Help for Homeowners

This Section of the website is designed to help a homeowner with understanding what they are facing when they decide to undertake a construction project. The information should prove equally aplicable to new home construction as well as to home remodeling, additions or home maintenance.

Before we begin, a word of warning to you all: the information that follows is constantly being updated, expanded and insome instances even being corrected. View this site as a starting place, and a place where you might be able to obtain a good answer to a frequently asked question. As wth any matter that is important to your life, the more you know the better off you are, and don't accept my opinion as gospel on anything.

As a further note, it needs to be understood that the information that is here is primarily based on construction practices in Southern Illinois. This areas is best described as the area south of Springfield and extending to the bottom of the state. Sometimes, construction practices differ by region, and often construction codes differ by town, county or state. However, more often than not, construction practices are nearly the same, but, what may be true for St. Louis may not be true for Chicago. Through this website I will give you the tools to help you discover what the practices are in your hometown.

Construction practice, method and material information contained on this website has been reviewed for accuracy by Leroy Dawson, A.I.A. Leroy is an Illinois licensed architect that has for more than 30 years dedicated his life to the pursuit of construction excellence. Not only has Leroy designed buildings, he has built buildings from the footings up. He knows building codes inside and out and has been recognized by his peers as an expert in the area of forensic architecture. Leroy is a past President of the Southern Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture.

Bates can provide services relating to the writing of contracts that will provide protection for a contractor from frivolous claims and has developed other construction documents that will provide a complete documentation system to builders. In addition, Bates can assist with other construction related matters including payment issues, mechanic liens, personnel issues, right to work and union shop disputes, and subcontractor or material performance issues.

If your problem can't be resolved without going to Court, Bates has tried dozens of cases throughout Illinois and Missouri and has brought back positive outcomes nearly every time.

If you would like to learn more about how I might be able to help you in your business, call or e-mail to set up an appointment at your office or mine. Otherwise, please review the FAQ's below or refer to our Resources pages for information that might be helpful to you in your business.