Remodeling in Lake Forest, IL — handled by one accountable team.
Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and full-home additions for Lake Forest, IL homeowners. Free on-site estimates, in-house team, 2-year warranty — in writing, on every build.
- 15+years of combined crew experience
- ZIPs 60045fully covered
- ★★★★★five-star Google reviews
- 2-yrwritten warranty
- 15+ Years Combined crew experience
- Licensed & Insured $2M general liability
- 2-Year Warranty Written, on every project
- ★★★★★ on Google five-star verified reviews
A remodeling team that comes to your home and stays accountable.
In Lake Forest, assume the remodel needs a permit
The City of Lake Forest says most home improvement projects require a permit before work begins. Its FAQ gives a rule of thumb for single-family homes: you need a permit for anything except flooring, painting, or planting. Remodeling, repairs and alterations, additions, electrical and plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and windows all appear on the city’s list of permit work.
Applicants are encouraged to submit applications and construction documents through the city’s web portal, and incomplete applications cannot be accepted. Larger projects are reviewed in approximately 15 business days, while smaller projects may be reviewed over the counter or in five business days. Inspections are scheduled online and can usually be done within one to two business days of a request. The city lists construction hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Board review and building scale
Lake Forest has five local historic districts. The Historic Preservation Commission reviews projects inside those districts and projects affecting individual landmark properties. Outside the districts, the Building Review Board’s published scope includes building additions and alterations and requests for building scale variances. The city’s residential addition and alteration checklist calls for a building scale calculation workbook when a project affects building scale, a stamped plat of survey for additions, and plans stamped by an Illinois registered architect when structural changes are proposed. It also asks for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and roofing contractor licenses. Tree removal permits may be required in certain cases, and engineering review covers drainage, grading, and steep slope requirements.
How ADS prepares a Lake Forest estimate
ADS offers kitchen, bathroom, basement, living-room, hallway, and home-addition remodeling in Lake Forest. A free visit to measure and review the house comes first, then a written estimate that raises structural, mechanical, and design decisions early, so board or building scale questions surface before construction documents are final. ADS pulls the permits and schedules inspections.
Review the City of Lake Forest building permits page and confirm requirements for your project before work begins.
Six remodeling services. One in-house team.
Kitchen Remodeling in Lake Forest
How ADS builds a kitchen: cabinetry lead times, the six-to-eight week sequence, the temporary kitchen, and…
See pricing & timeline →Bathroom Remodeling in Lake Forest
How ADS builds a bathroom: the sequence, who is in your house, what the written estimate…
See pricing & timeline →Basement Remodeling in Lake Forest
How ADS finishes a basement: moisture first, then framing, egress and permits, and what the written…
See pricing & timeline →Living Room Remodeling in Lake Forest
How ADS rebuilds a living room: structural changes, built-ins and floors, and what an itemized written…
See pricing & timeline →Hallway Renovations in Lake Forest
How ADS rebuilds a staircase and foyer: structure first, custom railings cut in-house, and what the…
See pricing & timeline →Home Additions Built to Last in Lake Forest
How ADS builds an addition: zoning check, engineered drawings, permits, footings and roof tie-in, and the…
See pricing & timeline →The kind of work we'd bring to Lake Forest.
Three steps from first call to keys-in-hand.
Free in-home estimate
We drive to your Lake Forest home, measure, and listen. Written scope-of-work usually within 48 hours of the visit.
Detailed written quote
Materials, finishes, written schedule — priced in person, line by line, in writing. You see where every dollar goes before you sign.
Build & final walk
Our in-house crew executes on the agreed schedule. Punch-list walkthrough, then 2-year written warranty kicks in.
Book your Lake Forest visit
We respond to most inquiries within 2 hours during business days. Estimate visit is free, with zero pressure to sign that day.
Four guarantees we put in writing — before any work begins.
Most contractor horror stories trace back to four broken promises. We close all four in our contract, not in marketing.
2-Year Workmanship Warranty
Every joint, tile, fixture, and finish is backed for two full years. If our build fails, we come back and fix it — no charge, no debate.
Free On-Site Estimates
We assess your project in person and put the estimate in writing — line by line, free, no obligation. If anything changes on site, you hear it from us first, with numbers.
Fully Licensed & Insured
Illinois-licensed contractor, $2M general liability, workers' comp on every crew member. We bring proof of insurance before we bring tools.
In-House Team — No Subs
Same crew from demo day to final walkthrough. No subcontractor handoffs, no scheduling chaos, no "the other guys did that part."
Get your free estimate in Lake Forest
We call or text back within 2 business hours, then measure at your Lake Forest home and price it in writing. No fees, no hard sell.
- Free on-site visit & written estimate
- Fixed price before work starts
- Licensed & insured · 2-year warranty
Prefer to talk? (224) 284-4533
Five questions every homeowner asks first.
Plain answers — the kind we'd give a neighbor over coffee, not the ones written for a brochure.
Have a different question? Ask during your free estimate →-
How much does a typical kitchen or bathroom remodel cost?
Bathroom remodels in our area typically run $18,000–$45,000. Mid-range kitchens are usually $35,000–$80,000 — full custom kitchens can reach $120,000+. We give you a detailed estimate in writing after the in-home visit, so you see the numbers line by line before signing anything.
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How long will my project take?
A bathroom is usually 3–5 weeks from demo to final walkthrough. A standard kitchen runs 6–8 weeks. Basement finishes are 5–8 weeks. We give you a written schedule before we start — and because we use our own in-house crew, we don't lose days waiting on a subcontractor to show up.
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Do you handle the permits and inspections?
Yes — every time. We pull the permits, schedule the inspections, and meet with the inspectors. You don't deal with the village. We handle Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, and the rest of our service area.
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Can we live in the house during the remodel?
Almost always, yes. We seal off the work zone with plastic, set up a temporary kitchen if we're remodeling yours, vacuum daily, and do a deep clean at the end. Most clients stay in the home for the full project — we plan the sequence around your daily life.
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How do payments work?
A small deposit at signing, then progress payments tied to milestones (rough-in complete, drywall complete, final walkthrough). You never pre-pay for work that hasn't started. Final payment is only released after you sign off on the final walkthrough — not before.