Recognizing Liability Concerns in Construction Zones

Recognizing Liability Concerns in Construction Zones

* Case Studies: Successful Residential Foundation Repairs with Carbon Fiber

* Understanding General Liability in Construction and Residential Settings


Okay, let's talk about General Liability, especially how it applies to construction sites and even when you're just doing work around someone's house. Foundation drainage solutions help prevent water-related damage professional slab foundation repair service load-bearing wall. It's really about understanding who's responsible when things go sideways, and believe me, on a construction project, things *can* go sideways.

Think of General Liability insurance like a safety net. It's there to protect you – whether you're the general contractor overseeing a massive development or a handyman fixing a leaky faucet – from financial ruin if someone gets hurt or their property gets damaged because of your work.

Now, recognizing liability concerns in construction zones is HUGE. It's not just about someone tripping over a stray two-by-four (though that's certainly a risk!). It's about understanding the whole ecosystem of potential problems. We're talking about everything from faulty workmanship leading to structural damage down the line, to subcontractors making mistakes that you're ultimately responsible for, to simply not having proper safety protocols in place.

For example, imagine you're building a new deck. You hire a subcontractor to install the railings. They don't properly secure them, and a guest leans against it and falls, seriously injuring themselves. Even though you didn't physically install the railing, as the general contractor (or even just the homeowner hiring the sub), you could be held liable.

Or consider a construction site. There are heavy machines, power tools, and materials everywhere. If you don't have adequate signage, fencing, and safety procedures, and a passerby wanders onto the site and gets hurt, you're likely looking at a general liability claim.

General Liability covers things like bodily injury, property damage, and even things like advertising injury (though that's less common in construction). It pays for the legal defense, settlements, and judgments.

The key takeaway? Don't underestimate the potential liability. It's crucial to have adequate coverage, to understand your contracts inside and out, and most importantly, to prioritize safety *above all else*. Think about it: a little investment in safety training and risk management can save you a whole lot of headache (and money) down the road. Recognizing and mitigating these liability concerns is not just smart business; it's the responsible thing to do.

* Specific Hazards and Risks Associated with Foundation Repair


Foundation repair, while essential for structural integrity, isn't exactly a walk in the park. It's a complex undertaking riddled with potential hazards and risks that can lead to some serious liability concerns in a construction zone. Think about it: you're often dealing with excavation, heavy machinery, unstable ground, and the unpredictable nature of existing structures.

One of the biggies is excavation collapse. Shoring failures or inadequate soil stabilization can bury workers in an instant. This creates a huge risk of injury or even fatalities, and the liability implications are massive. You're talking negligence claims, OSHA investigations, and potentially criminal charges if safety protocols weren't followed to the letter.

Then there's the risk to the existing structure itself. Foundation repair often involves lifting or supporting a building while work is being done. If this isn't done correctly, you can create further damage, like cracks in walls, misaligned doors and windows, or even a catastrophic structural failure. Imagine the homeowner's reaction if their house ends up worse than before the repair started! Lawsuits would be flying thick and fast.

Working around utilities is another landmine. Hitting gas lines, water pipes, or electrical cables during excavation can lead to explosions, flooding, electrocution, and service disruptions. Not only are these hazardous to workers, but they can also impact surrounding properties, leading to widespread damage and a cascade of liability claims.

Let's not forget the risks associated with the materials and equipment used. Heavy machinery like excavators and pile drivers pose a constant threat of accidents. Improperly stored or handled materials, like concrete or chemicals, can also cause injuries. And let's face it, even something as seemingly simple as dust generated during demolition can be a health hazard, especially if it contains asbestos or lead.

Ultimately, recognizing these specific hazards and risks is the first step in mitigating liability. Proper site assessment, detailed planning, rigorous safety protocols, qualified personnel, and adequate insurance coverage are all crucial. Ignoring these aspects is essentially inviting a lawsuit and putting lives at risk. In the world of foundation repair, an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure – and a whole lot less legal trouble.

* Identifying Potential Negligence and Breach of Duty Scenarios


Okay, let's talk about negligence and breaches of duty on construction sites. It's really about figuring out where things could go wrong and who's responsible when they do. Construction zones, as we all know, are inherently risky places. There's heavy machinery, precarious heights, constantly changing environments, and a whole bunch of different trades working in close proximity. That's a recipe for potential accidents, and with accidents often comes the question of liability.

Identifying potential negligence is basically looking ahead and asking, "What could someone do, or fail to do, that would fall below the standard of care a reasonable person would exercise in this situation?" For example, let's say a site supervisor knows a scaffolding plank is cracked but allows workers to continue using it. That's a clear sign of potential negligence. They have a duty to ensure a safe working environment, and ignoring a known hazard is a breach of that duty.

Breach of duty, on the other hand, is the actual failure to meet that standard of care. It's the specific act or omission that leads to harm. Maybe a crane operator lifts a load over an area where workers are present, despite safety regulations prohibiting it. That's a breach. Or perhaps a company fails to properly train its employees on the use of fall protection equipment, and a worker subsequently falls and gets injured. Again, a breach.

Recognizing these scenarios often involves considering things like: proper signage and warnings (are they adequate?), safety protocols (are they being followed?), equipment maintenance (is everything in good working order?), and worker training (are people qualified to do their jobs safely?). Are there obvious hazards that haven't been addressed? Are shortcuts being taken to save time or money that could compromise safety?

Ultimately, it's about anticipating foreseeable risks and making sure reasonable steps are taken to mitigate them. It's not about eliminating all risk – construction is inherently risky – but about reducing it to an acceptable level. When negligence and a breach of duty lead to an injury or damage, that's when liability comes into play, and that's when the finger-pointing and legal battles begin. So, a proactive approach to identifying potential problems is absolutely critical for everyone involved in a construction project.

* Importance of Insurance Coverage for Foundation Repair Businesses


Okay, let's talk about why insurance is absolutely critical for foundation repair businesses operating in construction zones. I mean, think about it. You're dealing with heavy machinery, digging around potentially unstable structures, and working in areas already buzzing with other construction activity. It's a recipe for things to go wrong, even with the best precautions.

The reality is, accidents *happen*. A worker could get injured on the job site. A piece of equipment could damage neighboring property. Or, even worse, faulty repairs could lead to structural problems down the line. Without adequate insurance coverage, a single incident could financially cripple a foundation repair company, potentially putting them out of business and leaving clients in the lurch.

Think of insurance as a safety net. It's there to protect the business from significant financial losses resulting from accidents, injuries, and property damage. General liability insurance is a big one. It covers things like bodily injury, property damage, and even legal defense costs if someone sues the company. Workers' compensation insurance is also essential, covering medical expenses and lost wages for employees injured on the job.

But it doesn't stop there. Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance, is crucial because it protects the company against claims of negligence or mistakes in their professional services. Imagine a design flaw in the repair plan leading to further foundation problems. This type of insurance would help cover the costs of rectifying the issue and any associated legal fees.

Beyond just protecting the business, having comprehensive insurance also gives clients peace of mind. Knowing that the foundation repair company is properly insured demonstrates professionalism and responsibility. It assures clients that the company is prepared to handle any unforeseen issues that may arise and that they won't be left holding the bag if something goes wrong.

In short, for foundation repair businesses navigating the often-complex and potentially hazardous environment of construction zones, robust insurance coverage isn't just a good idea – it's an absolute necessity for long-term survival and building trust with clients. It's an investment in the business's future and a commitment to responsible operations.

* The Role of Contracts and Warranties in Mitigating Liability


Construction zones: a hive of activity, progress, and unfortunately, potential liability. Amidst the heavy machinery, complex tasks, and constant movement, the risk of accidents and errors looms large. Recognizing these liability concerns is paramount, and a key strategy for managing them lies in the careful use of contracts and warranties. These aren't just pieces of paper; they're crucial tools for defining responsibilities, allocating risk, and ultimately, mitigating the financial impact of unforeseen events.

Contracts, at their core, are agreements that establish the rules of engagement. In construction, they spell out the duties of each party involved – the owner, the general contractor, subcontractors, suppliers, and even design professionals. A well-drafted contract clearly defines the scope of work, payment schedules, timelines, and perhaps most importantly, the allocation of risk. For instance, a contract might specify who is responsible for damage caused by unforeseen site conditions, delays due to weather, or defects in materials. By explicitly assigning these responsibilities, the contract reduces ambiguity and minimizes the potential for finger-pointing when something goes wrong. Insurance requirements are also often embedded within the contract, ensuring that all parties have adequate coverage in case of accidents or property damage. Furthermore, clauses regarding indemnification can shift the burden of liability from one party to another under specific circumstances.

Warranties, on the other hand, provide assurances about the quality and performance of the work. They're a promise that the finished product will conform to certain standards and will be free from defects for a specified period. Warranties can cover anything from the structural integrity of a building to the functionality of installed equipment. If a defect arises during the warranty period, the responsible party is obligated to repair or replace the faulty work or materials. This provides a crucial safety net for the owner and helps to protect them from incurring significant costs due to substandard workmanship. Moreover, the existence of warranties incentivizes contractors and subcontractors to prioritize quality and ensure that their work meets the required standards.

