Would you like to receive up to 75% cash back for tuckpointing? In Chicago, the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) may be the answer to at least some of your building’s problems. What is the Small Business Improvement Grant and how can it be used? The SBIF was developed to reimburse commercial and industrial owners for remodeling and repairing their businesses utilizing Tax Filing Increment (TIF) revenue. If your business is located in an eligible TIF districts, up to $150,000 is available to you for the renovation of your business.  This grant can be used for tuckpointing in Chicago businesses, as well as other necessary repairs. Money isn’t received until the work is completed and the expenses are paid, but it’s well worth the wait, especially if your building has fallen into disrepair. Who is eligible? There is a strict criterion for determining who can receive grant money via SBIF.  The following applicants are eligible: Commercial businesses with a maximum of $3 million in sales for the past three years or a new business whose projected sales are no more than $3 million; Industries with a maximum of 100 full-time employees; Landlords with a net worth of no more than $6 million and liquidity of under $500,000; and Tenants with property owner approval, a maximum $3 million in gross sales, and at least 3 years left on their lease Who isn’t eligible? National business chains Currency exchanges Pay day loan stores Liquor stores Bars Astrologers/palm readers Hotels/motels Junk yards/trailer storage facilities Other benefits of the SBIF Completing renovations with SBIF also has other great benefits.  Certain small businesses who made renovations according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are eligible for tax deductions, and certain green projects also qualify for tax breaks. To find out if you are located in one of the eligible TIF districts call SomerCor 504, Inc. at (312)360-3300, then contact Bald Eagle Construction for a free estimate!

Chicago's weather is rough, which makes annual inspection and maintenance essential to the upkeep of your home. Because your roof takes the brunt of the harsh conditions, you should do a routine check and make repairs to extend the life of your roof and avoid expensive repairs or early replacement. Below is the beginner's guide to Chicago roofing maintenance. Remove debris from the surface of the roof. Dirt and debris has the potential to hold water that will expedite the deterioration of the roof.  Remove debris near all roof penetrations such as HVAC units, pipes and pitch pans. Clean out and flush gutters. Check flashing for deterioration and holes and repair or replace if necessary. Check for bumps or blisters on the roof. If blisters are present, don't step on or puncture them in any way, and contact a qualified Chicago roofing maintenance contractor. Check the caulking and sealant on your flashing and coping. Remove caulking that is cracked or damaged and clean the area thoroughly, using a wire brush. Reapply a polyurethane caulking. Check mortar on the chimney and parapet walls Check between the brick as well as the top. If you see any damage, you'll need to have it tuckpointed. Walk the perimeter of your home to check for any dead tree limbs or other debris. that could become airborne in the event of inclement weather. Remove or secure these items to ensure they do not become airborne in the event of inclement weather. Finally, watch for leaks in the roof and have them repaired immediately. Allowing holes or cracks to leak may cause dangerous mold as well as structural damage. Weather can be brutal in Chicago. Roofing maintenance is necessary to protect the inside of your home from the elements outside. If you notice any significant damage or feel that necessary repairs are above your skill level, contact a qualified Chicago roofing contractor for an estimate.

