Long Grove Home Remodeling

Incorporated in 1956 behind three-acre zoning, the village still prohibits sidewalks and residential streetlights, fostering a rural aesthetic that homeowners cherish. Its 1840s German-settled crossroads downtown, anchored by landmarks like the Robert Parker Coffin covered bridge and Long Grove Community Church, became Illinois' first local historic district in 1960.

The village’s housing stock came in waves, creating a diverse range of remodeling opportunities. Long Grove grew from about 1,200 residents in 1970 to more than 8,000 by 2010. This rapid growth meant an influx of custom houses primarily from the 1970s through the 2000s, often built on expansive, wooded lots. Many of these homes, whether in the upscale Royal Melbourne golf community or on acreage along Gilmer and Old McHenry Roads, were designed with more traditional layouts. Early 1970s and 80s homes might feature smaller, enclosed kitchens or less elaborate primary suites.

The village's rapid growth from 1970 to 2010 resulted in many custom houses with traditional layouts, meaning whole-home remodels often involve opening up compartmentalized spaces like smaller, enclosed kitchens from early 1970s and 80s homes. Since only the historic downtown and late-2000s Sunset Grove have municipal water, most whole-home renovations, including kitchen and bathroom expansions, must carefully integrate designs around private wells and septic fields from the outset, which dictates plumbing and layout possibilities. The prohibition of sidewalks and residential streetlights, fostering a rural aesthetic, means exterior modifications must align with this cherished character, while interior structural changes can transform traditional layouts for contemporary living. For additions, understanding the septic field layout is paramount to avoid costly disruptions and sequence work around existing infrastructure, especially for families living through the renovation. The historic district designation around Archer School means any exterior remodeling within that area requires careful review to maintain architectural integrity, impacting how structural changes are planned and executed. Large lot sizes, especially on acreage along Gilmer and Old McHenry Roads, often allow for significant additions or new custom builds, extending the scope of whole-home renovations as older homes reach the end of their lifecycle.

Whole-home remodeling in Long Grove requires comprehensive plan review by the Building Department, encompassing all structural, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing alterations. GS Construction handles all necessary applications, engineering coordination, and inspection scheduling for every phase of a whole-home renovation.