Kitchen remodelers in Illinois

How to use this directory

Start with the service you need. Some companies do full kitchen remodels. Others do one part of a kitchen, such as countertops, cabinets or tile, and are marked Specialist. Pick a service in the search box and the list narrows to companies whose own websites say they do that work.

Then find your town. Every town page lists its companies with the Google rating, the review count and the date we checked. Chicago has an area filter for the North Side, Northwest Side, West Side, South Side and Downtown. The county pages for Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry and Kendall bring together the towns in each county, which helps when your own town has few companies.

Choose up to 3 companies to compare them side by side, then call the ones you like directly. Nobody sells your number.

What to check before you hire

A written contract. The Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act (815 ILCS 513) covers kitchen remodels. For work over $1,000 the company must give you a written contract to sign before work starts. It states the total cost, with parts and materials listed, and the company's business name and address. You must also get the state pamphlet, Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights. Never sign a contract with blank spaces. Contracts and lien waivers has the detail.

Insurance. The Act requires contractors to carry liability and property damage insurance unless their net worth is at least $1,000,000. Ask for proof. The Attorney General lists a refusal to show it as a warning sign.

Local licensing. Illinois has no statewide general contractor license. Chicago licenses general contractors and has an online lookup. Other cities and villages ask for permits or registration instead, and plumbers are licensed by the state.

Permits. Permits are local. Chicago says cabinets and countertops alone need no building permit when there are no plumbing or electrical connections. Other cities differ, and some do not say, so ask your building department. See permits, city by city.

Lien waivers. Before you pay, ask for the sworn statement of who supplied labor and materials. The state pamphlet also advises getting lien waivers from contractors and subcontractors if appropriate. Ask a lawyer about the details.

Lead-safe work. For homes built before 1978, EPA rules require paid remodelers who disturb painted surfaces to be certified in lead-safe work practices, with a small-job exception. Ask before you sign.