The effective use of contracts and warranties requires careful planning and meticulous documentation. Contracts should be reviewed by legal professionals to ensure they are comprehensive, enforceable, and tailored to the specific project. Warranties should be clearly stated, with specific terms and conditions, and should be carefully tracked throughout the project lifecycle. Furthermore, regular site inspections and quality control measures can help to identify potential problems early on, allowing for timely corrective action and preventing minor issues from escalating into major liabilities.

In conclusion, navigating the liability landscape of construction zones demands a proactive and strategic approach. Contracts and warranties are not just legal formalities; they are essential tools for managing risk, defining responsibilities, and protecting all parties involved. By carefully crafting and implementing these instruments, construction professionals can significantly mitigate their exposure to liability and ensure the successful completion of their projects. Ignoring them is akin to building a structure on a foundation of sand – a recipe for potential disaster.

* Compliance with Building Codes and Safety Regulations


Okay, let's talk about building codes and safety regulations in construction zones – specifically, how flouting them can land you in a heap of legal trouble. It's not just about getting a slap on the wrist; we're talking about serious liability concerns here.

Imagine a scenario: a contractor decides to cut corners on fireproofing materials to save a few bucks. The building goes up, everyone's happy, right? Wrong. Years later, a fire breaks out, spreads rapidly because of the substandard materials, and people are injured or, God forbid, killed. Guess who's going to be facing lawsuits? The contractor, the architects, maybe even the developers. Why? Because they didn't comply with the building codes designed specifically to prevent that kind of catastrophe.

It's not just fire safety, either. Think about structural integrity. Ignoring soil testing recommendations, using inferior concrete, or failing to properly reinforce a foundation – these are all violations of building codes that can lead to collapses, injuries, and massive liability. The "I didn't think it was *that* important" defense isn't going to hold up in court when someone's life has been impacted by negligence.

And let's not forget about safety regulations on the construction site itself. Failing to provide proper fall protection, not enforcing hard hat rules, or neglecting to properly train workers on equipment – these are all breeding grounds for accidents. If a worker gets hurt because of a safety violation, the company is going to be held responsible. Worker's compensation claims are just the beginning; there could be lawsuits alleging negligence and recklessness.

The bottom line is this: compliance with building codes and safety regulations isn't just some bureaucratic hassle. It's about protecting lives, preventing injuries, and mitigating risk. Ignoring these rules is a gamble with incredibly high stakes. Sure, you might save a little time or money in the short term, but the potential legal and financial consequences of non-compliance can be devastating. So, take it seriously. Know the codes. Follow the regulations. It's not just good business; it's the right thing to do.

* Documentation and Record-Keeping Best Practices


Okay, let's talk about keeping good records and documents when we're dealing with liability worries on a construction site. Think of it this way: documentation is your safety net. It's what you'll rely on if something goes wrong and someone starts pointing fingers.

First off, why is this so crucial? Construction zones are, let's face it, inherently risky places. There are moving vehicles, heavy equipment, uneven surfaces, and a whole lot of potential hazards. Because of that, the potential for accidents, injuries, and property damage is pretty high, and that naturally leads to liability concerns. Good documentation helps you prove you took reasonable steps to prevent those incidents.

So, what kind of stuff are we talking about documenting? Well, everything relevant, really. Safety plans are a must. These aren't just documents to file away, they should be living, breathing guidelines that everyone knows and follows. Keep records of all safety training, toolbox talks, and safety meetings. Sign-in sheets, attendance records, and summaries of what was discussed are all vital.

Beyond that, think about daily logs. These should detail site conditions, work being performed, any near misses, and any incidents that did occur, no matter how small they might seem at the time. Photos and videos are your friends here. A picture really is worth a thousand words, especially when it comes to demonstrating that you've addressed a hazard or followed proper procedures.

Then there's the paperwork related to inspections. Regular site inspections, equipment inspections, and material inspections are essential. Document the findings, the corrective actions taken, and who signed off on everything. If you found a faulty piece of equipment and took it out of service until it was repaired, make sure that's meticulously recorded.

Also, don't forget about change orders and modifications to the original plans. These need to be documented thoroughly, with clear explanations of why the changes were made and how they were approved. A verbal okay just doesn't cut it.

And finally, keep it organized. A jumbled mess of papers is as good as no documentation at all. Establish a clear system for storing and retrieving documents, whether it's a digital system or a well-organized physical filing system. Make sure everyone on the team knows how to access the information they need.

The bottom line is, good documentation isn't just about covering your backside. It's about creating a safer work environment for everyone. It shows that you're proactive, responsible, and committed to preventing accidents. And in the long run, that can save you a whole lot of headaches – and potentially a whole lot of money.



 

Chicago metropolitan area
Conurbation
Chicago–Naperville, IL–IN–WI
Combined Statistical Area
From top, left to right: Chicago skyline from Lakefront Trail at Northerly Island during sunrise, aerial view Evanston, view of Gold Coast, Downtown Naperville, view of Downtown Aurora
Map
Map of Chicago–Naperville, IL–IN–WI CSA
  Chicago–Naperville–Schaumburg, IL
  Elgin, IL Metropolitan Division
  Lake County, IL Metropolitan Division
  Lake County–Porter County–Jasper Cty, IN

Other Statistical Areas in the Chicago CSA

  Kenosha, WI MSA
  Ottawa, IL µSA
  Michigan City–La Porte, IN MSA
  Kankakee, IL MSA

 

Country United StatesStates Illinois
Indiana
WisconsinCore city ChicagoSatellite cities

  •  - Aurora
  •  - Elgin
  •  - Crystal Lake
  •  - Joliet
  •  - Naperville
  •  - Schaumburg
  •  - Waukegan
  •  - Kankakee
  •  - Gary
  •  - Hammond
  •  - Michigan City
  •  - Kenosha

Area

 

 • Metro

 

10,856 sq mi (28,120 km2)Highest elevation

[1]

673 ft (205 m)Lowest elevation

[1]

579 ft (176 m)Population

 

 • Density886/sq mi (342/km2) • Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (2022)

 

9,441,957[2] (3rd) • Combined Statistical Area (CSA) (2022)

 

9,806,184 [3] (4th)DemonymChicagolanderGDP

[4]

 • Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)$894.862 billion (2023) • Combined Statistical Area (CSA)$919.229 billion (2023)Time zoneUTC−6 (CST) • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)Area codes219, 224/847, 262, 312/872, 331/630, 574, 464/708, 773/872 and 779/815

The Chicago metropolitan area, also referred to as Chicagoland, is the largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the Midwest, containing the City of Chicago along with its surrounding suburbs and satellite cities. Encompassing 10,286 square mi (28,120 km2), the metropolitan area includes the city of Chicago, its suburbs and hinterland, that span 13 counties across northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. The MSA had a 2020 census population of 9,618,502 and the combined statistical area, which spans 19 counties and additionally extends into southeast Wisconsin, had a population of nearly 10 million people.[5][6] The Chicago area is the third-largest metropolitan area in the United States and the fourth-largest metropolitan area in North America (after Mexico City, New York City, and Los Angeles), and the largest in the Great Lakes megalopolis. Its urban area is one of the 40 largest in the world.

According to the 2020 census, the metropolitan's population is approaching the 10 million mark. The metropolitan area has seen a substantial increase of Latin American residents on top of its already large Latino population, and the Asian American population also increased according to the 2020 Census. The metro area has a large number of White, Black, Latino, Asian, and Arab American residents, and also has Native American residents in the region, making the Chicago metropolitan area population truly diverse. The Chicago metropolitan area represents about 3 percent of the entire US population.

Chicagoland has one of the world's largest and most diversified economies. With more than six million full and part-time employees, the Chicago metropolitan area is a key factor of the Illinois economy, as the state has an annual GDP of over $1 trillion.[7] The Chicago metropolitan area generated an annual gross regional product (GRP) of approximately $700 billion in 2018.[8] The region is home to more than 400 major corporate headquarters, including 31 in the Fortune 500[9] such as McDonald's, United, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. With many companies moving to Chicagoland, and many current companies expanding, the area ranked as the nation's top metropolitan area for corporation relocations and expansions for nine consecutive years, the most consecutive years for any region in the country.[10]

The Chicago area is home to a number of the nation's leading research universities including the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, DePaul University, Loyola University, and the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). The University of Chicago and Northwestern University are consistently ranked as two of the best universities in the world.

