Sec. 25 requires $10,000 per occurrence for home repair or remodeling not in conformance with applicable codes.

The statute does not say the contractor must show you a certificate. The state pamphlet tells homeowners to determine whether the contractor has the proper insurance, and the Attorney General lists refusing to provide proof of insurance as a warning sign. So ask, and take the answer seriously.

6. Get the pamphlet, then the written contract

For any contract over $1,000, the contractor must give you a copy of the pamphlet "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights" before the contract is executed (Sec. 20(a)). On a contract over $1,000 you sign and date an acknowledgment form and the contractor keeps the original. No written acknowledgment is required for a contract of $1,000 or under (Sec. 20(b)). The Attorney General publishes the pamphlet in English, Spanish and Polish.

Before work starts on a job over $1,000, the contractor must give you a written contract or work order to sign (Sec. 15). It must state the total cost, with parts and materials listed with reasonable particularity, and any charge for an estimate. It must also state the contractor's business name and address. If the contractor uses a post office box or mail service, it also states the contractor's residence address.

Section 15 does not require start and completion dates. The Attorney General's page and the pamphlet both list starting and estimated completion dates, and a schedule of payments, as things a contract should include. Ask for both. The pamphlet also says never to sign a contract with blank spaces or one you do not fully understand. If the contract has a binding arbitration clause or a jury trial waiver, the contractor must tell you before you sign and give you the choice to accept or reject each clause (Sec. 15.1). More detail is in kitchen remodel contracts and lien waivers in Illinois.

7. Be careful with payment

The Attorney General's warning signs include a contractor demanding cash payment or full payment before the job is complete, a contractor who asks for a check payable to a third party, and a contractor who offers to drive you to your bank to withdraw funds. The pamphlet says not to sign a certificate of completion or make final payment until the work is done to your satisfaction. Agree on the payment schedule in the contract.

8. Ask about lien waivers and the sworn statement

Under the Mechanics Lien Act (770 ILCS 60), a contractor who is not paid can put a lien on your lot and building, and subcontractors and suppliers have the same right. Before you pay the contractor, the contractor must give you, and you must require, a sworn written statement of the names, addresses and amounts due to everyone who furnished labor or materials (Sec. 5(a)). The state pamphlet says you should also obtain lien waivers from all contractors and subcontractors if appropriate. The Act does not define "lien waiver" in one place, and the pamphlet tells you to consult an attorney about your rights. The full picture is in the contracts and lien waivers guide.

9. Ask about lead-safe work if your home was built before 1978

The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule requires anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes built before 1978 to be certified, and their employees to be trained in lead-safe work practices. It applies to firms of any size, including sole proprietorships. The EPA's guide lists remodeling, electrical work, plumbing, painting preparation and carpentry among covered activities, and it requires contractors to give residents a lead pamphlet before starting.

Two exceptions matter. Minor repair and maintenance that disturbs 6 square feet or less of paint per room inside is not covered, but that does not include window replacement or demolition. The rule also does not apply to homeowners doing the work in their own pre-1978 home, unless they rent part of it, run a childcare center there or flip homes. The EPA administers the program in most states and has authorized a short list of states to run their own. Illinois is not on that list. EPA has a search for lead-safe certified firms. Chicago also reminds remodelers that lead-safe practices are required under city, state and federal law.

10. Ask who handles permits

The state pamphlet says homeowners should check with local and county units of government to determine if permits or inspections are required. Permit rules are set city by city. See kitchen remodel permits in Illinois for what 16 cities say on their own pages.

11. If something goes wrong

A violation of the Home Repair and Remodeling Act counts as a violation of the Consumer Fraud Act (Sec. 35(b)). The Attorney General's preferred way to file a consumer complaint is the online form on its site. The Attorney General's consumer fraud hotlines are 1-800-386-5438 in Chicago, 1-800-243-0618 in Springfield and 1-800-243-0607 in Carbondale.

Find a company

Every company in this directory is listed with its Google rating, the date we checked it and the services its own website says it offers. Start from your city page, such as Chicago, Naperville, Aurora, Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign, Joliet, Elgin or Evanston, or browse every city. Use the list of questions on the first call.