Legal secretary Nancy Crann of Mt. Prospect was already computer-savvy, having taken several computer courses over the years. But a course in basic electricity at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines sparked an interest in combining her techie tendencies and home wiring.
“That led to Wireless Technology, where I learned how to network our family’s computers and help a few older neighbors network theirs,” says Crann.
Next on Crann’s to-do list: Oakton’s Home Technology Integration course. “Then, I could install security cameras, set up remote controls and all kinds of exciting things,” she says.
Crann is among Chicago-area homeowners taking advantage of the growing number of classes and courses that cover home repair, construction, home buying and selling, and decorating. Offered by community colleges, home improvement centers and trade organizations, these classes are often geared specifically toward do-it-yourselfers.
Take Dwight Unruh of Palatine. He was always handy around the house, he says. “I could paint or patch walls, but I was afraid to monkey with electricity.”
So he enrolled in an electrical wiring course at William Rainey Harper College in Palatine. There, he says, he learned what building codes allow and don’t allow. But the best part, he says, were the hands-on lessons in wiring. Now, he plans to use his newfound skills to replace the ceiling light in his bedroom and fix an outlet in his dining room that hasn’t worked from the get-go. As for his studies, Unruh has only begun. In December, he will attend Harper’s Introduction to Cabinetmaking session. He’ll take basic carpentry in the spring.
A series of drafting courses at the College of DuPage equipped Sandi Cole of Villa Park to draft the permit plans for a new shed, then her kitchen renovation. And the college’s building materials course taught her the ins and outs of residential materials, from concrete in a foundation to tile on a backsplash.
“Now, when I hire a contractor, I know I won’t get snowed,” she says. “I can tell him specifically what I want and how I want it done.”
After the dust settles in her new kitchen, Cole plans to draft a new front porch.
Here’s a sample of classes. The following is a lineup of what’s available this winter and spring. Most are non-credit classes, although some credit classes designed for tradespeople are open to homeowners. Community college fees listed are for students in-district; most fees are higher for out-of-district students.
Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills
Non-credit courses: General Contracting, Interior Home Decoration
One-day classes: Buying a House, Decorative Painting, Basic Stenciling, Sponging and Rag Rolling Techniques, Decorative Wood Finishes, Feng Shui Room by Room, Organizing and Clearing Clutter with Feng Shui
Fees: $15 to $40 for one-day classes, $40 to $311 for courses
To register, call 708-974-2110 or visit www.morainevalley.edu.
Oakton Community College in Des Plaines
Courses for credit or non-credit: Home Technology Integration, Residential Wiring, Wireless Technology, Air Conditioning I, Basic Architectural Drawing, Detailing and Construction I, Architectural Design I, Construction Cost Estimating, Real Estate Finance, Plumbing the Depths, Faux Decorating
One-day classes: Change Your Life with Feng Shui, Introduction to Home Plumbing, Kitchen Remodeling, Bathroom Remodeling
Fees: $25 to $69 for one-day classes, $69 to $325 for courses
To register, call 847-635-1600 or visit webreg.oakton.edu.
Elgin Community College
Non-credit classes: Electrical Installation, Plumbing Installation, Drywall Installation Techniques & Repair, Floor and Tile Installation, Installing a Suspended Ceiling, Blueprint Reading, Basic Feng Shui, Decorating Workshop
Fees: $29 to $129.
To register, call 847-622-3036 or visit www.elgin.edu/webreg.
Kankakee Community College
Credit courses: Intro to Building Construction, Construction Materials & Methods, Survey/Layout & Measurement, Mechanical Systems for Buildings, Concrete & Foundations, Estimating and Bidding, Codes & Inspection, Blueprint Reading
Fees: $165
To register, call 815-802-8200
The Latin School of Chicago
Non-credit courses: Building Restoration and Rehab, Nuts and Bolts of Construction Management, Bottomline Design, Interior Design for Small Spaces, Designer Kitchens, Creative Window Treatments, Best in Bath Design, Furniture Facelift, How to Organize Your Home, Designing a Smart House, Become Your Own Handy Person
Fees: $30 to $60
To register, call 312-582-6035 or e-mail liveandlearn@latinschool.org
William Rainey Harper College in Palatine
Non-credit courses: Handywoman Workshop, Introduction to Cabinetmaking
Credit courses: Basic Carpentry, Prints and Schematics, Basic Plumbing, Electrical Wiring
Fees: $172.50 to $212.50 for credit courses and $65 to $105 for non-credit courses, plus lab fees
To register, call 847-925-6300 for non-credit, 847-925-6000 for credit, or visit www.harpercollege.edu
Morton College in Cicero
One-day seminar: Buying/Selling Your Home–A Legal Perspective
Non-credit courses: Home Inspections, Simple Home Fix-its, Air Conditioning and Heating, Home Wiring
Fees: $20 for seminar and $25 to $104 for courses, plus lab fees
Call Barb Porcellino, 708-656-8000, ext. 219, or e-mail porcellinob@morton.cc.il.us
Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove
Credit courses: Blueprint Reading, Commercial and Residential Wiring
Non-credit courses: Legalities of the Construction Process, Project Management, Basic Construction Management, Construction Contracts, Wiring for Small Projects
Fees: $102 to $153 for credit courses, $125 for non-credit courses
To register, call 630-466-2361 or visit www.waubonsee.edu.