There are many transportation options around the region. Chicagoland has three separate rail networks; the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and the South Shore Line. The CTA operates elevated and subway lines that run primarily throughout the city, Downtown Chicago, and into some suburbs. The CTA operates some of its rail lines 24 hours a day, every day of the year, nonstop service, making Chicago, New York City, and Copenhagen the only three cities in the world to offer some 24 hour rail service running nonstop, everyday throughout their city limits. The Metra commuter rail network runs numerous lines between Downtown Chicago and suburban/satellite cities, with one line stretching to Kenosha, Wisconsin, which is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The interurban South Shore Line runs between Downtown Chicago and the northwest Indiana portion of the metropolitan area. In addition, Amtrak operates Union Station in Downtown Chicago as one of its largest rail hubs, with numerous lines radiating to and from the station.

CTA bus routes serve the city proper, with some service into the suburbs. Pace bus routes serve the suburbs, with some service into the city. In addition, numerous CTA bus routes operate 24 hours a day, nonstop.

Definitions

[edit]

Chicago Metropolitan statistical area

[edit]
The Chicago–Naperville, IL–IN–WI Combined Statistical Area as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget:
  Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–IN–WI MSA
  Michigan City–La Porte, IN MSA
  Kankakee, IL MSA
  Ottawa, IL MSA

The Chicago metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was originally designated by the United States Census Bureau in 1950. It comprised the Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and Will, along with Lake County in Indiana. As surrounding counties saw an increase in their population densities and the number of their residents employed within Cook County, they met Census criteria to be added to the MSA. The Chicago MSA, now defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–IN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the third-largest MSA by population in the United States. The 2022 census estimate for the population of the MSA was 9,441,957.[11]

The Chicago MSA is further subdivided into four metropolitan divisions. A breakdown of the county constituents and 2021 estimated populations of the four metropolitan divisions of the MSA are as follows:[11]

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–IN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area (9,509,934)

  • Chicago–Naperville–Schaumburg, IL Metropolitan Division (7,159,394)
    • Cook County, Illinois (5,173,146)
    • DuPage County, Illinois (924,885)
    • Grundy County, Illinois (52,989)
    • McHenry County, Illinois (311,122)
    • Will County, Illinois (697,252)
  • Elgin, IL Metropolitan Division (750,869)
    • DeKalb County, Illinois (100,414)
    • Kane County, Illinois (515,588)
    • Kendall County, Illinois (134,867)
  • Lake County, IL Metropolitan Division (711,239)
    • Lake County, Illinois (711,239)
  • Lake County–Porter County–Jasper County, IN Metropolitan Division (719,700)
    • Jasper County, Indiana (33,091)
    • Lake County, Indiana (498,558)
    • Newton County, Indiana (13,808)
    • Porter County, Indiana (174,243)

Combined statistical area

[edit]

The OMB also defines a slightly larger region as a combined statistical area (CSA). The Chicago–Naperville, IL–IN–WI Combined Statistical Area combines the following core-based statistical areas, listed with their 2021 estimated populations. The combined statistical area as a whole had a population of 9,806,184 as of 2022.[11]

  • Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–IN–WI metropolitan statistical area (9,509,934)
  • Kankakee, IL metropolitan statistical area (106,601)
    • Kankakee County, Illinois (106,601)
  • Michigan City–La Porte, IN metropolitan statistical area (112,390)
    • LaPorte County, Indiana (112,390)
  • Ottawa, IL micropolitan statistical area (147,414)
    • Bureau County, Illinois (32,883)
    • LaSalle County, Illinois (108,965)
    • Putnam County, Illinois (5,566)

United Nations' Chicago urban agglomeration

[edit]

The Chicago urban agglomeration, according to the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects report (2023 revision), lists a population of 8,937,000.[12] The term "urban agglomeration" refers to the population contained within the contours of a contiguous territory inhabited at urban density levels. It usually incorporates the population in a city, plus that in the contiguous urban, or built-up area.

Chicagoland

[edit]
Chicagoland by county and state[13]
A map of Chicagoland in relation to the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana

Chicagoland is an informal name for the Chicago metropolitan area. The term Chicagoland has no official definition, and the region is often considered to include areas beyond the corresponding MSA, as well as portions of the greater CSA.[citation needed]

Colonel Robert R. McCormick, editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, usually gets credit for placing the term in common use.[14][15] McCormick's conception of Chicagoland stretched all the way to nearby parts of four states (Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa).[14] The first usage was in the Tribune's July 27, 1926, front page headline, "Chicagoland's Shrines: A Tour of Discoveries", for an article by reporter James O'Donnell Bennett.[16] He stated that Chicagoland comprised everything in a 200-mile (320 km) radius in every direction and reported on many different places in the area. The Tribune was the dominant newspaper in a vast area stretching to the west of the city, and that hinterland was closely tied to the metropolis by rail lines and commercial links.[17]

Today, the Chicago Tribune's usage includes the city of Chicago, the rest of Cook County, eight nearby Illinois counties (Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Will, and Kankakee), and the two Indiana counties of Lake and Porter.[18] Illinois Department of Tourism literature uses Chicagoland for suburbs in Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane, and Will counties,[19] treating the city separately. The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce defines it as all of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties.[20]

In addition, company marketing programs such as Construction Data Company's[21] "Chicago and Vicinity" region and the Chicago Automobile Trade Association's "Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana" advertising campaign are directed at the MSA itself, as well as LaSalle, Winnebago (Rockford), Boone, and Ogle counties in Illinois, in addition to Jasper, Newton, and La Porte counties in Indiana and Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth counties in Wisconsin, and even as far northeast as Berrien County, Michigan. The region is part of the Great Lakes Megalopolis, containing an estimated 54 million people.[citation needed]

Collar counties

[edit]

The term "collar counties" is a colloquialism for the five counties (DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will) of Illinois that border Chicago's Cook County. After Cook County, they are also the next five most populous counties in the state. According to the Encyclopedia of Chicago, there is no specifically known origin of the phrase, but it has been commonly used among policy makers, urban planners, and in the media. However, it also notes that as growth has spread beyond these counties, it may have lost some of its usefulness.[22]

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

[edit]

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is an Illinois state agency responsible for transportation infrastructure, land use, and long-term economic development planning for the areas under its jurisdiction within Illinois.[23] The planning area has a population of over 8 million, which includes the following locations in Illinois:[24]

  • Cook County
  • DuPage County
  • Kane County
  • Kendall County
  • Lake County
  • McHenry County
  • Will County
 
 
Panorama of North Avenue Beach

Geography and environment

[edit]

The city of Chicago lies in the Chicago Plain, a flat and broad area characterized by little topographical relief. The few low hills are sand ridges. North of the Chicago Plain, steep bluffs and ravines run alongside Lake Michigan.

Along the southern shore of the Chicago Plain, sand dunes run alongside the lake. The tallest dunes reach up to near 200 feet (61 m) and are found in Indiana Dunes National Park. Surrounding the low plain are bands of moraines in the south and west suburbs. These areas are higher and hillier than the Chicago Plain. A continental divide, separating the Mississippi River watershed from that of the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River, runs through the Chicago area.

A 2012 survey of the urban trees and forests in the seven county Illinois section of the Chicago area found that 21% of the land is covered by the tree and shrub canopy, made up of about 157,142,000 trees. The five most common tree species are buckthorn, green ash, boxelder, black cherry, and American elm. These resources perform important functions in carbon storage, water recycling, and energy saving.[25][26]

The Chicago skyline
 
Night aerial view of Chicago and vicinity

Demographics

[edit]
Taken from the ISS on June 23, 2022; downtown Chicago is at the center by the lake.

As of 2022, the metropolitan area had a population of 9,442,159. The population density was 1,312.3 per square mile. The racial makeup was 50.1% Non-Hispanic White, 23.4% were Hispanic, 15.5% were Non-Hispanic African Americans, 7.2% were Asian, 0.1% were Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.4% identified as “some other race,” and 3.2% were non-Hispanic multiracial.[27]

According to 2022 estimates from the American Community Survey, the largest ancestries in the Chicago metro area were Mexican (18%), African (17.7%), German (12.8%), Irish (9.9%), Polish (8%), Italian (5.9%), English (5.2%), Indian (2.7%), Puerto Rican (2.3%), Filipino (1.7%), Swedish (1.5%), and Chinese (1.4%).[28][29][30][31]

The suburbs, surrounded by easily annexed flat ground, have been expanding at a tremendous rate since the early 1960s. Aurora, Elgin, Joliet, and Naperville are noteworthy for being four of the few boomburbs outside the Sun Belt, West Coast and Mountain States regions, and exurban Kendall County ranked as the fastest-growing county (among counties with a population greater than 10,000) in the United States between the years 2000 and 2007.[32]

Settlement patterns in the Chicago metropolitan area tend to follow those in the city proper: the northern and northwestern suburbs are generally affluent and upper-middle class, while the southern suburbs (sometimes known as Chicago Southland) have somewhat lower median incomes and a cost of living, with the exception being the southwest suburbs which contain many upper-middle class areas. Another exception to this is the West Side, which has a somewhat lower median income, but the western suburbs contain many affluent and upper-middle class areas. According to the 2000 Census, DuPage County as a whole had the highest median household income of any county in the Midwestern United States, although there are individual cities and towns in other surrounding counties in the metro that have even higher median incomes.

