Overview

Illinois weather is known for its extremes, from hot and humid summers to freezing winters with snow and ice. If you’re planning a remodel, these shifting conditions need to be part of your decision-making process. Every choice you make, from windows to roofing, should take the local climate into account. In this blog post, Orland Builders Inc. explains how to plan a remodel that holds up to Illinois weather and keeps your home comfortable year-round.

Highlights

Introduction

What does the weather have to do with your remodeling plans? In a state like Illinois, the answer is actually quite a lot. The region’s climate brings everything from deep freezes and heavy snow to humid summers and high winds. These conditions can take a toll on materials, drive up energy costs, and shorten the lifespan of your upgrades if they aren’t chosen with care.

In this post, Orland Builders Inc. outlines how Illinois weather should factor into your remodeling decisions. Whether you’re updating one room or tackling a full renovation, thinking about climate from the start can help you create a home that’s more durable, more efficient, and more comfortable through every season.

Why Does Climate Matter in a Remodeling Project?

Your home is an envelope that separates you from wind, rain, sun, snow, and everything in between. When those elements fluctuate as widely as they do in the Midwest, every component of your home’s structure and design needs to adapt and perform.

Illinois homeowners experience a wide range of weather-related stressors: hot, humid summers; frigid winters with deep freezes; springtime flooding; and high-wind events in any season. Ignoring these realities during a remodeling project can result in premature wear, increased utility costs, or the need for repairs just a few seasons later.

Choosing materials, layouts, and systems that are suited to this region can increase your home’s resilience, reduce your maintenance load, and even lower your energy bills. And when your home works with the climate rather than against it, you gain comfort, performance, and peace of mind.

Upgrade Insulation and Air Sealing for Year-Round Comfort

Too often, homeowners focus on the flashy parts of remodeling—cabinets, flooring, lighting, and so on—without addressing the foundational elements that actually influence comfort. One of the most impactful changes any Illinois homeowner can make is improving insulation and sealing air leaks.

Adding insulation to attics and exterior walls, particularly in older homes, creates a buffer against temperature swings. It prevents heat from escaping in winter and keeps cool air inside during the summer. Air sealing around doors, windows, ductwork, and plumbing penetrations prevents drafts that compromise both warmth and cooling. Together, these upgrades reduce HVAC strain and increase indoor comfort year-round.

These updates can also help protect your home from the longer-term from:

  • Fluctuating indoor humidity levels
  • Drywall cracking
  • Condensation buildup
  • Wood warping in floors and furniture

Choose Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors

Replacing windows and doors is often approached for cosmetic reasons or convenience (such as replacing sticky or aging frames), but it’s also one of the biggest climate-sensitive remodeling decisions you can make.

In a region with bitter winters and humid summers, energy-efficient windows make a noticeable difference. Look for double or triple-pane units filled with inert gases like argon, and choose low-emissivity (Low-E) glass coatings to reflect heat back into the home during winter and block it out in summer.

Well-installed storm doors and insulated entry doors can reduce drafts and offer additional weather protection, especially in rural or open-exposure lots.

These upgrades help stabilize indoor temperatures, reduce heating and cooling costs, and block out wind, rain, and even allergens. Beyond energy savings, these features often enhance soundproofing—a nice bonus in bustling suburbs or areas near major roads.

If you’re remodeling for accessibility or aging in place, consider wider doors and thresholds with better weatherstripping. These changes improve daily functionality and offer improved protection from the elements.

Prioritize Moisture Management and Durable Remodeling Materials

Moisture is one of the most persistent issues Illinois homeowners face, especially in spring and early summer. Heavy rainfall and snowmelt can lead to basement flooding and mold issues.

Any remodeling project that touches your home’s envelope—the roof, siding, foundation, or basement—should involve waterproofing. Installing a sump pump system, adding a French drain, or upgrading the foundation’s exterior drainage system are all foundational fixes that prevent recurring water damage. Inside the home, selecting moisture-tolerant materials is a smart way to ensure longevity.

