Greystone and courtyard-building basements

Greystones and courtyard apartment buildings are older, heavier and more intertwined than a house. Their basements often hold the boiler, the laundry and the storage. Landmark and preservation guidelines also apply to many of them.

What the sources say

• The Greystone Design Guidelines stress finding root causes first: deteriorating stone often traces back to roof leaks, clogged gutters or settling foundations, and masonry repaired without fixing the leak will keep failing.
• For mechanical systems the guidelines recommend an energy assessment with a blower-door test, replacing fuse boxes with circuit breakers, bringing wiring up to code, replacing a lead water main with copper, and adding basement floor drains.
• The guidelines present finishing attics or basements for extra living space as acceptable.
• Original courtyard apartments came with electricity, hot and cold running water and radiator heat. Basements almost never held apartments and were instead used for laundry, equipment and storage.

Our planning notes

A basement in an older masonry building is a system: the stone, the drain, the gutters on the roof and the grade outside all act together. Before finishing anything, we want to see where water goes. In a condominium or a courtyard building, work in the basement may also need approval from the association, so ask before you plan.

Read next: Chicago greystones · Courtyard buildings and condos

Questions

Homes where this comes up

• Greystones
• Courtyard buildings and vintage condos

Keep reading

• Water first
• Walls, insulation and air
• Basement permits and inspections

Sources checked

Checked September 30, 2026. Codes and programs change. Check the current rule with your city or village before you rely on it.

• Landmarks Illinois: Chicago greystone design guidelines (2009) (opens in a new tab)

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