According to 2022 estimates from the U.S. Census, poverty rates of the largest counties from least poverty to most are as follows: McHenry 4.0%, Dupage 6.7%, Will 6.9%, Kane 7.8%, Lake 8.0%, and Cook 13.6%.[33] However, Cook County, which contains luxury high rises and expensive houses in sections of the city and expensive houses along the waterfront in the North Shore area, would also have the highest percentage of expensive homes in the region.

In an in-depth historical analysis, Keating (2004, 2005) examined the origins of 233 settlements that by 1900 had become suburbs or city neighborhoods of the Chicago metropolitan area. The settlements began as farm centers (41%), industrial towns (30%), residential railroad suburbs (15%), and recreational/institutional centers (13%). Although relations between the different settlement types were at times contentious, there also was cooperation in such undertakings as the construction of high schools.[citation needed]

Population

[edit]

As the Chicago metropolitan area has grown, more counties have been partly or totally assimilated with the taking of each decennial census.

Census Area Area Type 2020 census 2010 census 2000 census 1990 census 1980 Census 1970 census 1960 census 1950 census
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan 9,618,502 9,461,105 9,098,316 8,065,633 7,869,542 7,612,314 6,794,461 5,495,364
Cook County, Illinois Metropolitan 5,275,541 5,194,675 5,376,741 5,105,067 5,253,655 5,492,369 5,129,725 4,508,792
DeKalb County, Illinois Metropolitan 100,420 105,160 88,969 77,932 74,624 71,654 51,714 40,781
DuPage County, Illinois Metropolitan 932,877 916,924 904,161 781,666 658,835 491,882 313,459 154,599
Grundy County, Illinois Metropolitan 52,533 50,063 37,535 32,337 30,582 26,535 22,350 19,217
Kane County, Illinois Metropolitan 516,522 515,269 404,119 317,471 278,405 251,005 208,246 150,388
Kendall County, Illinois Metropolitan 131,869 114,736 54,544 39,413 37,202 26,374 17,540 12,115
McHenry County, Illinois Metropolitan 310,229 308,760 260,077 183,241 147,897 111,555 84,210 50,656
Will County, Illinois Metropolitan 696,355 677,560 502,266 357,313 324,460 249,498 191,617 134,336
Jasper County, Indiana Metropolitan 32,918 33,478 30,043 24,960 26,138 20,429 18,842 17,031
Lake County, Indiana Metropolitan 498,700 496,005 484,564 475,594 522,965 546,253 513,269 368,152
Newton County, Indiana Metropolitan 13,830 14,244 14,566 13,551 14,844 11,606 11,502 11,006
Porter County, Indiana Metropolitan 173,215 164,343 146,798 128,932 119,816 87,114 60,279 40,076
Lake County, Illinois Metropolitan 714,342 703,462 644,356 516,418 440,372 382,638 293,656 179,097
Kenosha County, Wisconsin Metropolitan 169,151 166,426 149,577 128,181 123,137 117,917 100,615 75,238
Kankakee County, Illinois Combined 107,502 113,449 103,833 96,255 102,926 97,250 92,063 73,524
LaSalle County, Illinois Combined 109,658 113,924 111,509 106,913 112,003 111,409 110,800 100,610
Bureau County, Illinois Combined 33,244 34,978 35,503 35,688 39,114 38,541 37,594 37,711
Putnam County, Illinois Combined 5,637 6,006 6,086 5,730 6,085 5,007 4,570 4,746
LaPorte County, Indiana Combined 112,417 111,467 110,106 107,066 108,632 105,342 95,111 76,808
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL-IN-WI Combined 9,986,960 9,686,021 9,312,255 8,385,397 8,264,490 8,089,421 7,204,198 5,911,816

Counties highlighted in gray were not included in the MSA for that census. The CSA totals in blue are the totals of all the counties listed above, regardless of whether they were included in the Chicago Combined Statistical Area at the time.[34]

Principal municipalities

[edit]

Over 1,000,000 population

[edit]
  • Chicago (2,746,388)

Over 100,000 population

[edit]
  • Aurora, Illinois (180,542)
  • Joliet, Illinois (150,362)
  • Naperville, Illinois (149,540)
  • Elgin, Illinois (114,797)

Over 50,000 population

[edit]
  • Kenosha, Wisconsin (99,986)
  • Waukegan, Illinois (89,321)
  • Cicero, Illinois (85,268)
  • Schaumburg, Illinois (78,723)
  • Evanston, Illinois (78,110)
  • Hammond, Indiana (77,879)
  • Arlington Heights, Illinois (77,676)
  • Bolingbrook, Illinois (73,922)
  • Gary, Indiana (69,093)
  • Palatine, Illinois (67,908)
  • Skokie, Illinois (67,824)
  • Des Plaines, Illinois (60,675)
  • Orland Park, Illinois (58,703)
  • Oak Lawn, Illinois (58,362)
  • Berwyn, Illinois (57,250)
  • Mount Prospect, Illinois (56,852)
  • Tinley Park, Illinois (55,971)
  • Oak Park, Illinois (54,583)
  • Wheaton, Illinois (53,970)
  • Downers Grove, Illinois (50,247)
 
View of Chicago greater metropolitan region and the dense downtown area from the Willis Tower
 
View of Chicago greater metropolitan region and the North branch of the Chicago River from the Willis Tower

Urban areas within

[edit]

Within the boundary of the 16-county Chicago Combined Statistical Area lies the Chicago urban area, as well as 26 smaller urban areas.[35] Some of the urban areas below may partially cross into other statistical areas. Only those situated primarily within the Chicago combined statistical area are listed here.

Urban areas contained within the Chicago combined statistical area as of the 2020 census:
  Urban areas
  Counties in the Chicago MSA
  Counties in the Chicago CSA but not the MSA
Urban area Population
(2020 census)
Land area
(sq mi)
Land area
(km2)
Density
(population / sq mi)
Density
(population / km2)
Chicago, IL–IN 8,671,746 2,337.89 6,055.09 3,709.2 1,432.1
Round Lake Beach–McHenry–Grayslake, IL–WI 261,835 127.61 330.52 2,051.8 792.2
Kenosha, WI 125,865 56.17 145.48 2,240.8 865.2
Michigan City–La Porte, IN–MI 71,367 49.16 127.32 1,451.7 560.5
Kankakee, IL 66,530 31.66 82.00 2,101.4 811.3
DeKalb, IL 64,736 25.63 66.39 2,525.6 975.1
Valparaiso–Shorewood Forest, IN 51,867 33.64 87.12 1,542.0 595.4
Peru–LaSalle, IL 29,763 21.45 55.56 1,387.4 535.7
Woodstock, IL 25,298 9.31 24.10 2,718.7 1,049.7
Ottawa, IL 20,122 9.99 25.87 2,014.2 777.7
Streator, IL 16,209 8.12 21.04 1,995.3 770.4
Coal City–Braidwood, IL 15,837 10.29 26.65 1,539.4 594.4
Morris, IL 15,740 8.64 22.37 1,822.2 703.5
Lowell, IN 10,747 5.28 13.66 2,037.2 786.6
Manteno, IL 10,437 6.01 15.56 1,736.8 670.6
Harvard, IL 9,376 4.36 11.30 2,148.7 829.6
Princeton, IL 7,979 6.20 16.06 1,287.1 497.0
Marengo, IL 7,509 3.81 9.86 1,971.5 761.2
Lake Holiday, IL 7,313 4.30 11.14 1,700.5 656.6
Mendota, IL 6,918 2.85 7.38 2,426.2 936.8
Wilmington, IL 6,388 3.95 10.23 1,617.3 624.5
McHenry Northwest–Wonder Lake, IL 5,758 2.35 6.08 2,453.6 947.4
Hampshire, IL 5,699 2.72 7.06 2,091.4 807.5
Rensselaer, IN 5,509 3.23 8.37 1,703.9 657.9
Genoa, IL 5,484 2.20 5.69 2,498.0 964.5
Westville, IN 5,189 2.10 5.45 2,466.0 952.1
Marseilles, IL 4,660 2.39 6.19 1,948.4 752.3

Economy

[edit]
Westward view from the Willis Tower in Chicago

The Chicago metropolitan area is home to the corporate headquarters of 57 Fortune 1000 companies, including AbbVie Inc., Allstate, Kraft Heinz, McDonald's, Mondelez International, Motorola, United Airlines, Walgreens, and more. The Chicago area also headquarters a wide variety of global financial institutions including Citadel LLC, Discover Financial Services, Morningstar, Inc., CNA Financial, and more. Chicago is home to the largest futures exchange in the world, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. In March 2008, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange announced its acquisition of NYMEX Holdings Inc, the parent company of the New York Mercantile Exchange and Commodity Exchange. CME'S acquisition of NYMEX was completed in August 2008.

