Remodeling an Older Home in Bridgeview, IL: What to Expect Before You Start

If you own a home in Bridgeview, there is a good chance it isn't new construction. Much of the village developed during the postwar decades, and today the median Bridgeview home dates to around 1975. In fact, roughly 44% of the village's housing units were built before 1970.

That makes remodeling in Bridgeview a little different from renovating a newer suburban home.

Older kitchens, smaller bathrooms, finished and unfinished basements, aging drywall, multiple generations of flooring and outdated layouts are common reasons local homeowners decide to renovate. But once work begins, an older home can also reveal things that aren't obvious from the surface.

Here are some issues Bridgeview homeowners should think about before starting a remodeling project.

Bridgeview Has a Lot of Older Single-Family Homes

Bridgeview's growth accelerated considerably after World War II. The village was incorporated in 1947, and its population grew quickly as residential development expanded.

Today, detached single-family homes make up a major part of Bridgeview's housing stock, with many properties dating to the 1940s through the 1980s.

These homes can be excellent candidates for renovation. Their location and established neighborhoods may be exactly what homeowners want, while the interiors no longer fit the way families live today.

Instead of moving, remodeling gives homeowners an opportunity to modernize the house they already have.

Kitchens Built Decades Ago Weren't Designed for Today's Families

A kitchen from the 1960s, 70s or 80s may still function, but the way we use kitchens has changed.

Older Bridgeview homes may have smaller kitchens separated from dining and living areas, limited countertop space, fewer cabinets and lighting that doesn't work particularly well for a modern kitchen.

A kitchen remodeling project can address more than appearance.

• Improving the kitchen layout
• Adding usable countertop space
• Replacing older cabinets
• Installing modern flooring
• Improving lighting
• Updating backsplashes and finishes
• Creating better storage
• Opening the kitchen to an adjoining living or dining space where practical

The goal isn't necessarily to make an older Bridgeview home look like new construction. A good renovation should make the existing home work better.

Older Bathrooms Can Hide More Than Outdated Tile

Bathrooms are another common remodeling target in older homes.

Old tile and fixtures may be the visible reason for starting the project, but removing them can sometimes expose deteriorated drywall, previous repairs or other conditions that need attention before new finishes are installed.

That's why homeowners should think about the entire bathroom rather than treating a remodel as simply replacing a vanity and tile.

A complete bathroom renovation may involve new flooring, shower tile, drywall, fixtures, lighting, painting and changes to the layout.

That Basement May Be Valuable Living Space

Basements are especially interesting in established Chicago suburbs because they can provide additional usable space without building an addition.

For a Bridgeview homeowner who needs more room, an unfinished or dated basement might become a family room, home office, playroom, entertainment space, guest area or combination of uses.

Older finished basements may also be candidates for complete renovation.

Before choosing flooring and wall colors, however, homeowners should look at the condition of the existing space and determine what work should be completed before the finishing stage begins.

Don't Assume What's Behind the Walls

One of the biggest differences between remodeling an established home and working with new construction is uncertainty.

A house may have been remodeled several times over its lifetime.

Once drywall, flooring, cabinets or tile are removed, contractors can sometimes discover evidence of previous renovations or repairs.

This doesn't mean an older home is a problem. It simply means homeowners should allow some flexibility in both the remodeling plan and budget rather than assuming every condition will be visible before demolition begins.

Permits and Codes Matter in Bridgeview

Depending on the scope of a remodeling project, permits and inspections may be required.

The Village of Bridgeview Building Department references the 2021 International Residential Code, Illinois Plumbing Code, Chicago Electrical Code and other applicable building standards.

For larger renovations involving structural, plumbing or electrical changes, homeowners should determine the applicable requirements before construction begins.

Remodeling a Bridgeview Home? Work With Someone Who Knows the Area

For homeowners planning to update an older property, working with a local remodeling company can be particularly helpful.

Joseph Remodeling LTD is a remodeling contractor based in Bridgeview, Illinois, providing kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, basement remodeling and finishing, flooring, painting and other residential renovation services.

Because the company works in Bridgeview and surrounding southwest suburbs, its projects include the types of established homes commonly found throughout this part of the Chicago area.

If you're considering updating an older home, learn more about Joseph Remodeling LTD – remodeling contractor in Bridgeview, IL and the home renovation services the company provides.

An Older Home Doesn't Have to Feel Old

Bridgeview has changed considerably since its major periods of residential growth, and the way families use their homes has changed with it.

A house built decades ago can still be a great home. Sometimes it simply needs a kitchen that works better, a modern bathroom, new flooring, fresh finishes or a basement transformed into usable living space.

Instead of trying to turn an older Bridgeview house into something it isn't, a thoughtful remodel can preserve what works while updating the parts of the home that no longer fit the way you live.