Straight talk, quality craftsmanship, and long-term thinking from the construction company Rock Island homeowners have relied on for years.
Rock Island homeowners have seen the pattern. Contractors who lowball to win the job and pile on change orders later. Crews that disappear at the 80 percent mark. Companies that ghost when the punch list needs closing. We’re the opposite. Northstar Construction has built its reputation across the Quad Cities on doing the work right and staying until it’s finished.
We’re based just across the river in Moline, licensed in Illinois and Iowa, and experienced with the older housing stock that gives Rock Island its character. If a repair beats a full renovation, we’ll tell you. If your project needs more work than you thought because of what’s behind the walls, we’ll show you why before we touch a hammer to it. That’s how we do business in Rock Island.
Home Renovations
Full-home renovations for Rock Island’s older housing stock. We update electrical, plumbing, insulation, kitchens, bathrooms, and finishes while preserving the character that makes older homes worth owning.
Kitchen Remodeling
Layout redesigns, opening closed-off kitchens, custom cabinetry, and full gut renovations. Common in Rock Island homes built when kitchens were closed-off workrooms rather than open family spaces.
Bathroom Remodeling
Master bath renovations, walk-in shower builds, tub-to-shower conversions, and full bathroom reconstruction. We handle waterproofing to a higher standard than most Rock Island contractors.
Home Additions
Room additions, in-law suites, sunrooms, primary suites, and mudroom additions. Designed to match the architecture of your existing Rock Island home rather than looking bolted on.
Second-Story Additions
Building up when your Rock Island lot is too tight to build out. Structural engineering, load-path assessment, and weather-tight construction managed from day one.
Basement Renovations
Family rooms, guest suites, home theaters, and custom bars. Older Rock Island homes often have limestone or rubble stone foundations that require careful moisture management before finishing.
Whole-Home Remodels
Top-to-bottom transformations for Rock Island homes that need to be brought into this century without losing their soul.
Exterior Renovations
Siding, windows, doors, porches, and curb appeal projects. Historic Rock Island homes often need material sourcing that matches original profiles.
Commercial Construction
Retail, restaurant, office, and multi-family projects across Rock Island’s commercial corridors. Build-outs, tenant improvements, and full renovations.
Rock Island has plenty of contractors bidding on jobs, including plenty of storm chasers and out-of-state operators. Here’s what makes us different:
A lot of Rock Island’s housing stock predates World War II, especially in the Broadway Historic District, Highland Park, Longview Park, and the neighborhoods around Augustana College. Working on these homes takes real experience:
Balloon Framing
Homes built before 1930 often have balloon framing that runs continuously from foundation to roof without fire blocking. Renovations require careful attention to modern fire code compliance without destroying original structural integrity.
Knob-and-Tube Wiring
Original electrical in older Rock Island homes is usually knob-and-tube, which is legal but not safe for modern electrical loads. Any significant renovation needs electrical upgrades. We plan for that upfront.
Plaster and Lath Walls
Original plaster walls can be preserved with the right techniques. We know when to save them and when replacement is the smarter call.
Cast Iron Drain Stacks
Original plumbing stacks in pre-war homes are often at end-of-life. Bathroom or kitchen remodels are the right time to replace them, not five years later when they fail.
Historic Character
Original trim profiles, hardwood floors, doors, and windows are often better than modern replacements. We work to preserve what should be preserved and upgrade what needs upgrading.
Foundation Assessment
Rock Island’s older neighborhoods have limestone and rubble stone foundations. They behave differently than modern poured concrete. We evaluate each foundation individually before recommending scope, especially for additions or basement finishing.
We build, renovate, and remodel throughout Rock Island, including:
Northstar Construction works throughout the entire Quad Cities region. If you’re outside Rock Island, we serve every neighboring city:
Our home base sits just across from Rock Island in Moline. Same team, same crews, same standards. Full construction and remodeling services throughout Moline neighborhoods.
East Moline, IL
Northstar builds and remodels across East Moline, including mid-century home updates, additions, and full renovations.
For projects across the river in Iowa, Northstar is fully Iowa-licensed and works through Davenport’s permit office regularly. Full-service construction in Davenport across every neighborhood.
Northstar handles premium residential construction in Bettendorf, IA, including custom kitchens, luxury bathrooms, and high-end additions.
For the full picture of what Northstar builds across the region, see our Quad Cities construction company overview.
Yes. We’re licensed in Illinois and Iowa, fully bonded, and insured. We can send current certificates before your project starts.
Yes. Older Rock Island homes are one of our specialties. We’ve worked throughout the Broadway Historic District, Highland Park, and the neighborhoods around Longview Park. We respect original architecture and integrate modern updates without erasing character.
It depends entirely on scope, condition of the existing home, and finish level. We provide detailed written estimates after an on-site consultation. No vague ranges, no allowance games.
We build contingency into every estimate for older Rock Island homes because surprises are the rule, not the exception. When we find something, we document it, explain it, and get your written approval before doing additional scope. Silent change orders don’t happen on our projects.
In most cases, yes. When original profiles are available, we match them. When they aren’t, we source close matches or work with a millwork shop to fabricate custom trim.
Yes. We pull every permit your project requires through Rock Island’s building department and coordinate all inspections. You don’t deal with the city.
Depends on scope and season. Small projects can often start within 4 to 6 weeks. Larger renovations and additions typically require 8 to 16 weeks of lead time for design, selections, permits, and material ordering.
We can walk you through financing options that fit your project budget. Home equity, renovation-specific lending, and cash pay are the most common paths.
No pressure. No sales games. Just a real conversation about your project, an honest assessment of what it takes, and a fair estimate. That’s how we’ve built our reputation in Rock Island, and that’s what you’ll get when you call.
Call (309) 519-4677 or schedule your free consultation online.
