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CHICAGO PORCH
CONSTRUCTION & REPAIR —
A PERFECT
INSPECTION RECORD
SINCE 2003.
Licensed General Contractor | New Construction | Repair & Restoration | Enclosed Porch Additions | Never Failed a Chicago Porch Inspection
Get a Free Porch Consultation
Historical Authority
We Were There When Chicago Changed Everything About Porches
On June 29, 2003 — the same year (XRB) Construction Services, LLC was founded — Chicago experienced the deadliest porch collapse in its history. Thirteen people died and 57 were injured when a three-tier rear porch structure at 1714 N. Lincoln Avenue failed during a party. The tragedy exposed systemic failures in porch construction standards, contractor oversight, and inspection enforcement across the city.
Chicago responded by completely overhauling its porch construction codes, load requirements, permitting processes, and inspection protocols. (XRB) Construction Services, LLC was built in that new era — and we have operated inside those elevated standards from our very first porch project.
In over 20 years of building porches from the ground up in the City of Chicago, we have never failed a single porch inspection. Not one. That record is not luck — it is the result of building every porch correctly, completely, and to code, every single time.
20+ YEARS. HUNDREDS OF PORCHES.
ZERO FAILED INSPECTIONS.
(XRB) Construction Services, LLC has never failed a City of Chicago porch inspection.
Every porch we build passes — because we build every porch right.
FULL-SCOPE PORCH DELIVERY.
New Porch Construction — Ground Up
We design, permit, and build new rear and front porch systems from the ground up — including foundation footings, structural columns, floor framing, decking, stairs, landings, guardrails, and handrails — all engineered and constructed to Chicago Building Code load requirements and inspected to final approval. Our process covers everything: plans, demolition of the existing structure if required, debris removal, permit application, construction, and final inspection sign-off. One firm. One contract. One perfect result.
Porch Repair & Structural Restoration
Deteriorated ledger boards, failed connections, rotted decking, compromised columns, and corroded hardware are the precursors to porch failure. We assess porch structures with the same rigor we apply to new construction — identifying and correcting every deficiency, not just the visible ones. Porch repair in Chicago is not cosmetic work. It is structural work. We treat it that way.
Stair & Landing Replacement
Porch stairs and landings are the highest-wear, highest-risk components of any porch system. We replace deteriorated stair stringers, treads, risers, and landing framing to current Chicago Building Code requirements — including proper guardrail and handrail heights, baluster spacing, and tread depth standards.
Guardrail & Handrail Replacement
Failed, loose, or non-compliant guardrails and handrails are among the most common Chicago porch code violations. We replace and upgrade guardrail and handrail systems to current code specifications — including proper post anchorage, rail height, and baluster spacing requirements.
Porch Decking Replacement
Full or selective replacement of deteriorated porch decking — including proper species selection, spacing, fastening, and slope for drainage. We do not surface-cover deteriorated framing — we expose it, assess it, and address it before any new decking is installed.
Column & Post Replacement
Structural column and post replacement for porch systems where the vertical load-carrying members have deteriorated, settled, or been compromised. Proper bearing and connection to both the footing below and the beam above — engineered where required by permit.
Emergency Porch Assessment & Stabilization
If your porch has visible structural movement, failed connections, or has been flagged by the City of Chicago with an emergency order, contact us immediately. We provide rapid structural assessment, emergency stabilization, and a complete remediation plan.
ENCLOSED PORCH TO BUILDING ADDITION —
A SMARTER STRUCTURAL & CODE STRATEGY.
Why Reclassification Matters
One of the most valuable and underutilized strategies in Chicago porch construction is the reclassification of an enclosed porch as a building addition rather than an exterior porch structure. (XRB) Construction Services, LLC specializes in this reclassification — and the structural and financial advantages to the property owner are significant.
Under the Chicago Building Code, exterior porch stairs and landings are required to meet a live load requirement of 200 pounds per square foot — one of the most demanding structural requirements in residential construction. However, when a porch is properly enclosed and reclassified as a building addition, the stairs and landings serving that addition are classified as interior stairs and landings, which are required to meet only 100 pounds per square foot.
Exterior Porch
200
PSF Live Load Requirement
Stairs and landings on an exterior porch structure must be designed and built to 200 pounds per square foot — one of the most demanding structural requirements in residential construction.
Enclosed Addition
100
PSF Live Load Requirement
When properly enclosed and reclassified as a building addition, interior stairs and landings need only meet 100 PSF — a 50% reduction that translates directly into material savings and simplified structural design.
50% Reduction in Governing Live Load
That is a 50% reduction in the governing live load requirement — translating directly into material savings, simplified structural design, and reduced construction cost without compromising safety. This is not a code workaround — it is a legitimate, code-sanctioned classification distinction that rewards proper enclosure and permitting. (XRB) has been executing this reclassification strategy for years, and we manage the entire process: zoning review, architectural plans, permit application, demolition of the existing structure, construction of the enclosed addition, and final inspection sign-off.