We recommend that you consider:

  • Choosing tile or waterproof vinyl in basements instead of carpet, which can harbor mold
  • Using water-resistant drywall (often marked as “green board”) in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and finished basements
  • Opting for cabinetry and flooring that are rated for high-humidity environments, especially in kitchens and baths

These decisions may not be visible on the surface but become evident in how well a space ages. The best remodeling choices are the ones you never regret—even after five or ten years of freeze-thaw cycles.

Plan a Weather-Resistant Roofing Upgrade

Illinois roofs must endure significant snow loads, ice dams, high winds, and hail. Choosing durable materials and ensuring proper installation is essential during any roof-related remodel.

Consider options, such as:

  • Architectural shingles rated for high wind resistance
  • Metal roofing with interlocking panels
  • Impact-resistant shingles

Materials like these aren’t enough, though. Proper roof venting, ice and water shielding along the eaves, and robust gutter systems are crucial details that often get overlooked.

Aesthetics can follow function. Darker roofs might help melt snow more quickly in winter, but they can also contribute to heat gain in summer. Depending on your exposure and attic insulation levels, color and material choice should be part of your roofing discussion. A well-designed roof also takes snow and ice melt into account so that water doesn’t back up under shingles or freeze in gutters.

Select Climate-Ready Siding and Paint Finishes

Vinyl siding remains a popular option, but not all vinyl is created equal. Some varieties become brittle in extreme cold or warp in heat. Fiber cement siding offers better dimensional stability and resistance to weather-related expansion and contraction, making it a good choice for Illinois’ changing climate.

Painted surfaces also deserve climate-aware consideration. If repainting is part of your remodel, select paints formulated for temperature swings and UV resistance. Proper surface prep and timing (avoiding paint application during high humidity or extreme heat or cold) help maximize durability and keep your home looking great longer.

Stone veneer, stucco, and brick exteriors each have unique maintenance needs in freeze-thaw climates, so choosing wisely for your home’s orientation, drainage, and sun exposure pays off in the long run.

Install the Right Flooring for Midwestern Living

Midwestern winters often mean tracked-in snow, slush, and salt. Summertime brings dirt and dust from open windows and yards. Your choice of flooring should match this expectation.

In high-traffic entryways, mudrooms, and kitchens, durable and easy-to-clean surfaces like tile, luxury vinyl plank (LVP), or sealed concrete outperform hardwood or carpet. That said, installing radiant floor heating beneath tile or engineered hardwood is one way to maintain coziness without sacrificing resilience.

What’s the Best Basement Flooring?

Basement floors, particularly, must be selected with moisture in mind. Even finished basements in well-drained lots can become damp during rainy seasons. Products specifically labeled for below-grade installation help prevent warping and mildew.

Design Outdoor Spaces for All Seasons

Illinois homeowners often crave more usable outdoor space, especially as spring and summer arrive. But to make a deck, patio, or sunroom worth the investment, it needs to function in variable weather.

Composite decking resists moisture, mold, and temperature-related expansion. Covered porches with ceiling fans, retractable screens, or infrared heaters can extend the outdoor season by weeks on either side. If your remodel includes a patio or backyard structure, planning for shade, drainage, and wind protection is key.

Built-in storage protects cushions and tools from sudden storms. Ceiling fans make screened porches more comfortable during muggy months. Heated pavers or snow-melting mats can help keep walkways safer in winter.

And if you plan on entertaining, weatherproof lighting and exterior outlets for heaters or speakers are smart additions that increase functionality.

Get Expert Remodeling Help for Illinois Weather

Ultimately, remodeling in a climate as dynamic as Illinois is about thinking holistically. No one product or upgrade will solve every issue. But when your project is approached with an understanding of local weather patterns—the freeze-thaw cycles, humidity fluctuations, and seasonal extremes—every choice becomes an opportunity to future-proof your home.

From the foundation to the roofing, every layer of your remodel can work together to create a living space that’s more beautiful, more comfortable, efficient, and resilient over time. Homes that are built or remodeled to respect their climate are easier to live in, more affordable to maintain, and better equipped to handle whatever the weather brings.

Here at Orland Builders Inc., we understand how unpredictable Midwestern weather can shape the success of a remodeling project. Our team brings years of local experience to help you plan, design, and build spaces that perform well through every season. If you’re planning a remodel and want expert guidance tailored to Illinois conditions, contact us at (708) 645-9915.