Whole-Home Renovations
Whole-home renovation in Chicago, one crew
Rimberio Construction has renovated Chicago homes since 1999. We take bungalows, two-flats, and greystones down to what works and rebuild the rest, with self-performing crews in carpentry, concrete, and excavation. About half of our clients stay in their homes while we work. We plan for that from day one.
The Work
What a whole-home renovation involves
A whole-home renovation in Chicago usually means taking the house back to its structure: demolition to the studs, framing corrections, new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, then insulation, drywall, and finishes, sequenced so inspections never stall the schedule. On most of our projects the kitchen and bathrooms anchor the design, because they carry most of the plumbing and most of the budget.
Structure comes first. Sagging joists, cut beams, and undersized headers are normal in an 80-year-old bungalow, and our carpentry crews correct them before anything gets covered. Where the work reaches the ground — underpinning a basement, replacing a failing wall — our own concrete and foundation crews handle it rather than a subcontractor we would have to schedule around.
Sometimes a gut renovation is the wrong tool. If the structure is too far gone, or zoning allows more house than the current footprint, we will tell you plainly that a new custom build is the better spend. We price renovate-versus-rebuild honestly, because we do both.
Budget
What a gut renovation costs in Chicago
Renovation pricing in Chicago varies more than any national average suggests, because the housing stock varies — a frame bungalow, a brick two-flat, and a greystone hide different problems behind their walls. These are the ranges we see on signed contracts:
| Scope | Typical range | What moves the number |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic renovation, no layout change | $60–110 per sq ft | Finish selections, floor condition |
| Full gut with new systems | $140–220 per sq ft | Mechanical scope, insulation, window count |
| Gut with structural or layout changes | $220–320 per sq ft | Steel, foundation work, masonry |
A useful screen is the 30 percent rule: when a renovation estimate passes 30 percent of the home’s market value, step back and compare the spend against selling, or against rebuilding on the same lot. It is a screen, not a law — on a block you love, in a house with good bones, exceeding it can still be the right decision.
Questions
Whole-home renovation questions we hear most
How much does it cost to gut a 1,500 sq ft house in Chicago?
For a full gut with new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, most 1,500 square foot Chicago houses land between $210,000 and $330,000. Structural changes, foundation repair, or high-end finishes push past that range; a cosmetic-only renovation costs well under it.
Is it cheaper to gut a house or rebuild it?
A gut renovation is usually cheaper when the structure and foundation are sound. Once a project needs a new foundation, new framing, and full systems, a rebuild often costs the same or less and delivers a tighter, better-insulated house. We price both paths on request.
What is the 30% rule for renovations?
It is a budgeting screen: if a renovation will cost more than 30 percent of the home’s current market value, compare that spend against moving or rebuilding before committing. The rule exists to force the comparison, not to forbid ambitious projects.
Is $300,000 enough to renovate a house in Chicago?
For most Chicago houses under 2,000 square feet, $300,000 covers a full gut renovation with quality finishes. It gets tight when scope adds structural steel, an addition, or foundation underpinning — that is when we stage the work in phases against the budget.
How long does a whole-home renovation take?
Plan on two to four months for design, pricing, and permits, then five to nine months of construction depending on scope. Houses with structural or foundation work run longer. We publish a week-by-week schedule before demolition and update it every Friday.
Talk through your house with us
Send floor plans, photos, or just an address. We will walk the property, tell you what we see, and give you a straight read on scope and sequence. Call (312) 555-0175 or write to info@rimberioconstruction.com. Rimberio Construction, 4218 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60641. Licensed, bonded, and insured in Illinois.