A key piece of infrastructure for several generations was the Union Stock Yards of Chicago, which from 1865 until 1971 penned and slaughtered millions of cattle and hogs into standardized cuts of beef and pork. This prompted poet Carl Sandburg to describe Chicago as the "Hog Butcher for the World".[36]

The Chicago area, meanwhile, began to produce significant quantities of telecommunications gear, electronics, steel, crude oil derivatives, automobiles, and industrial capital goods.

By the early 2000s, Illinois' economy had moved toward a dependence on high-value-added services, such as financial trading, higher education, logistics, and health care. In some cases, these services clustered around institutions that hearkened back to Illinois's earlier economies. For example, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, a trading exchange for global derivatives, had begun its life as an agricultural futures market.

In 2007, the area ranked first among U.S. metro areas in the number of new and expanded corporate facilities.[37] It ranked third in 2008, behind the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown and Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan areas,[38] and ranked second behind the New York metropolitan area in 2009.[39]

The Wall Street Journal summarized the Chicago area's economy in November 2006 with the comment that "Chicago has survived by repeatedly reinventing itself."[40]

Transportation

[edit]
O'Hare Airport
Chicago 'L' in the Loop
Metra surface rail
The Eisenhower Expressway with the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line tracks and the non-revenue ramp that leads to the Pink Line

Major airports

[edit]
  • Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
  • Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
  • Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) (located in the adjacent Milwaukee metropolitan area)
  • Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) (located in the adjacent Rockford metropolitan area)
  • Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY)

Commercial ports

[edit]
  • Port of Chicago
  • Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor

Transit systems

[edit]

Commercial freight

[edit]

Chicago has been at the center of the United States' railroad network since the 19th century. Almost all Class I railroads serve the area, the most in North America.[41]

Passenger

[edit]
  • Chicago Transit Authority trains, locally referred to as "the 'L'", (after "elevated train") serving Chicago and the near suburbs
  • Pace Suburban Bus operates suburban bus and regional vanpool, paratransit, and ride-matching services in the Chicagoland region.
  • Metra run by the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation:
    • 4 lines serving southern Cook County and Will County
    • 3 lines serving western Cook County, DuPage County, and Kane County
    • 2 lines serving northern Cook County and Lake County
    • 1 line serving northern Cook County, Lake County, and Kenosha County
    • 1 line serving northwestern Cook County and McHenry County
  • South Shore Line shares the Metra Electric Line in Illinois and connects Chicago to Gary, Michigan City, and ending at South Bend.
  • Amtrak operates Union Station which is the major Amtrak passenger rail hub with connections to Metra and the within a few blocks of connections to several 'L' lines. Amtrak also operates a connecting station out of Joliet.

Major highways

[edit]

Interstates

[edit]
  • Interstate 41 (I-41) runs concurrently with Interstate 94 from the northern terminus of the Tri-State Tollway to Milwaukee.
  • Interstate 55 (I-55) is the Adlai Stevenson Expy.
  • I-355 is the Veterans Memorial Tollway (formerly North-South Tollway).
  • I-57 is unofficially the "West Leg" of the Dan Ryan Expy.
  • I-65 has no name, whether official or unofficial.
  • I-80 is officially called the Borman Expy (cosigned with I-94), Kingery Expy (cosigned with I-94 for 3 miles), Tri-State Tollway (cosigned with I-294 for 4 miles) and is unofficially called the Moline Expy west of I-294.
  • I-88 is the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (formerly East-West Tollway)
  • I-90 is locally known as Jane Addams Tollway (formerly Northwest Tollway), John F. Kennedy Expy (cosigned with I-94), Dan Ryan Expy (cosigned with I-94), and Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge.
  • I-94 is Tri-State Tollway in Lake County, Edens Spur, Edens Expy, John F. Kennedy Expy (cosigned with I-90), Dan Ryan Expy (cosigned with I-90), Bishop Ford Frwy (formerly Calumet Expy), Kingery Expy (cosigned with I-80) and Borman Expy (cosigned with I-80).
  • I-190 is the John F. Kennedy Expy spur heading into Chicago-O'Hare Int'l Airport.
  • I-290 is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Expy.
  • I-294 is the Tri-State Tollway.

Other main highways

[edit]
  • US Routes in the Illinois part of the area include: US 6, US 12, US 14, US 20, US 30, US 34, US 41, US 45, and US 52.
  • Illinois Route 53, an arterial north–south state highway running through Grundy, Will, DuPage, Cook and Lake counties
  • Historic US Route 66's eastern terminus is in Chicago.

Major corridors

[edit]

In addition to the Chicago Loop, the metro area is home to a few important subregional corridors of commercial activities. Among them are:

  • Illinois Technology and Research Corridor, along the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88)
  • Golden Corridor, along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (Interstate 90)
  • Lakeshore Corridor, along the Edens Expressway and Tri-State Tollway

Culture

[edit]

Sports

[edit]

Listing of the professional sports teams in the Chicago metropolitan area

Major league professional teams:

  • Major League Baseball (MLB)
    • Chicago Cubs
    • Chicago White Sox
  • National Football League (NFL)
    • Chicago Bears
  • National Basketball Association (NBA)
    • Chicago Bulls
  • National Hockey League (NHL)
    • Chicago Blackhawks
  • Major League Soccer (MLS)
    • Chicago Fire FC

Other professional teams:

  • Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
    • Chicago Sky
  • National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
    • Chicago Stars FC
  • American Association of Professional Baseball (AA)
    • Chicago Dogs
    • Kane County Cougars
    • Gary SouthShore RailCats
  • American Hockey League (AHL)
    • Chicago Wolves
  • NBA G League (NBAGL)
    • Windy City Bulls
  • Major League Rugby (MLR)
    • Chicago Hounds

The Chicagoland Speedway oval track has hosted NASCAR Cup Series and IndyCar Series races. The Chicago Marathon is one of the World Marathon Majors. The Western Open and BMW Championship are PGA Tour tournaments that have been held primarily at golf courses near Chicago.

NCAA Division I College Sports Teams:

  • Atlantic 10 Conference
    • Loyola University Chicago Ramblers
  • Big East Conference
    • DePaul University Blue Demons
  • Big Ten Conference
    • Northwestern University Wildcats (Evanston)
  • Mid-American Conference
    • Northern Illinois University Huskies (DeKalb)
  • Missouri Valley Conference
    • University of Illinois Chicago Flames
    • Valparaiso University Beacons (Valparaiso, IN)
  • Northeast Conference
    • Chicago State University Cougars

Cuisine

[edit]
  • Chicago-style hot dog
  • Chicago-style pizza
  • Italian beef
  • Caramel popcorn

Media

[edit]

The two main newspapers are the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. Local television channels broadcasting to the Chicago market include WBBM-TV 2 (CBS), WMAQ-TV 5 (NBC), WLS-TV 7 (ABC), WGN-TV 9 (Ind), WTTW 11 (PBS), MeTV 23, WCIU 26 (CW), WFLD 32 (FOX), WCPX-TV 38 (Ion), WSNS-TV 44 (Telemundo), WPWR-TV 50 (MyNetworkTV), and WJYS-TV 62 (The Way). Radio stations serving the area include: WBBM (AM), WBEZ, WGN (AM), WMBI, WLS (AM), and WSCR.

Education

[edit]
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago

Elementary and secondary education within the Chicago metropolitan area is provided by dozens of different school districts, of which by far the largest is the Chicago Public Schools with 400,000 students.[42] Numerous private and religious school systems are also found in the region, as well as a growing number of charter schools. Racial inequalities in education in the region remain widespread, often breaking along district boundaries;[43] for instance, educational prospects vary widely for students in the Chicago Public Schools compared to those in some neighboring suburban schools.[44]

Historically, the Chicago metropolitan area has been at the center of a number of national educational movements, from the free-flowing Winnetka Plan to the regimented Taylorism of the Gary Plan.[45] In higher education, University of Chicago founder William Rainey Harper was a leading early advocate of the junior college movement; Joliet Junior College is the nation's oldest continuously operating junior college today.[46] Later U of C president Robert Maynard Hutchins was central to the Great Books movement, and programs of dialogic education arising from that legacy can be found today at the U of C, at Shimer College,[47] and in the City Colleges of Chicago and Oakton College in the Northwest suburbs.[48]

Area codes

[edit]

From 1947 until 1988, the Illinois portion of the Chicago metro area was served by a single area code, 312, which abutted the 815 area code. In 1988 the 708 area code was introduced and the 312 area code became exclusive to the city of Chicago.

It became common to call suburbanites "708'ers", in reference to their area code.

The 708 area code was partitioned in 1996 into three area codes, serving different portions of the metro area: 630, 708, and 847.

At the same time that the 708 area code was running out of phone numbers, the 312 area code in Chicago was also exhausting its supply of available numbers. As a result, the city of Chicago was divided into two area codes, 312 and 773. Rather than divide the city by a north–south area code, the central business district retained the 312 area code, while the remainder of the city took the new 773 code.

