Past Projects 1
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
In keeping with the theme of our site to be easy to
navigate and informative, we are limiting the scope
of these past project samples to larger scale
projects in the hope of giving you some idea of the
project progression of before, during, and after.
The photos can be enlarged by clicking on the
thumbnail image on any photo. We hope you enjoy
your perusal through these projects and if you
have any questions or comments please feel free
to use our contact page to send us your thoughts.
navigate and informative, we are limiting the scope
of these past project samples to larger scale
projects in the hope of giving you some idea of the
project progression of before, during, and after.
The photos can be enlarged by clicking on the
thumbnail image on any photo. We hope you enjoy
your perusal through these projects and if you
have any questions or comments please feel free
to use our contact page to send us your thoughts.
This project, a 22' wide by 26' deep, garage was started in November 2007 with the
application for permits in unincorporated Lake County. The project is located within the
floodplain of Diamond Lake near Mundelein, Illinois and the permit process was a 3
month duration. A Topographical survey was needed prior to the first inspection and
also a township road right of way permit needed to be issued prior to any land grading
and excavation. The permits for the site and building were finally issued in January
2008, just in time for the winter freeze so the project was delayed until the end of March
2008 before excavation for the slab could be started and the concrete forms set. The
floodplain required the forms to be set at a level not to exceed 4" to 6" above the base
flood elevation. Once the forms were set the site plan inspector came to approve the
pouring of the concrete slab. By the time the concrete was poured and set enough to
start building it was the 3rd week of April 2008. Finally the building could be
constructed. The customer required an 8' high overhead door installed which required
the walls to be 9' walls instead of the typical 8' walls thus 10'x 2" x 4" treated lumber was
used instead of 8' lumber. Also because the of the building being located in the flood
plain the structure had to be built with treated lumber and the first row of sheeting had
to be treated plywood. Also included were flood vents located at the base of the 3 walls
you will see in the photos. The following photos show the project progression through
the construction process.
application for permits in unincorporated Lake County. The project is located within the
floodplain of Diamond Lake near Mundelein, Illinois and the permit process was a 3
month duration. A Topographical survey was needed prior to the first inspection and
also a township road right of way permit needed to be issued prior to any land grading
and excavation. The permits for the site and building were finally issued in January
2008, just in time for the winter freeze so the project was delayed until the end of March
2008 before excavation for the slab could be started and the concrete forms set. The
floodplain required the forms to be set at a level not to exceed 4" to 6" above the base
flood elevation. Once the forms were set the site plan inspector came to approve the
pouring of the concrete slab. By the time the concrete was poured and set enough to
start building it was the 3rd week of April 2008. Finally the building could be
constructed. The customer required an 8' high overhead door installed which required
the walls to be 9' walls instead of the typical 8' walls thus 10'x 2" x 4" treated lumber was
used instead of 8' lumber. Also because the of the building being located in the flood
plain the structure had to be built with treated lumber and the first row of sheeting had
to be treated plywood. Also included were flood vents located at the base of the 3 walls
you will see in the photos. The following photos show the project progression through
the construction process.
Empty Site
Image #1
Image #1
Framed walls & roof
trusses - Image #2
trusses - Image #2
Framed walls rear of
building - Image #3
building - Image #3
Building wrapped with
typar, roof sheeted and
shingled, service doors
& window installed -
Image #4
typar, roof sheeted and
shingled, service doors
& window installed -
Image #4
Rear of building
showing wrap,
window, service door &
flow vents - Image #5
showing wrap,
window, service door &
flow vents - Image #5
First Choice Remodeling
Completed interior
showing electrical supply
& configuration including
garage door opener -
Image #6
showing electrical supply
& configuration including
garage door opener -
Image #6
Completed rear of garage
showing door, window,
siding, trim, light, and flow
vents - Image #7
showing door, window,
siding, trim, light, and flow
vents - Image #7
Completed side view
showing vents, side
service door & service door
light - Image #8
showing vents, side
service door & service door
light - Image #8
Completed front view of
garage showing closed
overhead door & front service
lights. All lights use motion
sensor activators - Image #9
garage showing closed
overhead door & front service
lights. All lights use motion
sensor activators - Image #9
This next project was a complete remodel of a garden apartment on the north side of Chicago near
Irving Park Road and Ashland Avenue. The project was started in September of 2007 and was
completed in October of 2007. The apartment had a problem with rats coming through the floor and
into the apartment from the kitchen and bathroom area. During an inspection of the apartment prior
to entering a proposal we found that the floor under the bathroom and kitchen had been washed out
due to the bath drain being broken. We assumed that the broken drain was there for a long time to
cause that much damage but under the hardwood floor for the bathroom, hallway, and kitchen the
sub floor had been washed away down to dirt and the gap between the dirt base and the hardwood
was about 8". That is plenty of room for rats to make their way into the building from the alley sewers
next to the building. The building owner had a strict budget for this project so we put the major
portion of the cost to the bathroom and floor and went with economy for the kitchen cabinets. In the
photos shown you will see how bad the area under the floor was and how it looks now.
