All Forum Posts by: Ann Folan

Vollmar Clay Products at 5835 W Touhy will have what you need if you are still looking. Underground construction materials (aka sewer stuff) is their specialty. Henry Frerk on Belmont would be my next guess, but Vollmar is guaranteed to have it.

Hi Mark, We are a licensed GC and we live in Park Ridge. We work mostly in Chicago but have done Park Ridge projects as well and historic rehabs are one of our specialties. Feel free to pass on out contact information.

@Jerry N. we are in Chicago and we have rented them (not Build Clean brand but another just as effective unit). We have now purchased our own and it is one of the best things we have ever purchased. We do almost exclusively large-scale, complete gut re-habs on our rentals so a crazy amount of dust, dirt and general yuck. Buy a lot of filters and change them often, but those things are a game changer. Call some of the bigger construction equipment rental places and they have them - again maybe not Build Clean but a similar system, just explain what it is you are looking for and they will figure our what you need.

If I remember correctly - Mr. Porch will do the drawings and they get the permits. You may not need an architect at all for a porch project. Just a thought if you don't have drawings yet.

Try these guys, I believe they are called LJ Iron (847)966-1100. Hope that helps!

For what it worth, we have started adding in-unit laundry to all our re-habs. But we are in A-B northside neighborhoods and it is a huge selling point when renting. In our one Avondale rental that we did just cosmetic re-hab (all others are complete gut) we left the existing communal laundry in the basement - and rented all units in less than a week in the middle of quarantine. Granted it is a hot neighborhood but one tenant told us the laundry was the deciding factor. Our vacancy rate is very, very low. But as indicated above, very neighborhood dependent I think.

I love Andersonville and we have done a few projects there. However, our projects have been in the other direction - deconverting 2-flats to single families. There is a big push from Andersonville residents to downzone properties and not allow multi-families, specifically to block knocking down single families and building 3 unit+ buildings. So depending on where you are located, getting zoning moved up from an RS3 to RS4 may be next to impossible.

As mentioned above (Prashanth is spot on regarding the process), my first step would be a call to the alderman's office and/or a discussion with an experienced zoning attorney that is familiar with the area. Andersonville has very vocal and involved residents that may shoot you down before you even get to the stage of plans and permits. I would do that leg work before you invest any time or money!

The inside the closets idea is a good one - we have done that more than once. If you are willing to look through lots of salvage material try the Rebuilding Exchange - they have stacks and stacks of vintage trim, doors, windows, etc. https://www.rebuildingexchange.org/warehouse

If you want to go new and get it milled to match the existing you will need a lumber yard with a millwork shop. Owl usually has a pretty extensive collection of trim: https://www.owlhardwood.com/

Hope that helps!

@Gary Guidi Congratulations, beautiful building! What neighborhood did you purchase in? 

@John Warren is spot on - do not hold your breath waiting for PEX to come to Chicago. There was a pilot program last year, very limited and very mixed results. I don't see it happening across the board anytime soon, I would advise against delaying projects waiting for it.