Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling Questions

DuPage County and the western suburbs, the Palos area and southwest suburbs, and Chicago neighborhoods including Lincoln Park, the Gold Coast and Beverly. See the full list on our service areas page.

Yes. Many owners remodel a kitchen and a bathroom in the same project, which keeps it to one plan, one crew and one schedule.

Call or text (630) 888-2161, or send the form on our contact page. Photos of the space by text help us prepare for the walkthrough.

Yes. Condo and high-rise remodels in Chicago mean working with building management on hours, elevators and paperwork. Bring your building's rules to the walkthrough.

We show it to you before it is repaired and explain what it adds to the job. Nothing gets covered up.

It depends on scope and on lead times for cabinets and stone. Ordering usually takes longer than the construction itself, which is why materials are ordered before demolition starts. We give you a schedule with the estimate once the scope is set.

Not during a full remodel. Most families set up a temporary kitchen in another room with the refrigerator, a microwave and a small counter. We plan the sequence so the time without a working kitchen is as short as possible.

Cabinets, countertops, appliances and the sink should be chosen before ordering, because everything else is sized around them. Paint colors and some hardware can wait until later in the job.

Often, yes. If the wall is load-bearing it needs a beam sized for the load, and anything running inside it — ductwork, plumbing vents, wiring — has to be rerouted. We check this at the walkthrough.

Quartz is uniform and needs no sealing. Granite and quartzite are natural stone with unique patterns and need periodic sealing. Both hold up well in a family kitchen; it mostly comes down to the look you want.

Yes. Condo work in Chicago means working with building management on hours, elevator reservations, insurance paperwork and sometimes restrictions on what can be moved. Bring your building's rules to the walkthrough.

Layout and storage make the biggest difference in daily use. Cabinets to the ceiling, a well-sized island and good lighting are the upgrades owners notice most.

It depends on the floor. Tile and many hardwoods can go in first; some floating floors should go in after. We decide this when the scope is set.

Often, yes. Bring it up at the walkthrough so we can look at what is there and plan the transition.

A hall bath or powder room takes less time than a primary bathroom with layout changes. Tile work and waterproofing have cure times that cannot be rushed. Once the scope is set we give you a schedule with the estimate.

Yes. Tub-to-shower conversions are one of the most common bathroom projects. The tub comes out, the drain is moved to suit the shower, and a waterproof shower is built in its place.

It is common in older bathrooms. If we find rot, soft subfloor or mold when the walls come open, we show you before repairing it and explain what it adds to the job.

Often, yes, but it depends on the floor structure. A curbless shower needs the floor recessed or sloped to the drain, which is easier over a basement or crawlspace than on a slab or in a condo. We check this at the walkthrough.

In most homes it makes sense to keep at least one tub somewhere in the house, which is why many owners convert the primary bath to a large shower and keep a tub in a hall bath.

Yes. Electric radiant heat goes under the tile during the remodel and runs on its own thermostat.

Most remodels that change plumbing or electrical need one. Requirements vary by town, so it is part of the planning conversation for your project.

A full remodel takes the room out of service. If it is the only bathroom in the house, tell us early so we can plan the sequence around that.

Small tile such as mosaic or penny tile follows the slope to the drain and gives better grip. With a linear drain, larger tile can work.