In 2002, the 847 area code was supplemented with the overlay area code 224. In February 2007, the 815 area code (serving outlying portions of the metro area) was supplemented with the overlay area code 779. In October 2007, the overlay area code 331 was implemented to supplement the 630 area with additional numbers.

Plans are in place for overlay codes in the 708, 773, and 312 regions as those area codes become exhausted in the future.

  • 312 Chicago - City (The Loop and central neighborhoods, e.g. the Near North Side)
  • 773 Chicago - City (Everywhere else within the city limits, excluding central area)
  • 872 Chicago - City (overlay for 312 & 773, effective November 7, 2009)
  • 847/224 (North and Northwest Suburbs)
  • 630/331 (Outer Western Suburbs)
  • 708 (South and Near West Suburbs)
  • 815/779 (Rockford & Joliet: Far Northwest/Southwest Suburbs)
  • 219 (Northwest Indiana)
  • 574 (North-central Indiana)
  • 262 (Southeast Wisconsin surrounding Milwaukee County)

Proposed overlays

[edit]
  • 464 overlay for 708 (January 21, 2022, rollout)

See also

[edit]
  • Index of Illinois-related articles

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Elevations of the 50 Largest Cities". U.S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2016. Chicago city proper only
  2. ^ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. August 12, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  3. ^ "USA: Combined Metropolitan Areas". CityPopulation.de. August 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "Total Gross Domestic Product for Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (MSA)". Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Combined Statistical Areas in the United States and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019 (CSA-EST2019-ANNRES)". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019 (CBSA-MET-EST2019-ANNRES)". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  7. ^ "CAEMP25N Total Full-Time and Part-Time Employment by NAICS Industry 1/ 2018". Bureau of Economic Analysis. November 14, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  8. ^ "CAGDP1 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) summary by county and metropolitan area 2018". Bureau of Economic Analysis. December 12, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  9. ^ "Economy". Worldbusinesschicago.com. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  10. ^ "Chicago Named Nation's Top Metro Area for Corporate Relocation For the Sixth Straight Year". World Business Chicago. March 25, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2021". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  12. ^ "The World's Cities in 2018" (PDF). United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  13. ^ As defined by Construction Data Company.
  14. ^ a b Fuller, Jack (2005). "Chicagoland". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  15. ^ "The Press: The Colonel's Century". TIME. June 9, 1947. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  16. ^ O'Donnell Bennett, James (July 27, 1926). "Chicagoland's Shrines: A Tour of Discoveries". Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963). Archived from the original on September 10, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  17. ^ Cronon (1992); Keating (2005); Keating (2004)
  18. ^ "Classifieds map of Chicagoland". Chicagotribune.com. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  19. ^ [1] Archived November 10, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "About Chicagoland". Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  21. ^ "Bidtool Coverage area: Chicago, Indiana, Wisconsin, Colorado, Kentucky project leads". Bidtool.net. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  22. ^ Mariner, Richard D. (July 10, 2018). "Collar Counties". The Electrictronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago, IL: Chicago Historical Society (2005), Newberry Library (2004).
  23. ^ "Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning". Chicagoareaplanning.org. Archived from the original on August 12, 2006. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  24. ^ "About - CMAP". Cmap.illinois.gov. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  25. ^ Nowak, David J.; Hoehn, Robert E. III; Bodine, Allison R.; Crane, Daniel E.; Dwyer, John F.; Bonnewell, Veta; Watson, Gary. (September 17, 2013). "Urban trees and forests of the Chicago region". Nrs.fs.fed.us. doi:10.2737/NRS-RB-84. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  26. ^ "Regional Tree Census | The Morton Arboretum". Mortonarb.org. Archived from the original on May 15, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  27. ^ "Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter". censusreporter.org. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  28. ^ "Grid View: Table B04006 - Census Reporter". censusreporter.org. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  29. ^ "Grid View: Table B02018 - Census Reporter". censusreporter.org. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  30. ^ "Grid View: Table B03001 - Census Reporter". censusreporter.org. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  31. ^ "Grid View: Table B02009 - Census Reporter". censusreporter.org. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  32. ^ "Kendall County is fastest growing in the nation". Daily Herald. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  33. ^ "Census profile: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area". Census Reporter. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  34. ^ "Historical Metropolitan Area Definitions". Census.gov. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  35. ^ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  36. ^ Carl Sandburg. "Chicago". Poetry: A Magazine of Verse, vol. 3, no. 6 (March 1914):191-192.
  37. ^ RON STARNER. "TOP METROS OF 2007 - Site Selection magazine, March 2008". Siteselection.com. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  38. ^ RON STARNER (March 9, 2009). "TOP METROS OF 2008 - Site Selection magazine, March 2009". Siteselection.com. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  39. ^ "TOP METROS OF 2009 - Site Selection Magazine, March 2010". Siteselection.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  40. ^ Brat, Ilan (November 8, 2006). "Tale of a Warehouse Shows How Chicago Weathers a Decline". The Wall Street Journal. p. A1. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  41. ^ "Chicago Highlighted as the US Railroad Capital by Trains Magazine". WTTW. February 23, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  42. ^ "About CPS". Chicago Public Schools. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  43. ^ Moore, Natalie (November 12, 2014). "Why so few white kids land in CPS — and why it matters". WBEZ. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  44. ^ Bogira, Steve (October 17, 2012). "Two students, two high schools, two divergent paths to college". Chicago Reader.
  45. ^ Thiede, Robert. "Gary Plan". Britannica.com. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  46. ^ Sydow, Debbie; Alfred, Richard (2012). Re-visioning Community Colleges: Positioning for Innovation. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 13. ISBN 978-1442214880.
  47. ^ Ronson, Jon (December 6, 2014). "Shimer College: The Worst School in America?". The Guardian.
  48. ^ "Great Books program". Oakton Community College. Retrieved January 26, 2015.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Fischer, Paul B. (July 28, 1993). Racial and Locational Patterns of Subsidized Housing in the Chicago Suburbs: A Report to the MacArthur Foundation (Archive). Lake Forest, Ill.: Lake Forest College. Report to the MacArthur Foundation.
  • Lewinnek, Elaine (2014). The Working Man's Reward: Chicago's Early Suburbs and the Roots of American Sprawl. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[edit]
  • Encyclopedia of Chicago (2004), comprehensive coverage of city and suburbs, past and present
  • U.S. Census Urbanized Area Outline Map (2000)
  • Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City, IL-IN-WI Combined Statistical Area (2012) map
  • Illinois CBSAs and Counties (2013) map
  • U.S. Census Bureau Chicago city, Illinois QuickFacts
  • Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas
  • About Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas
  • History of Metropolitan Areas
  • Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals and Components of Change: 2010–2019

 

Suspended slab under construction, with the formwork still in place
Suspended slab formwork and rebar in place, ready for concrete pour.

A concrete slab is a common structural element of modern buildings, consisting of a flat, horizontal surface made of cast concrete. Steel-reinforced slabs, typically between 100 and 500 mm thick, are most often used to construct floors and ceilings, while thinner mud slabs may be used for exterior paving ( see below).[1][2]

In many domestic and industrial buildings, a thick concrete slab supported on foundations or directly on the subsoil, is used to construct the ground floor. These slabs are generally classified as ground-bearing or suspended. A slab is ground-bearing if it rests directly on the foundation, otherwise the slab is suspended.[3] For multi-story buildings, there are several common slab designs (

see § Design for more types):

  • Beam and block, also referred to as rib and block, is mostly used in residential and industrial applications. This slab type is made up of pre-stressed beams and hollow blocks and are temporarily propped until set, typically after 21 days.[4]
  • A hollow core slab which is precast and installed on site with a crane
  • In high rise buildings and skyscrapers, thinner, pre-cast concrete slabs are slung between the steel frames to form the floors and ceilings on each level. Cast in-situ slabs are used in high rise buildings and large shopping complexes as well as houses. These in-situ slabs are cast on site using shutters and reinforced steel.

On technical drawings, reinforced concrete slabs are often abbreviated to "r.c.c. slab" or simply "r.c.". Calculations and drawings are often done by structural engineers in CAD software.

Thermal performance

[edit]

Energy efficiency has become a primary concern for the construction of new buildings, and the prevalence of concrete slabs calls for careful consideration of its thermal properties in order to minimise wasted energy.[5] Concrete has similar thermal properties to masonry products, in that it has a relatively high thermal mass and is a good conductor of heat.

