WINDY CITY CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

We received estimates from several companies. Windy City's proposal astonished us with great detail in regards to services, materials, price, and timeline of the project.  That level of details separated this contractor from the others at the start, while the price was comparable. Our project was very complex and difficult, since the house is very old and had several additions. Windy City not only exceeded our expectations in approaching the new project but also addressed several other issues  that arose during the construction. They were always on time, very professional, very clean and informed us of the progress daily. We felt that they did really care about the job and us during the project.  It is nice to see that someone is taking so much pride in his work in a great old-fashioned way, not so common those days. 
We had experiences with other contractors and we would simply prefer not to comment on those. if you want to have a peace of mind, use Windy City.

They stuck with their original estimate - there were no surprises throughout the job. These guys were very very good, they explained everything and worked very hard to accomplish the project on time. When I signed the contract, Anita, the project manager told me I would love my new kitchen and she was 100% right - I really do love it. I will hire these guys again no doubt.

Everything went very well, the price was competitive, there were no delays, all the work was performed as promised and on schedule. The team Windy City sent was very good; they were clean and professional. In fact, we were shocked how clean these guys were! We have done some remodeling before so we were expecting a big  mess -- there was no mess with these guys! We are very pleased with the work Windy City did for us, in fact, we get complements that our house is the prettiest in the neighborhood. We highly recommend this company!

We found Windy City through our friend who hired them to do some exterior work. We visited their showroom in Wauconda; they have nice kitchen displays there; the proposal we got was very detailed, nothing was left out. Actually, we really appreciated their attention of details and the time they took to explain everything to us. We signed the contract and started our selection process. I was nervous about this project, as I feared living without the kitchen. I was very happy when Windy City provided a temporary set-up so I could still cook and have easy access to my fridge as construction went on. They were very clean and mindful of our space throughout the construction. It went really smoothly and the quality of craftsmanship exceeded my expectations. I love my new kitchen and would not hesitate to recommend these guys.

went very well. worked during a cold snap and did a very professional job

From the first day Joe brought the samples to my home, they were on time, Professional and very knowledgeable of their products. They put together a very accurate and detailed proposal that fit our budget and was very competitive with other contractors. From start to finish the project turned out much better than I expected and the quality of the work was by far, the best I have seen!!

1. Demolition and removal of old Siding  A+

2. Wrapping of the House and sealing the Windows A+

3. Installation of the Siding and Windows A+

4. The Caulking of the Hardie Board, by far the best Caulking job I have ever seen!!!!!  This guy was truly an expert, what a difference this makes in the finished product. A+++++++

I would Highly recommend Windy City and would use them again in a heart beat.

Things went super smooth.  The workmen removed all of the old siding and placed it into the removable trash bins.  Next they surrounded the house with 3/4" pink foam insulation and topped that with Hardie House Wrap.     The front porch posts and header were covered with Hardie NT3 Trim along with Azek and Aluminum.  The process took almost two weeks (we had some rain interruption). However, the result was beautiful.   Everything was cleaned up perfectly and the followup and double checking of the work was constant and  consistent.  These guys know how to put up Hardie Board in this part of the country.  It is beautiful!

I had 3 large windows and one sliding door installed. They had enough workers to do the demolition and install the windows and door in one day so my house was closed up when they left. It took another two days to add the casings inside and the trim on the outside. Everything went very smoothly. All my furniture was covered during the project and the work area was cleaned up each day. I am thrilled with my new windows and would use Windy City again.
They are also experts at installing James Hardie Siding. I had that done in 2005. They did a fantastic job.

Joe went above and beyond.  After the April, 2014 hail storm, he inspected my roof and found hail damage.  The insurance company's first inspection did not find hail damage.  Joe agreed to meet the insurance company inspector a few weeks later for a second inspection which resulted in hail damage being found.  I am in the process of selecting shingles and Windy City Construction will be performing the work in the near future.

The whole project from estimating to performing the work went very well.  Joe is a true professional and does what he says he will do and is very accessible to answer any questions or concerns.  They pay close attention to the details.

We started working with Windy City Construction and Design for our master bathroom remodel and we now won't use anyone else for any major home repairs/remodels.  We got quotes from multiple sources for the bathroom and they were competitive for what we wanted to have done and not "over the top" like one estimate.  They listened carefully to what we wanted, respected that we were attempting to stay on a budget but at the same time gave suggestions on how to best use the space.  Anita was professional, kind and always responsive.  The crew that came in (which included a plumber, electrician and carpenter) were always on time, respectful and happy to take time to talk to me and answer any questions.  Wes was the main carpenter on the job who spent the most time at our home and I couldn't have asked for someone more patient with a person like me who had no idea what they were getting into with a custom bathroom like this.  He made many suggestions of what he thought would look best with the tiles we picked out and made sure I was 100% happy with the choice before actually installing anything.
For the roof tear off in August, the job was done quickly and professionally.  The crew did their best to clean up all the nails that had fallen although we did find some after they left.  I think this would have been with any roof job though.  Joe was in charge of this job and again, was very communicative and responsive to all of my questions and concerns.
Windy City always took it upon themselves to obtain the necessary permits from our village and making sure things were done to the inspectors satisfaction.  I would use them again in a heartbeat and they will be the first ones we call when we are ready to do any further remodeling in our home.

