Straight Answers for Chicago Property Owners
Building violations, permits, porches, brick, concrete and roofs, explained by a Chicago contractor that fixes them. In English and Spanish.
Building violations, permits, porches, brick, concrete and roofs, explained by a Chicago contractor that fixes them. In English and Spanish.
Do deck stairs need footings in Chicago? What the City's 2011 porch guidance says about footing depth, what inspectors check, and when a permit applies.
Read →Porches · Quick answerBuilding a new covered porch in Chicago needs a plan-based permit, not an Express one. What counts as new, what is repair, and who draws the plans.
Read →Porches · ArticleUnsafe porch violation in Chicago? Find out where your case goes, what to fix first, what proof to bring, and what happens if you ignore the notice.
Read →Porches · ArticleSteel vs wood porch in Chicago: how each fails in freeze-thaw weather, what City permit rules say about switching, and how to choose for your building.
Read →Porches · ArticleA porch sagging floor means rot, a failed connection or a sinking support. How to find the cause, what a real fix involves, and when a permit applies.
Read →Porches · ArticleBack porch roof repair in Chicago: why porch roofs leak, how to tell a patch from a rebuild, and where permits come in. Free estimates from Akats.
Read →Porches · ArticleFront porch repair on a Chicago brick home: steps, piers, mortar joints and railings, which jobs need a permit, and what to check before hiring.
Read →Porches · ArticleRotted back porch stairs in Chicago: where they fail, which fixes need no permit, when stringers force a rebuild, and what to check before you call.
Read →Porches · ArticleClosing in a back porch in Chicago is not a quick Express permit. What the City says, why drawings come first, and what to settle before you build.
Read →Porches · ArticleA porch rebuild in Chicago, step by step: assessment, drawings, permit, footings, framing, inspection and closeout. What happens, and who does what.
Read →Porches · ArticleBack porch replacement cost in Chicago depends on drawings, permit path, footings, rot and size. The real cost drivers and what to ask before you sign.
Read →Porches · ArticleRepair the porch or replace it? How Chicago owners can tell, what the City's permit rules mean for the choice, and the signs that say stop patching.
Read →Porches · What went wrongPorch posts rotting at base fail where you can't see it. Why the bottom rots first, how to check, what Chicago requires to fix it, and the cost of waiting.
Read →Porches · What went wrongA gap between your porch and the wall means the connection is failing. Causes, warning signs, how Chicago porches get fixed, and why waiting costs more.
Read →Porches · What went wrongChicago porch compliance comes down to a handful of failures: rotted post bases, weak ledger connections, rusted fasteners, loose rails. How to pass.
Read →Porches · What went wrongIn 2003 a packed Lincoln Park porch fell and 13 people died. What investigators found, what Chicago changed, and what it means for your own porch today.
Read →Porches · Code explainerDoes Chicago inspect porches? No annual inspection is required for ordinary porches. What triggers a visit, what inspectors check, and how to be ready.
Read →Porches · Code explainerChicago porch railing height: the City's 42 inch figure is 2011 guidance, not current code. What to confirm and when a rail needs a permit.
Read →Porches · Code explainerChicago porch permit rules: painting and deck boards may not need one, structural repairs always do. What Express covers and what needs plans. Free quote.
Read →Porches · Code explainerWhat Chicago porch code requires: keep it sound and anchored, load ratings (and the 60 vs 100 psf conflict), and what DOB checks. Free porch estimates.
Read →Porches · ChecklistPrintable Chicago porch safety checklist for spring: posts, floor, stairs, railings, ledger and base, plus what to do when something fails. Free estimates.
Read →Porches · GuidePorch repair in Chicago: warning signs, repair or replace, permits, who can do the work, inspections and violations. A contractor's guide for owners.
Read →Permits and Licensing · Quick answerChicago lists a permit fee waiver for long-term homeowners 65 and older who meet income criteria. What the City says, what to confirm, and how to ask.
Read →Permits and Licensing · Quick answerA Chicago stop work order halts your job until the permit issue is fixed. What it means, what the City says it takes to resume, and what not to do.
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