In some special cases, the thermal properties of concrete have been employed, for example as a heatsink in nuclear power plants or a thermal buffer in industrial freezers.[6]

Thermal conductivity

[edit]

Thermal conductivity of a concrete slab indicates the rate of heat transfer through the solid mass by conduction, usually in regard to heat transfer to or from the ground. The coefficient of thermal conductivity, k, is proportional to density of the concrete, among other factors.[5] The primary influences on conductivity are moisture content, type of aggregate, type of cement, constituent proportions, and temperature. These various factors complicate the theoretical evaluation of a k-value, since each component has a different conductivity when isolated, and the position and proportion of each components affects the overall conductivity. To simplify this, particles of aggregate may be considered to be suspended in the homogeneous cement. Campbell-Allen and Thorne (1963) derived a formula for the theoretical thermal conductivity of concrete.[6] In practice this formula is rarely applied, but remains relevant for theoretical use. Subsequently, Valore (1980) developed another formula in terms of overall density.[7] However, this study concerned hollow concrete blocks and its results are unverified for concrete slabs.

The actual value of k varies significantly in practice, and is usually between 0.8 and 2.0 W m−1 K−1.[8] This is relatively high when compared to other materials, for example the conductivity of wood may be as low as 0.04 W m−1 K−1. One way of mitigating the effects of thermal conduction is to introduce insulation (

see § Insulation).

Thermal mass

[edit]

The second consideration is the high thermal mass of concrete slabs, which applies similarly to walls and floors, or wherever concrete is used within the thermal envelope. Concrete has a relatively high thermal mass, meaning that it takes a long time to respond to changes in ambient temperature.[9] This is a disadvantage when rooms are heated intermittently and require a quick response, as it takes longer to warm the entire building, including the slab. However, the high thermal mass is an advantage in climates with large daily temperature swings, where the slab acts as a regulator, keeping the building cool by day and warm by night.

Typically concrete slabs perform better than implied by their R-value.[5] The R-value does not consider thermal mass, since it is tested under constant temperature conditions. Thus, when a concrete slab is subjected to fluctuating temperatures, it will respond more slowly to these changes and in many cases increase the efficiency of a building.[5] In reality, there are many factors which contribute to the effect of thermal mass, including the depth and composition of the slab, as well as other properties of the building such as orientation and windows.

Thermal mass is also related to thermal diffusivity, heat capacity and insulation. Concrete has low thermal diffusivity, high heat capacity, and its thermal mass is negatively affected by insulation (e.g. carpet).[5]

Insulation

[edit]

Without insulation, concrete slabs cast directly on the ground can cause a significant amount of extraneous energy transfer by conduction, resulting in either lost heat or unwanted heat. In modern construction, concrete slabs are usually cast above a layer of insulation such as expanded polystyrene, and the slab may contain underfloor heating pipes.[10] However, there are still uses for a slab that is not insulated, for example in outbuildings which are not heated or cooled to room temperature (

see § Mud slabs). In these cases, casting the slab directly onto a substrate of aggregate will maintain the slab near the temperature of the substrate throughout the year, and can prevent both freezing and overheating.

A common type of insulated slab is the beam and block system (mentioned above) which is modified by replacing concrete blocks with expanded polystyrene blocks.[11] This not only allows for better insulation but decreases the weight of slab which has a positive effect on load bearing walls and foundations.

Formwork set for concrete pour.
Concrete poured into formwork. This slab is ground-bearing and reinforced with steel rebar.

Design

[edit]

Ground-bearing slabs

[edit]

Ground-bearing slabs, also known as "on-ground" or "slab-on-grade", are commonly used for ground floors on domestic and some commercial applications. It is an economical and quick construction method for sites that have non-reactive soil and little slope.[12]

For ground-bearing slabs, it is important to design the slab around the type of soil, since some soils such as clay are too dynamic to support a slab consistently across its entire area. This results in cracking and deformation, potentially leading to structural failure of any members attached to the floor, such as wall studs.[12]

Levelling the site before pouring concrete is an important step, as sloping ground will cause the concrete to cure unevenly and will result in differential expansion. In some cases, a naturally sloping site may be levelled simply by removing soil from the uphill site. If a site has a more significant grade, it may be a candidate for the "cut and fill" method, where soil from the higher ground is removed, and the lower ground is built up with fill.[13]

In addition to filling the downhill side, this area of the slab may be supported on concrete piers which extend into the ground. In this case, the fill material is less important structurally as the dead weight of the slab is supported by the piers. However, the fill material is still necessary to support the curing concrete and its reinforcement.

There are two common methods of filling - controlled fill and rolled fill.[13]

  • Controlled fill: Fill material is compacted in several layers by a vibrating plate or roller. Sand fills areas up to around 800 mm deep, and clay may be used to fill areas up to 400 mm deep. However, clay is much more reactive than sand, so it should be used sparingly and carefully. Clay must be moist during compaction to homogenise it.[13]
  • Rolled fill: Fill is repeatedly compacted by an excavator, but this method of compaction is less effective than a vibrator or roller. Thus, the regulations on maximum depth are typically stricter.

Proper curing of ground-bearing concrete is necessary to obtain adequate strength. Since these slabs are inevitably poured on-site (rather than precast as some suspended slabs are), it can be difficult to control conditions to optimize the curing process. This is usually aided by a membrane, either plastic (temporary) or a liquid compound (permanent).[14]

Ground-bearing slabs are usually supplemented with some form of reinforcement, often steel rebar. However, in some cases such as concrete roads, it is acceptable to use an unreinforced slab if it is adequately engineered (

see below).

Suspended slabs

[edit]

For a suspended slab, there are a number of designs to improve the strength-to-weight ratio. In all cases the top surface remains flat, and the underside is modulated:

  • A corrugated slab is designed when the concrete is poured into a corrugated steel tray, more commonly called decking. This steel tray improves strength of the slab, and prevents the slab from bending under its own weight. The corrugations run in one direction only.
  • A ribbed slab gives considerably more strength in one direction. This is achieved with concrete beams bearing load between piers or columns, and thinner, integral ribs in the perpendicular direction. An analogy in carpentry would be a subfloor of bearers and joists. Ribbed slabs have higher load ratings than corrugated or flat slabs, but are inferior to waffle slabs.[15]
  • A waffle slab gives added strength in both directions using a matrix of recessed segments beneath the slab.[16] This is the same principle used in the ground-bearing version, the waffle slab foundation. Waffle slabs are usually deeper than ribbed slabs of equivalent strength, and are heavier hence require stronger foundations. However, they provide increased mechanical strength in two dimensions, a characteristic important for vibration resistance and soil movement.[17]
The exposed underside of a waffle slab used in a multi-storey building

Unreinforced slabs

[edit]

Unreinforced or "plain"[18] slabs are becoming rare and have limited practical applications, with one exception being the mud slab (

see below). They were once common in the US, but the economic value of reinforced ground-bearing slabs has become more appealing for many engineers.[10] Without reinforcement, the entire load on these slabs is supported by the strength of the concrete, which becomes a vital factor. As a result, any stress induced by a load, static or dynamic, must be within the limit of the concrete's flexural strength to prevent cracking.[19] Since unreinforced concrete is relatively very weak in tension, it is important to consider the effects of tensile stress caused by reactive soil, wind uplift, thermal expansion, and cracking.[20] One of the most common applications for unreinforced slabs is in concrete roads.

Mud slabs

[edit]

Mud slabs, also known as rat slabs, are thinner than the more common suspended or ground-bearing slabs (usually 50 to 150 mm), and usually contain no reinforcement.[21] This makes them economical and easy to install for temporary or low-usage purposes such as subfloors, crawlspaces, pathways, paving, and levelling surfaces.[22] In general, they may be used for any application which requires a flat, clean surface. This includes use as a base or "sub-slab" for a larger structural slab. On uneven or steep surfaces, this preparatory measure is necessary to provide a flat surface on which to install rebar and waterproofing membranes.[10] In this application, a mud slab also prevents the plastic bar chairs from sinking into soft topsoil which can cause spalling due to incomplete coverage of the steel. Sometimes a mud slab may be a substitute for coarse aggregate. Mud slabs typically have a moderately rough surface, finished with a float.[10]

Substrate and rebar prepared for pouring a mud slab

Axes of support

[edit]

One-way slabs

[edit]

A one-way slab has moment-resisting reinforcement only in its short axis, and is used when the moment in the long axis is negligible.[23] Such designs include corrugated slabs and ribbed slabs. Non-reinforced slabs may also be considered one-way if they are supported on only two opposite sides (i.e. they are supported in one axis). A one-way reinforced slab may be stronger than a two-way non-reinforced slab, depending on the type of load.

The calculation of reinforcement requirements for a one-way slab can be extremely tedious and time-consuming, and one can never be completely certain of the best design.[citation needed] Even minor changes to the project can necessitate recalculation of the reinforcement requirements. There are many factors to consider during the structural structure design of one-way slabs, including:

  • Load calculations
  • Bending moment calculation
  • Acceptable depth of flexure and deflection
  • Type and distribution of reinforcing steel

Two-way slabs

[edit]

A two-way slab has moment resisting reinforcement in both directions.[24] This may be implemented due to application requirements such as heavy loading, vibration resistance, clearance below the slab, or other factors. However, an important characteristic governing the requirement of a two-way slab is the ratio of the two horizontal lengths. If where is the short dimension and is the long dimension, then moment in both directions should be considered in design.[25] In other words, if the axial ratio is greater than two, a two-way slab is required.