Irving Park Road and Ashland Avenue. The project was started in September of 2007 and was
completed in October of 2007. The apartment had a problem with rats coming through the floor and
into the apartment from the kitchen and bathroom area. During an inspection of the apartment prior
to entering a proposal we found that the floor under the bathroom and kitchen had been washed out
due to the bath drain being broken. We assumed that the broken drain was there for a long time to
cause that much damage but under the hardwood floor for the bathroom, hallway, and kitchen the
sub floor had been washed away down to dirt and the gap between the dirt base and the hardwood
was about 8". That is plenty of room for rats to make their way into the building from the alley sewers
next to the building. The building owner had a strict budget for this project so we put the major
portion of the cost to the bathroom and floor and went with economy for the kitchen cabinets. In the
photos shown you will see how bad the area under the floor was and how it looks now.
Garage in a Flood Plain
Garden Apartment Remodel
This is the floor
looking at the
bathroom wall
down the hall
from the kitchen at
the start of the
concrete pour -
Image #1
looking at the
bathroom wall
down the hall
from the kitchen at
the start of the
concrete pour -
Image #1
This is looking through the
kitchen to the rear entry door
for the apartment standing
in the hallway during the
concrete pour - Image#2
kitchen to the rear entry door
for the apartment standing
in the hallway during the
concrete pour - Image#2
This is standing in the
bathroom entry looking at the
bathroom floor to where the
back of the bathtub will sit -
Image #3
bathroom entry looking at the
bathroom floor to where the
back of the bathtub will sit -
Image #3
This is standing in the rear
entry doorway looking through
the kitchen toward the hallway
that leads to the bathroom
and the other parts of the
apartment - Image #4
entry doorway looking through
the kitchen toward the hallway
that leads to the bathroom
and the other parts of the
apartment - Image #4
The completed
hallway shown in
image #1 above
with 1"x 6"
baseboard with
cap & shoe.
Tiles are 12" x
12" ceramic -
Image #5
hallway shown in
image #1 above
with 1"x 6"
baseboard with
cap & shoe.
Tiles are 12" x
12" ceramic -
Image #5
The above photos are of the completed kitchen. The area was real small in size and measured 11' x 10.5'.
We had to squeeze in the sink, stove and refrigerator on one wall and the other counter and cabinets on
the facing wall. Being a garden apartment we had the hot water heat pipes for the building running across
the ceiling above the whole unit and thus had to make sure we gave everything height clearance also. As
you can see it worked our fairly well - Image #'s 6, 7, 8, & 9
We had to squeeze in the sink, stove and refrigerator on one wall and the other counter and cabinets on
the facing wall. Being a garden apartment we had the hot water heat pipes for the building running across
the ceiling above the whole unit and thus had to make sure we gave everything height clearance also. As
you can see it worked our fairly well - Image #'s 6, 7, 8, & 9
Looking across the
finished hallway
from the bedroom
to the living room.
Image #10
finished hallway
from the bedroom
to the living room.
Image #10
Looking into the
bathroom at the
completed bathtub
and shower doors
from the bedroom
doorway - Image #11
bathroom at the
completed bathtub
and shower doors
from the bedroom
doorway - Image #11
The completed
bathtub, tub surround,
valve, spout & drain
assembly & shower
doors from inside the
bathroom - Image #12
bathtub, tub surround,
valve, spout & drain
assembly & shower
doors from inside the
bathroom - Image #12
The completed
bathroom showing the
toilet, vanity, medicine
cabinet & light bar, towel
rack, paper holder and
finished floor area with
baseboard - Image #13
bathroom showing the
toilet, vanity, medicine
cabinet & light bar, towel
rack, paper holder and
finished floor area with
baseboard - Image #13
The completed stairs
leading down into the
hall from the front
entry door to the
apartment - Image #14
leading down into the
hall from the front
entry door to the
apartment - Image #14