Author name: Donny Zanger

By Donny Zanger • Published October 27, 2026 • Updated October 27, 2026 Commercial buildout Chicago projects share one pattern: approvals first, construction second. Most spaces need zoning approval, drawings from an Illinois architect, and a city building permit before work starts. Budget about $50 to $180 per square foot for an office and $200

Published: September 29, 2026  |  Updated: September 29, 2026 A garage conversion in Chicago turns unused parking space into a home office, gym, guest suite, or rentable coach house. Simple conversions with no plumbing cost the least. A full coach house with a kitchen and bath costs the most. It also falls under the city’s

By Donny Zanger Published: September 22, 2026 Hiring a deck builder in Chicago means budgeting $6,000 to $22,000. In most cases, it also means pulling a city permit first. Skip the permit, and you risk a stop-work order now. You also risk a stalled home sale later. This guide covers real Chicago permit rules, current

By Donny Zanger Published: September 15, 2026 Chicago condo renovation rules almost always ask for two approvals, not one. First, you need sign-off from your HOA board. Second, big projects also need a city permit. Illinois law lets boards review any work on shared walls, pipes, or the building’s frame. Skip either step, and your

By Donny Zanger Published: September 8, 2026  |  Updated: September 8, 2026 Illinois has no statewide contractor license. Chicago issues its own, through the Department of Buildings, in five classes based on project size. You can check any contractor’s license status for free, in about five minutes, before you sign anything. That one step catches

By Donny Zanger Published: September 01, 2026  |  Updated: September 01, 2026 The clearest Chicago roof replacement signs are curling or missing shingles, a roof past 20-25 years old, water stains inside the home, a sagging roofline, and daylight visible through the attic boards. Any one of these on its own is worth a professional