This was a huge job!   We got several estimates.  Windy City Construction and Design were very knowledgeable about the product.  They looked at our house thoroughly, described the product and what we could expect.  Once the job started - I have to say we have NEVER worked with a contractor who was so great!  They were highly professional.  They were thorough in their bid and contract.  Then when it came time for the work - they followed through 100% of the time.  If they said they would be there - they were there.  If there was any change at all, I received a phone call.  Also, after the old cedar was ripped off, we decided to add new insulation, while we had the house exposed.  They handled that perfectly also.  Their work was done in a way that totally satisfied my husband and I, who are perfectionists.  The trim areas and around the windows was done beautifully.  They cleaned up every single day, so that the disruption to us was minimal.  And the house looks better than it has ever looked!  We are so happy with the Hardie Siding.....we love how it transformed our house.  I highly recommend Windy City Construction and Design.  They are a very high class company with integrity and outstanding workmanship, and are wonderful to work with.  We would definitely use them again!

Their price was very good, the men that did the job were excellent. I was glad I was home during work, because it seemed the details weren't relayed to workers and some choices they were going to make weren't the best for me. I would be sure to get every detail written down. Their price is very specific to what is listed to be done and changes will cost you more money.

Windy City Construction and Design: July 2006. Thank you for a job well done!  My husband had very definite plans and ideas regarding what he wanted done. The Windy City crew worked with and honored my husband's wishes 100% of the way even creating and offering helpful hints and suggestions; (Thank you Mark). Any fears and questions that arose were personally dealt with almost immediately by various members of the team; (Thank you Mark, Tim, and Kurt). We especially want to commend the siding crew. Those men are truly underpaid. They worked from the moment they arrived to the moment of departure - a full 10 hour day. Not only were they hard workers, they were polite and honored my request to please be more mindful of stray nails and screws on our neighbor's driveway. We are very pleased with the design they created for the face of the peaks. All of the neighbors were impressed by how hard working they were and how truly nice the house looks. We highly recommend Windy City to anyone who seeks any type of remodeling done to their home. Feel free to use our address and pictures to promote your company. We welcome any prospective customers to stop by and take a look.

Windy City Construction was recommended to me by a friend who does business with construction companies.
I didn’t find them on Angie’s List but they are the kind of company that should definitely be on the list, as I know the reason I’ve been a long time subscriber is to be able to find companies like this one when I need them.
 
They are the highest quality most reasonably priced remodeling/design/storm repair company we have ever worked with. 
 
They are very punctual, returned calls promptly if not immediately.
Joe (owner and nice guy) worked around our schedule.
Joe, and his master carpenter Wes and their crew proved to be expert craftsmen and complete gentlemen.
They were extremely careful and respectful of our home and family and pet and took extra precaution so as not to spill or mar or soil any surface.
  
Windy City impressed me with the fact that their entire crew were experts, full time tradesman and permanent employees of Windy City Construction.
They are fast, they are perfectionists, and my wife and I both agreed that this is the kind of attention to detail and pride in craftsmanship that one might expect from old world European craftsman.
Wes and crew fixed things they ran across that needed nailing, or wood that needed replacing  and an assortment of little fixes that one wouldn’t normally expect as these things were not spelled out in the agreement yet they did not raise the price any.
 
At one point in the job Wes was working on an area of our home that does not get a lot of light. My wife casually mentioned that this would be a good place for a window.
Wes agreed.
Wes talked to Joe, and then came back to us and asked us what we would like to see in terms of a window and no more than 90 minutes later there was a window there, the sunlight shone in, and it did not change the estimate!
 
Our house was starting to get a “tired” look, but now it looks like new with the renewed stone fire place and beautiful blending of the roof repair and siding replacement.
Windy City has actually given it curb appeal.
 
We have received compliments and inquiries from neighbors and passed on the pamphlet that Joe originally left with us.
 
Very happy, very pleased, very reasonable, very high quality, would highly recommend.

Anita (the project manager) and her crew did a great job.

SUMMARY:  We are absolutely, positively delighted with this bathroom redo experience and the final results are AWESOME!!!  It is likely we will simply use Windy City for the other work we are planning and not bother going out for bid.  Details of this project are provided below.

We noticed a wet spot on the kitchen ceiling and concluded something was leaking in the master bathroom.  Given the age of our home (built approx 1980), how much of the tile we'd need to tear up to find the leak, and the fact that no significant updating had previously been done, we determined that we might as well re-do the whole bathroom.

We contacted several contractors via Angie's List and based on price and the fact that the person that came to do the bid would also be the Project Manager for the work and I really liked her approach, we chose Windy City.

Anita, our Project Manager, has worked with me in choosing materials and colors, suggesting styles, providing resources for where to look for the tub, the fixtures, the tiles.  When I was about to make a really really bad decision on flooring, she reviewed my selection and tactfully directed me to a more appropriate color.  Note:  I had warned her I'm not that great about design and asked her to please be honest if she saw I was off-track.