A non-reinforced slab is two-way if it is supported in both horizontal axes.

Construction

[edit]

A concrete slab may be prefabricated (precast), or constructed on site.

Prefabricated

[edit]

Prefabricated concrete slabs are built in a factory and transported to the site, ready to be lowered into place between steel or concrete beams. They may be pre-stressed (in the factory), post-stressed (on site), or unstressed.[10] It is vital that the wall supporting structure is built to the correct dimensions, or the slabs may not fit.

On-site

[edit]

On-site concrete slabs are built on the building site using formwork, a type of boxing into which the wet concrete is poured. If the slab is to be reinforced, the rebars, or metal bars, are positioned within the formwork before the concrete is poured in.[26] Plastic-tipped metal or plastic bar chairs, are used to hold the rebar away from the bottom and sides of the form-work, so that when the concrete sets it completely envelops the reinforcement. This concept is known as concrete cover. For a ground-bearing slab, the formwork may consist only of side walls pushed into the ground. For a suspended slab, the formwork is shaped like a tray, often supported by a temporary scaffold until the concrete sets.

The formwork is commonly built from wooden planks and boards, plastic, or steel. On commercial building sites, plastic and steel are gaining popularity as they save labour.[27] On low-budget or small-scale jobs, for instance when laying a concrete garden path, wooden planks are very common. After the concrete has set the wood may be removed.

Formwork can also be permanent, and remain in situ post concrete pour. For large slabs or paths that are poured in sections, this permanent formwork can then also act as isolation joints within concrete slabs to reduce the potential for cracking due to concrete expansion or movement.

In some cases formwork is not necessary. For instance, a ground slab surrounded by dense soil, brick or block foundation walls, where the walls act as the sides of the tray and hardcore (rubble) acts as the base.

See also

[edit]
  • Shallow foundation (Commonly used for ground-bearing slabs)
  • Hollow-core slab (Voided slab, one-way spanning)
  • Beam and block (voided slab, one way spanning)
  • Voided biaxial slab (Voided slab, two-way spanning)
  • Formwork
  • Precast concrete
  • Reinforced concrete
  • Rebar
  • Concrete cover

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Garber, G. Design and Construction of Concrete Floors. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2006. 47. Print.
  2. ^ Duncan, Chester I. Soils and Foundations for Architects and Engineers. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1992. 299. Print.
  3. ^ "Ground slabs - Introduction". www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au. Archived from the original on 2019-11-18. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  4. ^ "What is a rib and block slab?". www.royalconcreteslabs.co.za. Royal concrete slabs.
  5. ^ a b c d e Cavanaugh, Kevin; et al. (2002). Guide to Thermal Properties of Concrete and Masonry Systems: Reported by ACI Committee 122. American Concrete Institute.
  6. ^ a b Campbell-Allen, D.; Thorne, C.P. (March 1963). "The thermal conductivity of concrete". Magazine of Concrete Research. 15 (43): 39–48. doi:10.1680/macr.1963.15.43.39. UDC 691.32.001:536.21:691.322.
  7. ^ Valore, R.C. Jr. (February 1980). "Calculation of U-values of Hollow Concrete Masonry". Concrete International. 2: 40–63.
  8. ^ Young, Hugh D. (1992). "Table 15.5". University Physics (7th ed.). Addison Wesley. ISBN 0201529815.
  9. ^ Sabnis, Gajanan M.; Juhl, William (2016). "Chapter 4: Sustainability through Thermal Mass of Concrete". Green Building with Concrete: Sustainable Design and Construction (2nd ed.). Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN 978-1-4987-0411-3.
  10. ^ a b c d e Garber, George (2006). Design and Construction of Concrete Floors (2nd ed.). Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-7506-6656-5.
  11. ^ "What is a polystyrene concrete slab?". www.royalconcreteslabs.co.za. Royal concrete slabs.
  12. ^ a b McKinney, Arthur W.; et al. (2006). Design of Slabs-on-Ground: Reported by ACI Committee 360 (PDF). American Concrete Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  13. ^ a b c Staines, Allan (2014). The Australian House Building Manual. Pinedale Press. pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-1-875217-07-6.
  14. ^ "Concrete in Practice 11 - Curing In-Place Concrete" (PDF). Engineering.com. National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Ribbed Slabs Datasheet" (PDF). Kaset Kalip. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  16. ^ "Ribbed and waffle slabs". www.concretecentre.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  17. ^ Concrete Framed Buildings: A Guide to Design and Construction. MPA The Concrete Centre. 2016. ISBN 978-1-904818-40-3.
  18. ^ Garrison, Tim (19 February 2014). "Clearing the confusion on 'plain concrete'". Civil & Structural Engineer. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  19. ^ Walker, Wayne. "Reinforcement for slabs on ground". Concrete Construction. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  20. ^ "Rupture depth of an unreinforced concrete slab on grade" (PDF). Aluminium Association of Florida, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  21. ^ Arcoma, Peter. "What is a mud slab?". Builder-Questions.com. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  22. ^ Postma, Mark; et al. "Floor Slabs". Whole Building Design Guide. National Institute of Building Sciences. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  23. ^ Gilbert, R. I. (1980). UNICIV Report 211 (PDF). University of New South Wales.
  24. ^ Prieto-Portar, L. A. (2008). EGN-5439 The Design of Tall Buildings; Lecture #14: The Design of Reinforced Concrete Slabs (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-29. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  25. ^ "What is the difference between one way and two way slab?". Basic Civil Engineering. 16 June 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  26. ^ Concrete Basics: A Guide to Concrete Practice (6th ed.). Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia. 2004. p. 53.
  27. ^ Nemati, Kamran M. (2005). "Temporary Structures: Formwork for Concrete" (PDF). Tokyo Institute of Technology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
[edit]
  • Concrete Basics: A Guide to Concrete Practice
  • Super Insulated Slab Foundations
  • Design of Slabs on Ground Archived 2021-05-08 at the Wayback Machine

 

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Jeffery James

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Very happy with my experience. They were prompt and followed through, and very helpful in fixing the crack in my foundation.

Sarah McNeily

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USS was excellent. They are honest, straightforward, trustworthy, and conscientious. They thoughtfully removed the flowers and flower bulbs to dig where they needed in the yard, replanted said flowers and spread the extra dirt to fill in an area of the yard. We've had other services from different companies and our yard was really a mess after. They kept the job site meticulously clean. The crew was on time and friendly. I'd recommend them any day! Thanks to Jessie and crew.

Jim de Leon

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It was a pleasure to work with Rick and his crew. From the beginning, Rick listened to my concerns and what I wished to accomplish. Out of the 6 contractors that quoted the project, Rick seemed the MOST willing to accommodate my wishes. His pricing was definitely more than fair as well. I had 10 push piers installed to stabilize and lift an addition of my house. The project commenced at the date that Rick had disclosed initially and it was completed within the same time period expected (based on Rick's original assessment). The crew was well informed, courteous, and hard working. They were not loud (even while equipment was being utilized) and were well spoken. My neighbors were very impressed on how polite they were when they entered / exited my property (saying hello or good morning each day when they crossed paths). You can tell they care about the customer concerns. They ensured that the property would be put back as clean as possible by placing MANY sheets of plywood down prior to excavating. They compacted the dirt back in the holes extremely well to avoid large stock piles of soils. All the while, the main office was calling me to discuss updates and expectations of completion. They provided waivers of lien, certificates of insurance, properly acquired permits, and JULIE locates. From a construction background, I can tell you that I did not see any flaws in the way they operated and this an extremely professional company. The pictures attached show the push piers added to the foundation (pictures 1, 2 & 3), the amount of excavation (picture 4), and the restoration after dirt was placed back in the pits and compacted (pictures 5, 6 & 7). Please notice that they also sealed two large cracks and steel plated these cracks from expanding further (which you can see under my sliding glass door). I, as well as my wife, are extremely happy that we chose United Structural Systems for our contractor. I would happily tell any of my friends and family to use this contractor should the opportunity arise!

Chris Abplanalp

(5)

USS did an amazing job on my underpinning on my house, they were also very courteous to the proximity of my property line next to my neighbor. They kept things in order with all the dirt/mud they had to excavate. They were done exactly in the timeframe they indicated, and the contract was very details oriented with drawings of what would be done. Only thing that would have been nice, is they left my concrete a little muddy with boot prints but again, all-in-all a great job

Dave Kari

(5)

What a fantastic experience! Owner Rick Thomas is a trustworthy professional. Nick and the crew are hard working, knowledgeable and experienced. I interviewed every company in the area, big and small. A homeowner never wants to hear that they have foundation issues. Out of every company, I trusted USS the most, and it paid off in the end. Highly recommend.

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