Multi-Family Construction Services

ETI is proud to offer multi-family construction services in Chicago. We are known for our commitment to our community, and this holds especially true for all of our building projects involving future residents. Multi-family construction companies walk a tightrope between collaborations with stakeholders, trade professionals, designers, lawyers, and the people of the city who live around the building site. We take our duties seriously, from the smallest duplex renovation to apartment skyscrapers dozens of stories high. We want you to know that you’re receiving the highest quality services you can for your money. That’s why we keep you in the loop at every stage of your new construction projects and multi-family renovations.

What is Multi-Family Construction?

A multi-family structure is a single-building complex intended to provide residency for multiple distinct inhabitants. Unlike a traditional dorm or boarding house, where amenities like bathrooms and kitchen spaces are shared, a multi-family building features amenities separated by unit. In today’s growing and globalized world, multi-family properties are one of the most popular types of residences in urban areas. “Multi-family” is an umbrella term that includes apartment buildings with tenants renting their units, condominiums with residents owning their units, and smaller structures like duplexes and triplexes that may have a combination of renters and owners. Since this housing category is so flexible, projects often blur the line between being a residential and commercial investment. High-rise apartment buildings with storefronts on the first floor are a common sight. Given that multi-family buildings are so important in the housing market, we understand that multi-family construction must be approached with care and intention.

The Difference Between Heavy Construction and Multi-Family Construction

One boundary that these building projects cannot cross is the divide between multi-family construction and heavy construction. Heavy construction does not refer to a building’s actual weight. Rather, heavy construction is a designation for immense projects with specific civil engineering needs, often paid for and guided by the government. These include infrastructural projects like highways and airports, as well as entertainment landmarks like stadiums. By contrast, multi-family building projects are mainly funded by real estate firms looking to make a return on a housing investment. These projects rarely involve the government. Multi-family construction companies must conform to infrastructural structures while heavy construction companies often reshape them. They follow separate sets of building codes, regulations, zoning rules, and legal permissions. ETI specializes in multi-family construction. So how do we complete our projects? What can you look for to verify that multi-family construction companies run competently and produce quality work?

How Multi-Family Construction Companies Operate

Multi-family building projects are intense exercises in project management. Any competent building company will set out clear schedules, budgets, and workflow infrastructure to ensure resources are allocated in a timely and accurate manner. The first stage in any multi-family construction project is pre-construction. This is the stage at which all of the preparatory work happens. The architect will present and revise designs for the building. The general contractor will then use the design to gather all relevant permits and permissions from the local government. According to the basic needs of the building, this can be as simple as acquiring zoning approvals, or as complicated as obtaining permits for working with environmental protections. The building plan must also include drafts and preparations for site access. Which roads will be used by construction vehicles? Where will they be parked? All of these questions are critical in the pre-construction phase.

Once the design is set, the legal groundwork is laid, and site access is decided, the construction phase begins. Multi-family construction companies work from the ground up clearing the land and preparing the foundation. The construction crew needs to be diligent at all stages so the results can be beneficial for later residents. That is why the general contractor carefully oversees important duties like installing utility infrastructure. Then, the structure itself is assembled – walls, windows, supports, doors, and the roof. Some companies work with prefabricated structures and units, while others build them from parts on-site. Either way, once the crew erects the structure, they move on to interior work like installing drywall. Cosmetic touches like painting come last. An experienced construction company like ETI will offer you frequent updates tracking the progress of the building. We understand how even the finest variables can affect the outcome and impact the timeline.

The Multi-Family Renovations Process

Not all multi-family construction projects begin with a blank slate. Some property owners engage in flipping, where they buy an old building with the intent to update its facilities and resell it. Other property owners just need specific features significantly remodeled to keep up with tenant demands and market appeal. Multi-family renovations are often less expensive than new construction, and investors view renovation as a less risky option. Renovations and remodeling efforts target virtually any aspect of the building, but some are more common than others. Active systems that undergo heavy use such as HVAC and air ducts, plumbing, electrical wiring, and fuel lines typically need repairs on a more frequent basis than static elements like flooring and windows. However, it is much more common for those systems to be repaired on an as-needed basis, while new ownership of a building may seek a full cosmetic overhaul.

The more ambitious the multi-family renovation plan, the more stages it will involve. Let’s say, for instance, a real estate company acquires an old property and the renovations involve most of the building. First, the real estate company works with the construction company to identify all elements that need to be removed or replaced. Then, demolition begins. Drywall is torn, windows are removed, and appliances and wiring are stripped, all by the renovation plan. The construction crew replaces those elements with new materials and appliances. In the last stage, cosmetics like paint, decorations, and fixtures are reapplied, which may or may not be part of the contract with the renovators.

Reliable Multi-Family Construction in Chicago

The next time you are looking for a partner for multi-family construction, Chicago has no names more trusted than ETI. We are proud of our role in stimulating the local economy and carrying out construction to benefit your friends and neighbors. In addition to our traditional services, we also offer some work pro bono to uplift the community. If you have a multi-family construction project in the Chicago area and you want the best outcome you can find, get in contact with ETI today to schedule a meeting or obtain a quote. We look forward to hearing from you!