Illinois Residential Roofing Contractor

Key Concepts

OSHA Framework

• OSH Act of 1970 created OSHA. All employers are subject to federal OSHA unless the state has an approved state plan (state plans must be at least as strict as federal standards).
• Three key standards for construction:
• 29 CFR 1926 – Safety and Health Regulations for Construction Industry
• 29 CFR 1910 – General Industry Occupational Safety and Health Standards
• 29 CFR 1904 – Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
• The OSHA poster must be displayed in a prominent location. On construction sites where workers disperse daily, it must be posted at the location employees report to each day.

OSHA Recordkeeping (29 CFR 1904)

• Form 300 – Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (ongoing log)
• Form 300A – Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (must be posted Feb 1–Apr 30 annually, even if no incidents occurred)
• Form 301 – Injury and Illness Incident Report (individual incident detail, completed within 7 days)
• Employers with 10 or fewer employees in low-hazard industries are generally exempt from routine recordkeeping, but construction is NOT a low-hazard industry.

OSHA Inspections

• Programmed inspections – Planned/scheduled, based on high-hazard industries or random selection.
• Unprogrammed inspections – Triggered by complaints, referrals, accidents, fatalities, or imminent danger reports. These take priority over programmed inspections.

Illinois Residential Roofing Contractor Exam | 12 Questions (15%)

Key Concepts

Roof Decks (NRCA Chapter 2)

• Acceptable deck types: plywood, OSB, wood planks/boards
• Deck must support dead loads (roof system weight) + design live loads, and provide adequate fastener withdrawal resistance
• Solid sheathing = required under most asphalt shingles, self-adhering underlayment, and ice/water shield
• Spaced sheathing = acceptable under wood shakes and some tile systems; allows airflow beneath the covering
• Inspect deck before application: look for delamination (plywood), swelling (OSB), rot, bounce, or inadequate fastening

Underlayment (NRCA Chapter 3)

• Asphalt felt (organic): ASTM D226 Type I (No. 15) or Type II (No. 30); mechanically attached
• Synthetic sheets: Lightweight, high-strength polymer; mechanically attached; increasingly common alternative to felt
• Self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen (SBS): Adheres directly to deck; used as ice/water shield and full-coverage underlayment; requires clean, dry, primed substrate
• Single-layer mechanically attached = standard configuration for most asphalt shingle installs
• Double-layer mechanically attached = enhanced protection; required on lower-slope applications
• Underlayment is installed continuously over the full deck before shingles

Ice and Water Shield / Eaves Flashing

• Self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen membrane applied at eaves
• Required in Illinois wherever there is risk of ice dam formation
• Must extend from the eave edge to at least 24 inches inside the interior warm wall line (building's heated envelope)
• Also required in valleys on many jurisdictions; apply under all other underlayment layers

Key Concepts

Asphalt Shingles

• Composed of asphalt, fillers, reinforcing mat, and granule surfacing
• Three main types: three-tab (single-thickness), laminated/architectural (multi-layer, dimensional), and specialty (impact-resistant, designer profiles)
• Impact-resistant (IR) shingles are rated for hail-prone regions — know that this is a product-level specification, not a code mandate everywhere
• Installed in overlapping courses; earliest strip shingles ran 10–13½ inches × 36 inches

Roof Decks

• NRCA approves asphalt shingle attachment only to: structural wood panel decks (plywood/OSB), wood plank, or wood board decks
• Deck must be clean, dry, smooth, broom-clean, free of voids, and adequately attached before roofing begins
• Deck must support dead loads (roof system weight) plus design live loads and provide adequate fastener withdrawal resistance
• Minimum plywood/OSB thickness for most residential steep-slope: 7/16 inch (OSB) or 3/8 inch (plywood) for rafter spans ≤ 24 inches — verify local code
• Roofing contractor is responsible only for the visible deck surface — not slope, structural integrity, or subsurface conditions

Underlayment Types & Installation

• Type I (No. 15 felt): Lighter, traditional; used on lower-risk applications
• Type II (No. 30 felt): Heavier, greater tear resistance
• Self-adhering (peel-and-stick SBS): Used in valleys, eaves, and high-wind/ice-dam zones; fully bonded
• Synthetic underlayment: Lightweight, high-strength; increasingly common replacement for felt
• Configurations range from single-layer mechanically attached to double-layer to fully self-adhering — know which applies to new construction vs. re-cover
• Ice-and-water barrier (self-adhering underlayment) is required at eaves in ice-dam-prone areas, typically extending from the eave edge to a point 24 inches inside the interior wall line

Key Concepts

Membrane Types & Attachment Methods

• BUR (Built-Up Roofing): Multiple plies of felt mopped with hot bitumen; aggregate surfaced or cap sheet finish; minimum slope 1/4:12
• Polymer-Modified Bitumen: APP (atactic polypropylene, torch-applied) or SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene, cold-applied or hot-mopped); typically 2-ply systems
• EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer): Single-ply rubber membrane; attached via fully adhered, mechanically fastened, or ballasted (loose-laid) methods; minimum slope 1/4:12
• Thermoplastic (TPO/PVC): Heat-welded seams; attached mechanically or fully adhered; TPO and PVC are both hot-air weldable; minimum slope 1/4:12
• Liquid-Applied: Fluid coatings (silicone, acrylic, polyurethane) that cure to a seamless membrane; used for re-cover applications
• SPF (Spray Polyurethane Foam): Applied directly to substrate; must be protected by a coating or fleece-backed membrane immediately after installation; substrate types include concrete deck, insulated deck, nailable deck, and steel deck (per NRCA Chapter 1)

Roof Decks & Substrate Requirements

• Decks must be smooth, dry, structurally sound, and free of significant humps or depressions before membrane installation
• Nailable decks: Wood panels (plywood, OSB), wood planks, cementitious wood fiber, lightweight insulating concrete — allow mechanical fastener attachment
• Non-nailable decks: Structural concrete, steel — require adhesive attachment or specific fastener anchors
• Steel decks require SPF applied directly to the top surface; concrete decks are treated as non-nailable substrates for SPF purposes

Key Concepts

Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act (RILA) – Core Requirements

• All roofing contractors performing work in Illinois must be licensed under the RILA, administered by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
• A Qualifying Party is the individual responsible for the licensed business. They must pass the licensing exam and ensure the company operates in compliance with the Act.
• The Qualifying Party must be a full-time employee, officer, partner, or owner of the roofing business.

License Types & Application

• Roofing Contractor License – Required to contract for and perform roofing work on residential structures.
• Application requires: proof of surety bond, proof of insurance, completed application, and applicable fees.
• Licenses are issued for a 2-year term and must be renewed biennially.

Surety Bond & Insurance Requirements

• Roofing contractors must maintain a surety bond of $10,000 to protect consumers from incomplete or defective work.
• Required insurance includes general liability and workers' compensation (if employees are on payroll).
• Proof of current bond and insurance must be maintained throughout the license period — lapses can trigger suspension.

License Renewal, Expiration & Inactive Status

• Licenses expire every two years; renewal must occur before expiration to avoid lapse penalties.
• Inactive status is available for licensees not currently practicing; they cannot perform roofing work while inactive.
• Restoration of an expired license may require additional fees, and in some cases re-examination, depending on the length of lapse.