Wet Building Solutions has been recommending repairs for moisture intrusion issues, as well as assisting homeowners and Irving Park property owners with carpentry, masonry, roofing and structural engineering services related to moisture intrusion since 2015.

We are a leading resource for all things historic – carpentry, roofing and masonry – a consultancy that Irving Park homeowners trust for guidance on everything from simple door pan flashing installation to rebuilding parapets to roof replacement and truss repair. We take earning our client's trust very seriously.

Wet Building Solution's owner and Chicago's leading moisture intrusion repair specialist, Bob Kelly has evaluated over 400 buildings in and around Chicago. Most of those buildings are now dry or in the process of drying. Click to read testimonials.

Call Wet Building Solutions

312-720-2168

to get the job done right, the first time

To date, Wet Building Solutions has evaluated 7 buildings in Irving Park, including one of the original historic single family homes on the National Register. If you'd like a recommendation from one of your neighbors, give us a call, we will get permission from our client to share their contact information.

Our service list includes the following:

• Moisture Intrusion Diagnosis

• Building Envelope Analysis

• Building Evaluation

• Wet Building Consulting

• Roof Consulting

• Masonry Consulting

Some interesting info about Irving Park...

Irving Park is named after the American author Washington Irving. Old Irving Park has a variety of housing stock with Queen Anne, Victorian and Italianate homes, farmhouses, and bungalows.



Irving Park's development began in 1843 when Major Noble purchased 160 acres from Christopher J. Ward. Noble started a farm. Noble's house on Elston just south of Montrose doubled as the Buckthorn Tavern, serving travelers coming to and from Chicago along North West Plank Road (now Milwaukee Ave). After many years of farming, Noble sold the farm and retired.

Four men from New York, purchased the farm in 1869 and an additional 80-acres south of the Noble farm from John Gray. The intention of the men was to continue farming, but they decided to subdivide their land and create an exclusive settlement.

An agreement was reached with the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad allowing their trains to stop in Irving Park if the developers would build a station. This station continues to serve neighborhood residents today.

The original developers all built mansions along Irving Park Boulevard between 1870 and 1874. All have since been destroyed, with the exception of the Steven A. Race mansion, which was moved at the turn of the century and now stands at 3945 N. Tripp Avenue. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, was watched from the cupolas of several Irving Park homes, brought a new influx of residents who built many unique, but less pretentious homes.

John Gray's, (first Republican sheriff of Cook County), first home, built in 1856 at 4362 W. Grace still stands today. It is remarkably well-preserved and is the oldest house in Irving Park. Gray later built a lavish mansion on the northwest corner of Milwaukee and Lowell to reflect his new-found wealth and it was a community showplace. Indoor plumbing with gold fixtures, exotic woods and expensive marbles highlighted his home. It was destroyed around 1915.

Three subdivisions east of Pulaski led to the development of the area in the late 1890s. West Walker is located between Montrose Avenue and Irving Park Road and is characterized by large single family homes in late Victorian, Foursquare and Revival styles. The area south of Irving Park Road was developed by Samuel Gross and was known as "Gross Boulevard addition to Irving Park". The section between Addison and Avondale was developed as the "Villa addition to Irving Park" and contains many Craftsman and Bungalow style homes. The Villa District, as it is known, is a Chicago Landmark district, dubbed by hallowed journalist Mike Royko as "Polish Kenilworth" due to its dense concentration of polish people.

The early 1980s saw a rebirth for Irving Park as a wider audience discovered the beautiful homes and rich history of the area. The Irving Park Historical Society was formed in 1984, to help preserve the neighborhood's heritage and its irreplaceable architecture, which has survived since the late 19th century. Many homes have been restored and many more restorations are in progress. A survey by volunteers of the Irving Park Historical Society documented several hundred buildings in use which predate 1894, many dating as far back as the 1870s. Some remain intact while many have been modified or remodeled. Others retain just a hint of their former Victorian splendor.

During the 1990s the neighborhood saw an influx of Serbian immigrants, today there are many Serbian-owned cafes and restaurants along Irving Park Road. It is said to have about 2,650 Serbian families living in Irving Park as of 2015.

The Villa district (Polish: Polskie Wille) was built in 1902 by a number of architects, many were influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture. Most notable among these were bungalows designed by the architectural firm of Hatzfeld and Knox. Clarence Hatzfeld also designed the fieldhouse and natatorium in Portage Park.

Irving Park Zip Code: 60618

Trusted building evaluation, leak diagnosis, roofing and masonry consulting for historic and contemporary homes in Irving Park

Why work with just any consultant when you can rely on Bob Kelly from Wet Building Solutions? We are a full service building evaluation, leak diagnosis and engineering services provider. Kelly is also an Illinois licensed roofer and roofing consultant, as well an experienced masonry consultant. Get the peace of mind you deserve working with a reliable consultancy that always goes above and beyond expectations. Call 312-720-2168 to schedule a building evaluation today.