General Contractor in Chicago, IL
Every trade handled.
We plan, permit and build porches, decks, additions and structural changes for homes in Chicago and the suburbs.
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A Residential General Contractor for Chicago Homes
A general contractor runs your whole project. We plan the work, pull the permits, bring in the right trades and make sure every step passes inspection.
We work only on homes: bungalows, two-flats, greystones, frame cottages, condos and suburban ranches. Our crews are based on Chicago’s Northwest Side, and we come to your home for every step.
We handle structural and exterior projects from start to finish. That includes opening load-bearing walls, building and repairing porches, decks, home additions and the permit work that goes with them.
Our General Contracting Services
These are the projects we manage most often as a general contractor. Pick one to learn how we plan it, permit it and build it.
Load-Bearing Wall Removal
Removing or opening load-bearing walls safely: engineering, temporary supports, new beams and posts, permits and inspections. Common when opening up Chicago bungalows and two-flats.
Building Permit Services
We prepare the drawings, file building permits with the City of Chicago or your suburb, and schedule the inspections for remodels, additions, porches and structural work.
Porch Building & Repair
Building and rebuilding front and rear porches, including the wood porches common on Chicago two-flats and three-flats. Structural repairs, stairs, railings and code-compliant framing.
Learn more →Deck & Patio Building
Wood and composite decks with stairs and railings, plus patios for outdoor living. Built for Chicago winters, with footings, drainage and permits handled by our team.
Home Additions
Room additions and bump-outs that add living space to your home. We manage the foundation, framing, roofing and interior finishes, so the addition matches the rest of the house.
Learn more →What Does a General Contractor Do on a Home Project?
Most home projects need more than one trade. A new porch needs footings, framing, stairs and railings. Opening a wall can mean a new beam, moved wiring, a rerouted pipe and fresh drywall and paint. Someone has to put those steps in the right order and make sure each one is done right.
That is the job of a general contractor. You get one team that owns the plan, the schedule and the result. You do not have to chase separate crews or guess who is responsible when something goes wrong. You also get one person to call with questions.
On a Chicago-area home, that work usually includes:
- Measuring the house and writing a clear scope of work
- Getting drawings made when the permit requires them
- Filing the permit with the City of Chicago or your suburb
- Scheduling the carpenters, electricians and plumbers in the right order
- Booking inspections and fixing anything the inspector flags
Structural and Exterior Work in Older Chicago Homes
Much of Chicago’s housing is decades old. Brick bungalows, two-flats and three-flats often have wood porches at the back, interior walls that carry the floor above and framing that has been changed many times over the years. Before we open anything up, we check what is really holding the house together.
Weather matters too. Freezing winters, spring thaws and heavy rain are hard on porches, decks and stairs. Footings have to go deep enough to stay below the frost line, and outdoor wood has to be protected from standing water and snow.
Many homes around here were built before 1978, so old paint may contain lead. We are EPA Lead-Safe certified and set up the work area to keep dust contained when we cut into painted wood or plaster.
- Rear wood porches on two-flats and three-flats
- Load-bearing walls between kitchens and dining rooms
- Decks and stairs that need new footings
- Room additions and bump-outs that must match the existing house
How Do I Choose a Licensed General Contractor in Chicago?
Inside the city, most construction, alteration and repair work needs a contractor with a City of Chicago general contractor license. The City requires proof of insurance for that license. Many suburbs have their own contractor registration rules, so ask what your town requires. A good contractor will show you both right away.
Illinois law also protects homeowners. For home repair and remodeling jobs over $1,000, the contractor must give you a signed written contract and a copy of the state brochure called “Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights” before work starts.
Before you sign with anyone, ask these questions:
- Can I see your license and a current certificate of insurance?
- Who pulls the permit, and whose name is on it?
- Who is my main contact while the work is going on?
- Is the scope, schedule and payment plan written in the contract?
- Can I see photos of similar projects you have built?
Decks and Outdoor Projects We Have Built
Real outdoor projects built by the HQ Carpentry team for Chicago-area homes. See more in our project gallery.
How a General Contracting Project Works
Free home visit
We come to your home, look at the house and the space, and listen to what you want to build.
Plan, drawings and quote
You get a written scope and a fixed quote. When the permit needs drawings, we get them prepared.
Permits and build
We file the permit, schedule each trade in order and keep the site safe and clean.
Inspections and walkthrough
We meet the inspectors, fix anything they ask for and walk through the finished work with you.
Why Homeowners Hire HQ Carpentry as Their General Contractor
Licensed and insured
We have been licensed and insured since 2011, and we are EPA Lead-Safe certified for older homes.
One point of contact
You deal with one team from the first visit to the final inspection. No chasing separate crews.
Built for Chicago weather
Deep footings, sound framing and materials chosen to handle freezing winters and wet springs.
General Contractor FAQ
In most cases, yes. New porches, decks, additions and structural changes usually need a building permit, whether you live in the city or a suburb. Some small repairs may not, but the rules depend on the exact work and on your town. We check what your project needs during the visit. When the permit calls for drawings, we get them prepared, then we file the application and book the inspections. For a longer look at the steps, read our guide to planning and permits for a Chicago home addition. Building without a required permit can cause trouble later, for example when you sell the house or file an insurance claim.
Often, yes. Many Chicago bungalows and two-flats have a wall between the kitchen and dining room that carries the floor or roof above. It can usually be opened, but it has to be done the right way. The new beam and posts need to be sized for the load, and the weight has to be carried down to the foundation. We put up temporary supports while the old wall comes out. This work needs a permit and an inspection. We also check for wiring, pipes and ducts inside the wall before we start, because moving them is part of the job.
We do. As your general contractor, we bring in the trades your project needs and schedule them in the right order. On a porch or deck that might mean excavation for footings, then framing, then stairs and railings. On an interior wall removal it might mean the electrician and plumber moving lines before the beam goes in. We also make sure each trade is licensed where the work requires it. We coordinate the work, meet the inspectors and make sure each step is finished before the next one starts. You have one contact for the whole job, so you always know who to call and who is responsible for the result.
In some cases the City of Chicago lets a homeowner act as their own general contractor on their own primary residence, with limits on the type of building and the work. But then you take on the job of hiring every trade, keeping the schedule, meeting the inspectors and fixing whatever fails. On structural and exterior work, one mistake in the order of steps can cost a lot of time. Many homeowners find it easier to hire one licensed team. If you are comparing contractors, our guide on finding a licensed general contractor in Chicago covers what to check before you sign.
The biggest factors are the size of the project, the structural work involved and the materials you choose. A porch rebuild depends on its size, the number of levels and stairs, and whether the footings can be reused. A wall removal depends on the length of the opening and the beam it needs. Drawings, permit fees and the condition of older framing all play a part too. In many Chicago-area homes, we only learn the full picture once we look closely at what is already there. After the free home visit, we give you a fixed written quote, so you know the price before any work starts.
Get a Free General Contracting Estimate
Tell us about your porch, deck, addition or wall project, and we will come to your home to look at it. Call us at (773) 968-3606 or send the form at the top of this page. We are available Monday through Friday 7 AM to 7 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday 9 AM to 3 PM.
Serving Chicago and the suburbs · Licensed & Insured
We come to your home. No charge, no obligation.
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