Krull Renovation | Chicago, IL

The existing basement of this home in southside Chicago had some major issues while one of their mother’s was living down there with them. Code issues such as secondary egress, water infiltration, and ceiling head height issues were some of the main concerns. The homeowners realized in order to get full potential out of their basement, they needed to do a major renovation. That’s when Fort Architects got involved.

We first decided to tackle the code issues and rearranged every room to create a more efficient flow and allow for us to include a new door to the backyard. This door opens up to a new concrete patio under their existing deck, with stairs that lead to the backyard. We supplemented this with two new operable windows to meet the strict Chicago Building Codes. The bathroom and laundry room were switched, giving each room a more spacious feeling. This house is only a few feet away from its neighbors, so we couldn’t excavate the exterior to combat the water infiltration issue. So we added spray applied waterproofing on the interior foundation wall and interior trench drains around the perimeter that flowed to a new sump pump.

We also updated all the fixtures, kitchen cabinets, and finishes to make the basement cozy for all to enjoy. The custom designed entertainment center with matching barn doors conceal the basement bedroom and the stairs that go up to the main house. This allows maximum privacy for guests and family alike. All in all, the Krull family is very happy with their new basement and can enjoy it for the rest of their lives.

Renovated Basement Photos

Existing Basement Photos

Designed by Nick.