Renovation Is Most of Chicago's Construction
In a city with Chicago's building stock, much construction is renovation: kitchen and bath remodels, gut rehabs of two-flats and greystones, conversions of older commercial buildings, tenant improvements in office towers and retail corridors, and renovation of institutional and public buildings. Renovation disputes have their own character because new work meets old work, and the line between them is where many problems appear.
New Work, Existing Conditions and the Connection
When a renovation shows defects, there are usually three candidates: the new work itself, the existing building, and the connection between the two. A new hardwood floor that cups may reflect installation, moisture from an old basement or slab, or a failure to account for an uneven subfloor. Paul evaluates all three, using the scope documents to determine what the contractor was responsible for addressing and the field conditions to determine where the problem originated.
Tenant Improvements
Chicago tenant improvement work involves landlords, tenants and contractors, with lease work letters defining responsibilities and building standards defining materials and details. Paul evaluates the installed work against the construction documents, approved submittals and building standards, and identifies the party that performed the disputed work. Allocation under the lease is left to counsel.
Work in Occupied Buildings
Renovation in occupied buildings requires phasing, protection of occupants and existing finishes, controlled access and often night work. Defects in this setting may result from the installation, from inadequate protection, or from operations after turnover. Paul has managed this kind of work at O'Hare for nearly two decades and previously supervised renovation of City of Chicago facilities, including public safety buildings, for the Department of General Services. He evaluates whether the contractor planned and protected the work as the conditions required.
Rehabilitation Code Context
Renovation of previously occupied Chicago buildings may be permitted under the Chicago Building Rehabilitation Code (Title 14R) rather than the Building Code for new construction. That affects which requirements apply to the altered areas. Paul reviews the permit to determine the compliance path before addressing any code question within his experience. See Chicago construction code compliance and Chicago repair cost evaluation.
Documenting Before the Next Phase
In phased renovation, the next phase often covers the evidence of the last. Paul can document conditions before follow-on work proceeds, so that disputes about earlier phases can be resolved on a record rather than on memory.