Lead paint on older walls
Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint on walls and trim. We use lead-safe practices: containment, controlled demolition and HEPA cleanup.
Serving Addison & nearby Wood Dale, Itasca
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Addison, IL
We find out what your Addison kitchen wall carries, then open it safely with an engineered beam and a permit.
- Local crews working in Addison ZIP 60101
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Walls that close in Addison kitchens, and what it takes to remove them
We remove kitchen walls in Addison the careful way: assessment first, engineered design for load-bearing walls, shoring during the work and a finished ceiling and floor when we leave. You end up with an open kitchen and paperwork that shows it was done right.
A wall that hides a structural problem
Previous owners sometimes cut openings without proper headers. We look for signs of that and fix them as part of the new beam design.
Daylight stuck in the next room
If the bright side of the house is on the other side of the kitchen wall, removing it is the simplest way to borrow that light.
Loads that need support down to the foundation
The beam's ends carry concentrated loads that must travel down to the foundation. We check what's below each post and add blocking or a footing when required.
Doing it without a permit
Removing a load-bearing wall without a permit and engineering risks sagging floors and problems when you sell. We pull the permit and keep the documents.
Patching floors and ceilings
Where a wall stood, there's a gap in the flooring and the ceiling. We patch or weave in matching flooring and finish the ceiling so the line disappears.
Wanting no beam showing
Most people want a smooth ceiling after the wall is gone. We aim for a flush beam and tell you early if a dropped beam is required.
Kitchen layout after the wall is gone
Once the wall goes, the cabinets that were on it go too. We plan the new layout, often with an island or peninsula, at the same time as the structural work.
What the project covers
- Structural assessmentWe inspect the wall, the framing above and below it and what runs inside it.
- Protection and lead-safe setupWe seal off the work area and protect floors and furniture before demolition.
- Temporary shoringTemporary support walls on both sides carry the load while the wall is removed and the beam set.
- DemolitionWe take the wall out carefully and clear the site.
- Beam and post installationThe engineered beam set, joists connected with hangers and posts bearing on solid support.
- Ceiling, wall and floor patchingDrywall or plaster repair, flooring woven in or replaced, and paint.
- Records for resaleYou keep the permit, the engineer's letter and the inspection sign-off for future buyers.
Finishes and options
Glulam beamsGlued-laminated timber, an option when the beam will stay exposed or carry a long span.
Posts and columnsStructural posts concealed in walls or cabinets, or finished as columns.
Steel beamsA steel beam carries more load in less depth, which can avoid a dropped beam or a post.
Cased openingsA trimmed, enlarged doorway that opens the view while keeping some wall for cabinets.
Wrapped and decorative beamsWe wrap visible beams in drywall, trim or stained wood to suit the room.
Before and after: kitchens near Addison
Before
In progress
AfterAn Addison postwar bi-level: before and after
This one is a postwar bi-level in Addison. Before: original birch cabinets painted white decades ago, sagging doors, chrome pulls, laminate with an aluminum edge band and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. What bothered the owners most: a closed-off kitchen that stayed dark all day. The result: the wall removed and a flush beam in the ceiling, the kitchen open to the next room, cabinets in cobalt blue with satin brass pulls, black honed granite counters, light oak hardwood flooring through both rooms and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights. On site this meant temporary shoring, beam and post installation, plus ceiling, wall and floor patching.
Before
AfterItasca kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: kitchen wall removal & structural assessment
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near North Side. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above, white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam and two hanging glass pendants. The reason for the call: no view from the kitchen to the family room. Finished kitchen: the wall removed and a flush beam in the ceiling, the kitchen open to the next room, cabinets in light terracotta with brushed nickel bar pulls, black honed granite counters, light oak hardwood flooring through both rooms and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips. Work included structural assessment, temporary shoring, plus ceiling, wall and floor patching.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Itasca →
Before
AfterVilla Park kitchen, 1950s ranch: kitchen wall removal & structural assessment
This one is a 1950s ranch in Villa Park. The kitchen as it was: 1970s dark pecan-stained cabinets, light beige laminate and a dome ceiling light. The reason for the call: a closed-off kitchen that stayed dark all day. The result: the wall removed and a flush beam in the ceiling, the kitchen open to the next room, cabinets in light warm taupe with satin brass pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring through both rooms and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights. On site this meant protection and lead-safe setup, temporary shoring, plus records for resale.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Villa Park →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Addison
What changed: a new layout with an island, cabinets in warm white shaker, light gray quartz counters and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Addison →
Before
AfterAddison kitchen, postwar bi-level: accessible kitchen remodeling
A lowered bright white quartz counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in cream uppers and walnut-stained lowers with polished nickel pulls, pull-down shelves in the uppers, drawers instead of base doors, a side-opening wall oven, a lever faucet and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Addison →From first visit to final walk-through
- Assessment visitWe look at the wall, the attic or basement and what's inside, and talk about the open layout you want.
- Engineering and estimateBeam design when needed and a line-item quote for the structural and finish work.
- PermitPermit filed and issued before any structural work starts.
- Removal and beamShoring, utility reroutes, demolition and beam installation, followed by inspection.
- Finish workCeiling, floor and wall patching, paint and lighting, then a walk-through.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment questions from Addison homeowners
How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?
Common signs are ceiling joists that rest on top of it, a beam or wall directly below it, or another wall stacked above it. Only an inspection confirms it.
Do I need an engineer to remove a kitchen wall in Addison?
Yes, when the wall is structural. We coordinate the engineer as part of the project.
What happens to the floor where the wall was?
We patch it to match or, if the floors differ, run new flooring through the open space.
What does it cost to remove a kitchen wall?
Load, span, utilities to reroute and the finish work drive the price. After the assessment we send a line-item quote.
How much of a load-bearing wall can be removed?
Sometimes the whole wall, sometimes most of it. The engineer's design sets the limits.
Addison contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Addison does not require contractor registration, but trade licenses and a Letter of Intent must be submitted with each permit application. We take care of that before work starts.
Does kitchen wall removal need a Addison building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Community Development Department (Building & Zoning), phone (630) 693-7530. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen wall removal in Addison?
It depends on the scope. Addison's rule in short: Addison's Building Division states building permits are required by code for all work; most applications are reviewed within 10 business days through the online portal. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department (Building & Zoning).
Do you work in my part of Addison?
Yes. Our crews work across Addison — ZIP 60101 — and nearby Wood Dale, Itasca, Villa Park.
Working in Addison
- A lot of Addison kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Addison homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Department (Building & Zoning) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60101
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment nearby
Other kitchen services in Addison
Kitchen Design & Layout PlanningLayouts, 3D plans and material picks before work starts.
Accessible Kitchen RemodelingKitchens that work for every age and ability.
Kitchen AdditionsBump-outs that add room for an island or dining area.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.