The Norman Notebook

The snow is finally melting, the grass is turning green, and the Chicago-area winter is (hopefully) behind us. While you might be eager to get the patio furniture out, your house needs some attention first. Illinois winters are brutal on buildings. The constant freeze-thaw cycles, heavy snow loads, and high winds take a toll on […]

Driving through Plainfield or Joliet in January, you often see homes dripping with long, sparkling icicles. They look picturesque, almost like a scene from a holiday card. But to a home inspector, those icicles are a screaming red flag. They are the tell-tale sign of an Ice Dam—one of the most destructive forces your home