Chicago Roofing Secret Revealed

This upscale Chicago suburb is not a glittering, golden El Dorado. But it may be the next best thing to it for A&J Roofing Services of Aurora, IL.

The 10-year-old roofing company is on a year-long tear. Owner/operator Jose Martinez and his 10-person crew are running the table on a flurry of cedar shake roof replacement projects across the community.

There’s no marketing involved, not even a yard sign. Homeowners track them down motivated solely by neighborhood buzz. One area material supplier predicts A&J will be busy in the community for years.

Secret Revealed

A&J’s secret? They’re the first to offer a premium, next-gen roofing solution based on the de facto standard of roofing durability and quality: all-natural slate.

“We work with all the high-end roofing products, such as wood shakes, copper, DaVinci Brava, you name it,” the veteran roofer says. “In late 2025 I was at a trade show and learned about a slate product that’s lightweight, affordable and easy to install. I looked it over and thought, ‘Man, this is amazing. It checks all the boxes.’ In no time at all, I sold my first job, then another and another.” The product — called ReadySlate – is a high-performing, real slate option for architects, builders and roofing contractors.

Martinez knows all about the pros and cons of traditional slate. His firm stays away from it for that reason. But he also knows the idea of an all-natural, 100-year roof plays well to luxury homeowners that expect only the best.

7 Reasons

“Most see their home as an enduring family legacy. They’re not going to sell. ReadySlate makes perfect sense to that owner, especially in an HOA that prohibits synthetic materials on the home exterior,” Martinez explains.   

The roofing contractor cites at least seven other reasons why next-gen ReadySlate is a new business catalyst:

1. Price. “It surprises owners to learn all-natural ReadySlate competes well with plastic and composite products. They think if a composite costs $150 [thousand] and ReadySlate is just 10-12% more, why not go with the real thing?” asks Martinez. “One lady thought ReadySlate would be a lot more than cedar shake replacements. She was happy to see it prices out about the same. We start ReadySlate on her house next week.”
2. Installation. In a word, it’s easy. No special tools. No ‘old world’ specialization.  None of the complexity associated with traditional slate installation. “We were super careful on the first install. We’ve cut that installation time by at least half,” reports Martinez, noting patented ReadySlate panels are composed of four hand-quarried pieces of natural slate. The uniform modular design is a faster, more precise way to work, even with low-pitch roofs.
3. Weight. At 400 lbs per square, ReadySlate does not require special roof support. Jim Olowinik, territory sales representative for ReadySlate, affirms, “ReadySlate is good to go on any structure that meets today’s code.”
4. Insurance. Concerned by surging fire claims from cedar shake roofs, many home insurers actively discourage cedar shakes, penalizing homeowners with higher premiums and deductibles. ReadySlate is non-combustible and Class A fire rated. It’s also Class 4 rated for hail impact.
5. All-Natural. ReadySlate complies with the all-natural material mandates some HOAs require. ReadySlate becomes an attractive option between other natural candidates like clay tiles and cedar shakes.
6. Availability. Nationwide. Just present roof measurement to your building supply dealer and ask them to price it with ReadySlate. ReadySlate maintains three regional warehouses and ships to any U.S. location.
7. Support. “My ReadySlate rep is on top of everything. When I’m in front of a prospective customer, I know I can call my rep with a question and he’ll pick up right away,” Martinez says. Hands-on field training and a limited lifetime warranty are included.

For Jose Martinez and his A&J team, ReadySlate represents a valuable new dimension to their service, differentiating them from competitors who focus solely on synthetics. For now, they enjoy near-exclusivity across Chicago’s upscale communities. “I like to see a smile on the homeowner. If they’re happy, I’m happy. ReadySlate is perfect.”

Learn how READYSLATE can deliver lasting performance, complete waterproofing, and a premium roofing solution for your next project.