For all the appointments for measuring, planning, installation, meetings to make decisions, the crew was on time, professional, and helpful in explaining any choices I needed to make and any answering questions.

All were respectful of our home and careful to lay plastic, tarp, etc. where needed.  They cleaned up everyday and were careful to close the doors to make sure the cat stayed safely out of the construction area.

Most days Anita would leave me a voice mail with progress for the day, what to expect in the next couple days, and anything we should look at or decisions they needed from us.  She answered any questions promptly.  If there was no rush, I used email.  If it was urgent, we used text or cell phone.  She did an AMAZING job making sure there were no surprises in terms of time or price.

One of the most refreshing aspects of our experience is that my opinion was treated with respect and I never once had to ask my husband to get involved.

There was a slight delay in completion due to a problem with the vanity counter tops (NO FAULT of Windy City team).  We were notified immediately, told when we could expect a revised schedule, got the schedule when promised, and the bathroom was completed only 2 days later than the initial planned completion date.

WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CONTRACTOR FOR ANY PROJECT!

Everything went great. They are a good company to work with. They are very professional and clean. I would recommend them.

Went as well as it could. Timely, efficient, good price, courteous, good quality. Overall we are very pleased with the service of Windy City. Thank you!!

Very professional and thorough.  The project start was delayed over the course of several months but this was our issue, not Windy City's... our work schedules just got too crazy for a while.  During that time, we were able to refine the design several times which helped us get the end product we wanted.  WC was always prompt, professional and accommodating.

I found this company through the Hardy Board website, since Windy City is a certified installer of this product. I ordered the product, ordered several windows installed, and asked them to put a door out onto a second floor terrace. The salesperson gave me incorrect information regarding the Hardy Board product and kept telling me that the installation would start on such-and-such a day, then when such-and-such a day came and went, told me (when I called him) that there were delivery problems / order problems, etc., etc. and that the project would be delayed. This became a great frustration and I started dealing with only the owner. When the product did arrive, they were not the products that the salesman had promised, so another great frustration. Despite these frustrations, the workers doing the installation and carpentry work were very skilled and quick and did a lovely job. The person who first looked at the gutters quoted me a price contingent upon being able to re-use my old gutters. However, when the gutters were removed, they were damaged, and the owner ended up charging only a nominal fee to install new gutters. I was very upset that the salesman ended up misrepresenting the product sold to me and also delaying beginning the job (to a month or a month and a half after when he said it would be done). The owner did try to make good and the quality of the workmanship also good.

You have a list including pictures in their sales materials of the actual people that will be coming to do the work. They have their own in-house crew that work on their projects. It was a very personable approach. They worked very hard to earn our trust and to assure us that they would treat the approach personably and not just another thing on their list. They have taken half the amount of time than another company that we broke our contract with to get to the point where they are at now. They have worked quickly and kept us up to date. They have given us a personal touch.

I contacted the company via email or through Angie's list and a lady got back to me. I initially set it up for a couple Saturday's before this one but I decided I wasn't ready for the carpenter to come out yet so I rescheduled. He was on time and did the work in the time the lady estimated he would. If you check out their website you can tell that they do complete design and installation of kitchens so I wasn't sure if they would help me with my small project since it wasn't much money. To my surprise the hourly rate was lower then what I was quoted from a respected Handyman service.

Excellent people to work with. Chuck was a delightful salesperson to deal with. Very relaxed and not rushed. Explained in detail everything we asked. Very informed and professional. Did all he said he would do. Someone from the office would make follow up calls to us to make sure everything was taken care of. Quality of the work and cleanliness of crew was outstanding. Couldn't be better. These people are not just construction workers, they are craftsman. My only quip was that we were told it would take roughly two weeks to complete, it actually took closer to four weeks, but I don't mind waiting a little longer for excellent work and the price was fair.

The house had been covered in asbestos shingle for years and we had hoped to salvage the wooden clapboards, but when quotes began to run into the 50K price range we thought better of it. We knew that if we were going to do an all new installation it would have to be Hardieboard as opposed to vinyl, because it is so much closer to the original look for our historic home. We interviewed all the local James Hardie approved installers and were about to make a decision to go with another installer, when I did a final search and found Windy City (it had not previously shown up because of the distance from our home). I called the office and was told that they did in fact work in my area and would send out a saleperson. We met Chuck, got the quote, visited other finished projects in the area and spoke with references. After all that it was a no-brainier. Windy City came in $1500 less than our lowest negotiated quote and about $25K less than the highest quote (I don't know how this one was computed-crazy). We signed up and began work 5 weeks later. Chris and John worked through bitter cold and long days, but did beautiful work. We asked them to install the Hardiboard so that we would have mitred corners around our bay windows and even though that is not how it's usually done they did a wonderful job adapting to our request. Mike Z. worked on all our punchlist items and has come back to make sure all the loose ends are tied up satisfactorily. We had one hiccup when the wrong product arrived that set us back a few weeks, but Joe the owner was immediately responsive, rectifying the situation and absolutely making us feel as though the customer is king to them. We have received so many compliments on our 'new' home and feel very house proud thanks to Windy City Construction and Design.