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.
Tuckpointing and waterproofing are not the same job. Why sealing brick right after repointing can trap moisture, and the water fixes that work better.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · ArticleCan you tuckpoint just the front of a Chicago two-flat? When a front-only job makes sense, when it does not, and what to put in writing before work starts.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · ArticleTuckpointing a chimney fixes failed mortar joints, not leaning, bad crowns or crumbling brick. How to tell which you have, and what drives the cost.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · ArticleCan you DIY tuckpointing on a Chicago building? Where owners can safely help, where the permit and the mortar rules stop you, and when to call a mason.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · ArticleHow do you know if you need tuckpointing? Crumbling mortar, open joints, water stains and spalling brick, plus signs that mean something else. Free quote.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · ArticleWinter tuckpointing in Chicago: the temperature lines masons work to, what protection looks like, and when waiting for spring is the smarter move.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · ArticleHow long tuckpointing lasts depends on mortar, joint depth, weather and water, not a fixed number. What to ask for, and when to inspect your brick.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · ArticleTuckpointing or repointing? For most Chicago brick jobs they mean the same work. Here is where the words split, and what to put in a quote instead.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · ArticleWhat drives tuckpointing cost in Chicago: wall area, joint depth, height, hidden repairs, mortar match and permits. How to compare bids. Free estimates.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · What went wrongBrick mortar turned to sand means the joint lost its binder. What usually failed, the warning signs, how the repair is done right, and the cost of waiting.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · What went wrongHard portland cement mortar on old brick makes the brick, not the joint, take the damage. Why it happens, the warning signs, and how it gets fixed.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · What went wrongTuckpointing mistakes we see on Chicago brick: hard mortar, shallow joints, mismatched color, bad weather, no dust control. Signs and fixes.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · Code explainerCrumbling mortar can be a tuckpointing building violation in Chicago. What the exterior maintenance code says, who it covers, and what to do next.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · Code explainerChicago treats tuckpointing as permitted masonry work. What the Express Permit covers, who can pull it, and the one small exemption. Free estimates.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · ChecklistThe best time to tuckpoint in Chicago depends on temperature, not the calendar. Printable checklist to plan, book and protect the work. Free estimates.
Read →Tuckpointing and Mortar · GuideTuckpointing in Chicago explained: signs you need it, the right mortar, permits and licenses, season, cost drivers and mistakes to avoid. Free estimates.
Read →Porches · Quick answerConcrete stairs vs wooden stairs for a Chicago porch: how each one fails in freeze-thaw, what the City checks, and why footings matter more than material.
Read →Porches · Quick answerPorch inspection after repair in Chicago: how to request the permit inspection online, what changes with an open violation, and what to bring.
Read →Porches · Quick answerIs a Chicago porch DIY rebuild legal? Owners of a primary residence can act as their own contractor, but plans and inspections still apply.
Read →Porches · Quick answerChicago porch drawings required? Structural repairs and rebuilds need plans from an Illinois architect or structural engineer. Simple repairs may not.
Read →Porches · Quick answerPorch collapse warning signs on Chicago porches: movement, a gap at the wall, soft posts, loose rails. What to do the day you see one. Free estimates.
Read →Porches · Quick answerLooking for a Chicago porch and roof program? What we can confirm (a senior permit fee waiver), what we cannot, and who to ask.
Read →Porches · Quick answerChicago balcony code in plain English: balconies get the same upkeep rules and permit questions as porches, plus a separate rule for metal ones.
Read →Porches · Quick answerPorch post repair in Chicago: when rot can be fixed, when the post must go, and why a post is a structural permit item. Free estimates from Akats.
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