Armitage Rehab Mechanical Updates

Our home rehab has been extremely busy over the previous six months! We’ve made so many adjustments and enhancements that rather than presenting a list, we’ve opted to show you some of the upgrades we’ve made. Ryan bought this three-bedroom, one-bathroom cape cod in Northlake in December of 2020. The house had a solid foundation. The windows, roof, siding, and foundation are all in good shape, but the mechanicals required repair.

The house was built in 1953; thus, the mechanicals needed to be brought up to date to meet today’s standards. We updated all mechanical systems throughout the house, including the HVAC, plumbing, electrical system, and insulation. This will give owners many years of worry-free service while also increasing efficiency.

This is a significant upgrade over what most people would do when updating their homes. However, we believe that the upgrades will bring the house up to date in terms of efficiency and standards. This will not only give many years of worry-free service, but it will also significantly reduce the home’s energy consumption. Thus, assisting in the improvement of comfort and the reduction of utility costs.

The following shows the progress we’ve made during the last six months.

Electrical Problems

Ryan knew several of the electrical systems in the house had not passed the city’s pre-sale inspection when he bought it. The home lacked several essential GFCI outlets, and several of the electrical outlets were improperly placed. Some cables in outlets were even reversed.

We discovered various DIY electrical updates and adjustments when we removed the drywall and uncovered the electrical systems.

Our biggest problem was the amount of BX electrical cable ran throughout the house. Most homeowners prefer to use BX electrical cable. This is due to the BX cable’s flexibility and ease of installation. However, BX is not allowed for complete wire systems in the Chicagoland area. Electrical must be run through a conduit in the Chicagoland area.

Conduit is significantly stiffer and more difficult to penetrate. As a result, it acts as a much superior insulator for electrical wires. BX and Romex, for instance, are significantly easier to pierce with a nail or a screw.

We opted to update all of the electrical systems after exposing the electrical system to provide extra outlets, new cabling, and updated lighting systems.

WF Electrical was contracted to improve the electrical system. Luis came over to look over our plans and give us an estimate.

Recessed lighting was installed on the first floor of the house. In new homes, recessed lighting is the modern approach to light up interiors. ‘Can lighting,’ as known, allows for a far more even distribution of light throughout a space.

LEDs will also be used for illumination, which is both energy-efficient and long-lasting. We’ll be able to manage light intensity and room temperature using the new LED lighting.

We also added a few lights in the dormers and genuine three-way switches in areas where more light management was required. A few light lights were put to the house’s exterior. A property lite room will completely transform the look and feel of your home.

The household electrical system will power the new wired fire alarm system and carbon monoxide alarms. Because they are connected to a power source, hardwired smoke detectors are more reliable. They also work in tandem, so if the kitchen alarm was set off, so do the rest. This might help you save time when it comes to ensuring your safety.

Hardwired fire alarm systems contain battery backup for continuous functioning in the event of a power outage. Smoke alarms that run on batteries are entirely reliant on the batteries. The existing electrical system will give years of trouble-free service. Shorts, tripping breakers, and fire dangers are no longer an issue.

Plumbing

We thought the plumbing system was in fine shape at first. We were mistaken. We discovered that this was not the case when we exposed the plumbing system. Even though the original plumbing system was copper, it was not correctly routed. In addition, certain plumbing repairs and renovations were performed incorrectly in the residence.

We enlisted the help of Power Plumbing Services to fix the plumbing issues. They came out and suggested installing a sound drainage system as well as new water pipes. Power Plumbing did some of the most excellent work I have ever seen. They installed adequate drains and air chambers all over the house.

The majority of plumbing is hidden behind closed walls. Therefore it’s not supposed to be attractive. A new property’s working plumbing system, on the other hand, can avoid future water leaks. Over 50 years of worry-free service will be provided by the new copper water lines and PVC drainage system.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

The home’s heating system was the system we knew needed the most care. Initially, the house had a boiler system and radiant heat. Radiant heat can be beneficial under the right circumstances; unfortunately, in our case, it precluded the home from having central air conditioning. The baseboard heaters took up some space in our already cramped house. It wasn’t particularly appealing to the eye either.

We had no other choice but to start with removing all of the radiant heat and replace it with a forced-air system. The installation of new ductwork throughout the house was required to make the changeover to the forced air.

Fusion Mechanical, a heating and air conditioning professional, was brought in. Memo and Gerry set up a complete ventilation system with appropriate returns. They installed all of the necessary vents and air return systems in the house. This ensures that air is adequately circulated throughout the home. They were keeping any poorly climate-controlled rooms and places in the house out of the house.

The cape codes were built without a completed upper level in many, if not all, cases. The ventilation systems in most homes were never modified to heat and cool the newly renovated living area appropriately because the original homeowners finished them. As a result, the home’s second story had exceedingly poor climate control. My room was on the second level of a cap code where I grew up. Believe me when I say that the sweltering summer nights were excruciatingly difficult. It was scorching!

Fusion Mechanical additionally insulated the ducting and sealed all seams. This will assist the ductwork to keep some of its temperatures and prevent it from sweating.

A high-efficiency furnace was also installed by Memo and Gerry. Its efficiency will last for many years and save money on gas and electricity costs.

Framing

We were able to investigate the framing of the house because the walls were exposed. We were reasonably sure that the house’s structure was sound. As a result, we were pleased and thrilled to discover that the home’s timber frame was in excellent condition after over 70 years.

We did add a support beam that was missing from the laundry room addition. The original owners did the small bump-out addition to the home likely after the home was constructed. But the previous owner did not properly support the overhead rafters. So we added a new beam onto the opening to the addition.

We also added a support header to remove the wall between the kitchen and dining room. Back in the 1950’s dining rooms were popular, and providing a separation from the kitchen was important.

Nowadays, families are more interested in an open layout. Many prefer an eat-in kitchen and breakfast bar and kitchen islands. The new support beam will open the kitchen to the dining room providing a much more open feel.

In the seconds level, we updated the window openings. This is due to code changes that have been implemented in new home builds. We remove the smaller opening a much bigger window opening to meet the new code.

Insulation

One of the most expensive but beneficial improvements was the home’s insulation. We updated the rafter insulation and exterior wall insulation with closed-cell spray insulation and a vapor barrier. This was to meet the new energy code and provide better comfort for our family.

We could have used the much cheaper insulation option of fiberglass insulation. However, the closed-cell insulation will provide a much better vapor barrier and noise barrier.

Sprayfoam insulation has been a popular option for new construction for many reasons. One advantage spray foam has over other insulation is its excellent and even coverage, preventing bugs and rodents from entering your home. It also improves the sturdiness of your walls, doesn’t introduce pollen or allergens, and is even eco-friendly.

We called Paragon Services to come to help us with insulating the walls and rafters. They installed over 4 inches of closed-cell insulation to our rafter providing R-30 insulation. They also prayed for the exterior wall to be an equivalent R-15. This is far from being the most economical but we believe the new spray insulation will further increase the home’s efficiency and comfort.

What’s next?

Next comes all the stuff you and everyone else can see, the finishes. The drywall, the paint, the cabinets, the floors, and the trim come next. It is what everyone else can see.

The insulation, piping, ductwork, and electrical wire will be hidden behind the wall but busy at work. Ryan found a nice home in a nice neighborhood, now this little cape cod has been upgraded to modern building codes. It will provide safe, comfortable, and efficient housing for many years to come.