Englewood General Contractor
Englewood is a two-flat and greystone neighborhood, and renovating here means knowing that housing stock: century-old masonry, balloon framing, knob-and-tube behind the plaster, cast-iron stacks, and the duplex-down income units that make these buildings work. As a licensed Chicago general contractor (Class D #TGC132820) that self-performs its core trades, we renovate Englewood homes and buildings correctly — with the permits, the structural know-how, and pricing the design-build firms working the North Side won’t match.
What Englewood Renovations Cost
The honest tiers we publish for the whole city apply here. Kitchens and baths run from a refresh at $8,000–$20,000 up to a full remodel at $20,000–$50,000; a full single-unit gut runs $100,000–$250,000 depending on finish level, and a complete two-flat gut rehab starts around $150,000 — often well past $200,000 depending on scope, unit count, and finish quality. Englewood’s variable is the building itself: pre-1930 masonry and balloon framing often add electrical, plumbing, and structural scope newer neighborhoods don’t see — which is why every estimate carries a written contingency instead of a surprise.
Two-Flats & Income Units
Englewood is a two-flat neighborhood, and a huge share of our work here involves multi-unit buildings: renovating both units of a two-flat, finishing a duplex-down income unit in the basement, or turning a whole building for an investor. That means coordinating multiple kitchens and baths, understanding shared plumbing stacks and separate utilities, and building rental-grade finishes that hold up to tenants while still looking sharp. We’ve done exactly this on completed Englewood greystones — it’s the core of what we do in the neighborhood.
Greystones, Done Right
Englewood’s greystones and brick two-flats are beautiful, durable buildings — but a century of age means knob-and-tube wiring, cast-iron waste stacks, plaster over lath, and foundations that have settled. We don’t paper over those realities; we open the walls, assess what’s actually there, and bring the building up to code as part of the renovation. The result is a home that keeps its greystone character but works like a modern house: updated electrical, sound plumbing, proper insulation, and finishes built to last.
Common Questions
Do you work on two-flats and multi-unit buildings in Englewood?
Yes — multi-unit work is the core of what we do in Englewood. We renovate both units of a two-flat, finish duplex-down income units, and turn entire buildings for investors. We’ve completed full gut rehabs on Englewood greystone two-flats start to finish.
Are you licensed and do you pull permits in Englewood?
Yes. Every Englewood project is pulled under our Illinois general contractor license (Class D #TGC132820), permitted through the City of Chicago, and inspected. For housing stock this old, working with a licensed GC isn’t optional — it’s the only way to renovate without inheriting someone else’s shortcuts.
Can you handle a full gut rehab on an old greystone?
Absolutely — it’s our specialty here. We open the walls, deal with the knob-and-tube, cast-iron stacks, and settled foundations, and bring the building up to code while keeping its greystone character. We’ve documented two completed Englewood gut rehabs you can see in our portfolio.
Why should an Englewood investor work with you over a cheaper crew?
Because we self-perform our core trades, the general contractor’s margin stays in your budget instead of going to a sub-of-a-sub — a real cost advantage for BRRRR and fix-and-flip deals. And unlike an unlicensed crew, the work is permitted and inspected, so you’re not buying a building full of code violations at resale or refinance.
We’ve completed two full gut rehabs in Englewood. Most contractors who claim the neighborhood have done zero.
A century-old greystone, brought back to life — structure, systems, and finishes, done right.
Four Ways We Work Here
Before & After
Renovating in Englewood?
Tell us what you’re thinking — we’ll follow up within 24 hours with a free line-item estimate. Just west of Racine? We also serve West Englewood.