College of DuPage-Glen Ellyn
Credit courses: Basic Home Repair, Tips for Successful Home Buying, Be Your Own Contractor
Credit courses: Architectural Technology 105 (Fundamentals of Historic Preservation), Architectural Technology 101 (Intro to Architectural Drafting), Architectural Technology 111 (Building Materials 1)
Fees: $51 to $230 plus lab fees
For touch-tone registration, call 630-942-3555. For registration information, call 630-942-2377. Or visit www.cod.edu.
Triton College in River Grove
Credit courses: Residential Interior Design, Space Planning and Analysis (interior designing), Home Inspection
Non-credit courses: Electricity for the Homeowner, What Every Seller Needs to Know Before Selling a Home
Fees: $168 for credit courses; $45 to $75 for non-credit
Call 708-456-5000 for touch-tone registration. Or, visit www.triton.edu.
College of Lake County in Grayslake
Non-credit courses: Interior Decorating with Tiles, To Be or Not to Be Your Own Builder, How to Buy Foreclosure Properties
Fees: $59 to $75 plus lab fees
To register, call 847-543-2022.
Joliet Junior College
Credit courses: Basic Wiring and Circuit Design, Blueprint Reading for Construction and Architecture, Methods of Building Construction, Theory and Fundamentals of Design I, Theory and Fundamentals of Design II, Color for Interior, Kitchen and Bath Interior Construction, Interior Lighting, Interior Details and Mechanical Design
Fees: $181.50 to $242
To register, call 815-729-9020 or visit www.jjc.edu.
Prairie State College
Credit courses: Heating Systems Applications, Electric Wiring I, Electric Wiring II, Fundamentals of Electricity, National Electric Code
Non-credit courses: Be Your Own General Contractor, Build Your Own Home, Ceramic Tile Installation, Plumbing Made Easy, Drywall and Plastering Repairs, Minor Electrical Wiring for Homeowners, Basic Telephone Installation and Maintenance
Fees: $50 for non-credit and $140 for credit, plus lab fees
To register, call 708-709-3750 for non-credit and 708-709-3500 for credit.
South Suburban College in South Holland
Credit courses: Introduction to Construction Technology, Construction Materials, Construction Materials and Methods I/Wood
Non-credit courses: Introduction to General Contracting, Introduction to Residential Carpentry, Advanced Carpentry, Concrete and Masonry
Fees: $$69 to $331 for credit, $53 to $254 for non-credit Call 708-210-5718; visit www.southsuburbancollege.edu.
Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago
Seminars: New Home Buyers, Custom Home Buyers, Remodeling 101
Fee: New Home and Remodeling are free, Custom Home is $7 individual/$10 couple
To register, call 630-627-7575 or e-mail info@hbagc.com.
Home Depot stores
How-to clinics: November schedule includes faucet installation, laying ceramic tile.
Fees: free
For schedules, call the Home Depot stores.
Lowe’s stores
How-to clinics: Plumbing Maintenance, Installing Ceramic Tile
Fees: free
For schedules, call Lowe’s stores or visit www.Lowes.com.
The Chicago Architecture
Foundation
Seminar: Working with an Architect
Fees: free
To register, call 312-922-3432 or visit www.architecture.org.
The Storehouse of Vision
How-to clinics in painting, laying tile and installing drywall
Fees: free
To register, call Kim Lee at 773-921-3900, ext. 3900, or visit www.thestorehouse.org.
Northwest Institute of Decorative Finishes in Chicago
Classes: Kitchen Makeover (hardware refinishing, cabinet refacing, making faux tiles and installing tiles, molding and hardware), Fabulously Faux (faux finishing), Advanced Faux Finishing, Basics of Stenciling and Decoupage
Fees: $125 to $1,500
To register, call 773-775-9896.