Key Advantages
100 PSF vs. 200 PSF
Live load for interior stairs and landings vs. exterior
Reduced Structural Material Requirements
Lower load = simplified framing and material savings
Additional Conditioned Square Footage
Enclosed addition adds livable area to the building
Potential Increase in Property Value
Added square footage and rentable area
Full Permit & Inspection Management
In-house by (XRB) — no third-party required
Plans · Demolition · Construction · Final Inspection
One firm. One contract. Start to finish.
FROM ASSESSMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION.
Site Assessment & Structural Evaluation
On-site structural assessment of existing conditions — written report, no verbal estimates.
Scope Determination
New construction, repair, or addition reclassification — scope defined in writing before any work begins.
Architectural Plans & Engineering
Plans and engineering coordination where required by permit scope and building type.
Chicago DOB Permit Application
Filed and managed in-house by our licensed permit expediter. No third-party required.
Demolition & Debris Removal
Existing structure demolished and removed. Site prepared for new construction.
Foundation & Footing Installation
Proper footings installed to depth and bearing capacity required by code and soil conditions.
Structural Framing
Columns, beams, floor systems, stairs, and landings framed to permitted drawings and Chicago Building Code.
Decking, Guardrails & Finish Carpentry
Decking, guardrails, handrails, and all finish carpentry installed to code and specification.
City of Chicago Inspections
Rough framing through final — all inspections requested, coordinated, and passed.
Final Sign-Off & Certificate of Completion
Certificate of completion delivered to the owner. Permit closed. Project complete.
CHICAGO PORCHES BUILT TO LAST.
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Project photography coming soon. Contact us to discuss your porch project.
LICENSED. PROVEN. PERFECT RECORD.
City of Chicago Licensed General Contractor — Class A
Highest GC Classification in Chicago
Never Failed a City of Chicago Porch Inspection
20+ Years · Hundreds of Porches · Zero Failed Inspections
Licensed Since 2003 — Over 20 Years of Porch Construction
Founded the Same Year Chicago Rewrote Its Porch Codes
Plans | Permits | Demolition | Construction | Final Inspection
All In-House — One Firm, One Contract
Enclosed Porch Addition Reclassification Specialists
200 PSF → 100 PSF Live Load Strategy
Residential | Multi-Unit | Commercial — All Building Types
Chicago & Surrounding Suburbs
EVERY PORCH WE BUILD
PASSES INSPECTION.
EVERY SINGLE ONE.
SINCE 2003.
From the permit application to the final inspection sign-off — (XRB) Construction Services, LLC manages your porch project start to finish, with a record that speaks for itself.
Emergency Porch Order?
If your porch has been flagged by the City of Chicago with an emergency order or stop-work order, call (312) 656-8984 immediately. (XRB) provides rapid structural assessment, emergency stabilization, and a complete remediation plan.
PORCH CONSTRUCTION ACROSS CHICAGO'S NEIGHBORHOODS
Chicago Two-Flat & Three-Flat Market
Chicago's two-flat and three-flat building stock — concentrated in neighborhoods like Pilsen, Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Ukrainian Village, Wicker Park, and Bridgeport — represents the core of Chicago's rear porch construction and repair market. Every two-flat and three-flat in Chicago has a rear porch system that requires periodic inspection, repair, and eventual replacement. (XRB) Construction Services, LLC has built and repaired porches on Chicago two-flats and three-flats since 2003 with a perfect inspection record. Call (312) 656-8984 for Chicago porch service.
North Side Chicago Porches
Chicago's north side neighborhoods — Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Roscoe Village, North Center, Ravenswood, Lincoln Square, and Andersonville — contain dense concentrations of vintage two-flats and multi-unit buildings with aging rear porch systems requiring licensed repair and replacement. (XRB) Construction Services, LLC serves the north side porch market with licensed construction, in-house permit expediting, and a 20+ year perfect inspection record. Call (312) 656-8984 for north side porch service.
SERVING CHICAGO & ALL OF CHICAGOLAND SINCE 2003
(XRB) Construction Services, LLC is headquartered at 4933 Butterfield Road in Hillside, Illinois — centrally positioned to serve every Chicago neighborhood and surrounding suburb. View our full Chicago and Illinois service area →
City of Chicago Neighborhoods
Primary service zone — highest search volume
Immediate Chicago Suburbs — Cook County
North, west, and south suburban Cook County
Extended Chicago Metro — Collar Counties
DuPage · Kane · Lake · Will · McHenry
Statewide Illinois & Federal
Unlimited roofing license · SDVOSB federal eligibility
State of Illinois
Statewide Roofing License — UNLIMITED
IDFPR License #104.020288 · Active through 12/31/2027 · No restrictions on building type, size, or scope
Federal Contracting
Nationwide SDVOSB Eligibility
SBA VetCert Verified · SAM.gov Active · UEI DE9GQFGAZQH3 · CAGE 6ZF30 · Federal set-aside contracts nationwide
Bilingual Service — English & Spanish. (XRB) Construction Services, LLC serves Chicago's diverse property owner and developer community in both English and Spanish. Hablamos español. Call (312) 656-8984.