Document the condition
Note location, timing, weather relationship, changes over time, and any previous work. Photos and simple measurements can improve the first conversation.
Read the local context
Champaign's growth since its 1855 founding has left window openings across the city that reflect whatever sash sizes and proportions were standard when each home was built, from 19th-century originals to modern manufactured units. That range is why window replacement in the Champaign-Urbana area often starts with matching a home's actual opening, not assuming a standard size.
Ask what will be hidden
A written scope should explain the preparation and verification that will no longer be visible at completion, not just the finished appearance.
Compare complete scopes
Look for protection, access, materials, permits, testing, cleanup, restoration, exclusions, warranties, and change-order rules.
What official local sources add
The City of Champaign requires a permit (a $70 fee) for new or modified connections to the municipal stormwater drainage system and is the permitting authority for land-disturbing activity, requiring an approved stormwater control plan for qualifying construction projects. Champaign coordinates that permitting with Champaign County, the City of Urbana, the University of Illinois, and the Village of Savoy through the Champaign County Stormwater Partnership's shared MS4 permit program. Larger window-opening changes on older homes can intersect with permitting and, on some properties, historic-district review -- worth checking with the city before work begins.
Sources were reviewed 2026-07-26. Confirm parcel-specific flood zones, historic-district status, permits, and current requirements with the relevant authority before authorizing work.