Preserving the brick exterior of your home is an essential maintenance task. Eventually, your home will need tuckpointing. In Chicago, where the weather is extremely varied and quite harsh in the winter months, you may consider sealing your brick. Bricks are made of an extremely porous material, and sealing them will prevent moisture and leaks from seeping through the brick and protect your interior walls from water damage. Divert leaks If your gutters leak your air conditioner’s condensation drips down the side of your house, try to divvert the water. Bricks will absorb this water and transfer it to the interior walls of your building. Over time, bricks that have been repeatedly subjected to this soaking will begin to show signs of efflorescence, or an unattractive whitish-gray stain from salts that have been ejected from the brick via water pressure. (Note: if you are experiencing weather related moisture, it is still safe to continue cleaning and sealing your brick.) Clean the Bricks Scrape of large areas of debris such as mold or moss from the surface with a putty knife before scrubbing the brick. Mix a solution of oxygen bleach and water and pour or spray the cleaner onto the bricks. Using a stiff-bristled brush or push broom, scrub the remaining dirt from the surface. Allow the brick to dry completely before applying the sealant. (Note:We do not recommend using a pressure washer for this project as it can damage the mortar.) Seal the Bricks Measure the surface area you’ll need to cover with sealant and purchase materials accordingly. Choose a sealant that contains silanes or siloxanes, which are designed specifically for use on masonry. Because these sealants give off harmful fumes, wear a respirator or ensure there is adequate ventilation in the area where you’re working. Using a brush or sprayer, apply several coats of sealant. Brushes are good for smaller spaces to ensure a proper coating. Tuckpointing in Chicago homes is necessary to prevent damage to the interior of your home. Properly sealing your brick will extend the life of your home by ensuring water doesn’t seep into your walls.

The quality of your finished project is directly related to the workmanship that goes into completing it. Before you hire a concrete contractor, do your homework and shop around. Here are a few tips for hiring a qualified concrete contractor in Chicago. Ask for Referrals and Get References! Talk to your friends, family, neighbors and co-worker to see the have any recommendations for the job. If you can, visit their homes to inspect the quality of the work that was done. Be sure to ask them if they were happy with the job, if it was affordable, and if the contractor was pleasurable to work with. Make sure the contractor stuck to their estimated budget and time frame. Call or email for estimates. When you’ve gathered your list of concrete contractors in Chicago, call each one and set up a meeting. Ask them to come over and look at the job and give you an estimate. Ask lots of questions. Concrete projects are big investments, so make sure you feel good about the answers. Questions to consider are: Are there weather conditions I should take into consideration for this project? How long with the project take to complete? Will any of the surrounding area or landscape need to be disturbed or removed? How long have you been in business? Are you licensed and insured? What is the best way to maintain the project once it’s completed? Once you’ve interviewed your concrete contractors in Chicago and received your estimates, remember that the lowest price isn’t always the best choice. You want to choose your contractor based on the quality of work, the quality of the materials, and a guarantee on the finished product. *Be wary of lower than average bids. These can indicate an unreliable contractor or cheap materials. Protect yourself! Once you’ve chosen your contractor, make sure they are licensed, bonded, and insured as required by the law. You could be held responsible for the costs if an accident occurs on your property if your concrete contractor isn’t insured. Get the proper permits. Always check with the city and obtain any permits your may need. Those permits will need to be in your possession before any work begins, and they should be kept in a safe place while the work is underway. Get It in Writing! Always sign a written contract; don’t make verbal agreements. Good contracts include an in-depth description of the services that are to be provided from start to finish, the materials that will be used, warranties, timeline for completion and cleanup, and the payment schedule for the project.

Bald Eagle is one of the top construction contractors in Chicago. For over ten years, we’ve provided affordable, high quality workmanship across the city. In that time, we’ve also acquired a wealth of information and experience that has made us the leader in tuckpointing, roofing, and concrete, and we’d like to pass that valuable information on to the community through this blog. Concrete Concrete is a mixture of sand, cement, gravel, and water that hardens into a hard, stone-like material. It is used in many home renovation and addition projects. We've got all the information you'll need to know about concrete from hiring the proper contractor to maintenance and upkeep of your finished project. Roofing The roof over your head protects your family from Chicago's varied weather conditions, so maintenance and repair are essential. We'll discuss the different types of roofing, along with how to care for it, when to replace it, and everything in between. Tuckpointing Once your home is built, regular maintenance and upkeep are necessary to protect and extend the life of your home. We’ll teach you everything you’ll need to know about the repair and upkeep of your brick exterior. We look forward to sharing this valuable information and hope that it will be useful not only to Chicagoans, but to homeowners across the country. If you have a question for us or would like to read about a certain topic, please let us know and we’ll do our best to oblige.