Wood hidden under old vinyl or tile
If you find oak under the kitchen vinyl, the adhesive is the question. We arrange testing first; positive material is handled by licensed abatement contractors.
Serving Arlington Heights & nearby Mount Prospect, Palatine
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Arlington Heights, IL
Worn, stained and water-marked hardwood in Arlington Heights kitchens sanded, repaired board by board and refinished.
- Crews working in Arlington Heights ZIP 60004, 60005
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Hardwood floor problems we repair in Arlington Heights
We repair and refinish wood floors in Arlington Heights kitchens, from a light screen-and-recoat on a dull finish to a full sanding with new stain. Damaged boards are woven out and replaced so the repair follows the grain instead of making a patch.
Dull finish that is otherwise intact
A tired-looking floor with no bare spots is a good candidate for buffing and recoating. It is faster and makes much less dust.
Deep scratches and dents
Dropped knives and dragged chairs leave marks of different depths. We tell you which ones a refinish will remove.
Cupped or crowned boards
Cupping is a moisture symptom. Sanding a cupped floor too early leaves it crowned once it dries, so drying and time come before refinishing.
Floor turned yellow or orange
Older oil-based finishes amber with age. Sanding to bare wood and using a clearer waterborne finish brings back a natural tone.
Damaged boards that need replacing
Split, rotted or deeply stained boards are cut out and new ones woven in, staggered with the existing joints so the repair doesn't form a square patch.
Pet stains and scratches
Scratches from dogs are common in kitchens and sand out well. Urine stains that go deep mean replacing those boards.
Black or dark water stains
Once oak turns black from moisture, bleaching or sanding rarely removes it completely. Replacing the affected boards gives a clean result.
What we do on the job
- Floor assessmentWe check the species, board width, finish type and how much wear layer remains for sanding.
- Moisture checkMoisture readings on cupped or stained areas tell us whether the floor is dry enough to work on.
- Moving appliances and protecting the roomThe fridge and range come out, cabinets and doorways are covered and the space is sealed off.
- Board repair and replacementWe lace in matching boards wherever stains, rot or splits go too deep to sand out.
- SandingWe sand to clean wood, finishing edges and corners by hand where machines can't reach.
- Stain and color samplesStain samples on your own sanded floor so you see the real color before committing.
- Finish coatsMultiple finish coats built up with buffing between them for a smooth surface.
Finishes we offer
Wood stainColors from light natural to deep brown, tested on the sanded floor.
Oil-modified polyurethaneThe traditional finish that deepens the wood color and takes longer to dry.
Replacement boardsMatching boards for weaving in repairs, chosen to blend after finishing.
Engineered hardwoodEngineered floors can be refinished if the top layer is thick enough; thin ones get a recoat instead.
Waterborne polyurethaneClear, low-odor and quick to dry; it keeps light woods light and lets you use the kitchen sooner.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing before and after — Arlington Heights homes
Before
AfterHardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in a 1960s ranch, Arlington Heights
This one is a 1960s ranch in Arlington Heights. What bothered the owners most: gray traffic paths and water marks by the sink. After: the oak floor sanded and refinished with a satin clear finish, grain visible and the water marks gone. On site this meant moisture check, board repair and replacement, plus finish coats.
Before
AfterA Mount Prospect 1950s ranch: before and after
The site: a 1950s ranch in Mount Prospect. The reason for the call: gray traffic paths and water marks by the sink. After: the oak floor sanded and refinished with a satin clear finish, grain visible and the water marks gone. The job covered floor assessment, stain and color samples, plus finish coats.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Palatine
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Palatine. The reason for the call: a worn finish that no longer protected the wood. After: the oak floor sanded and refinished with a satin clear finish, grain visible and the water marks gone. The job covered floor assessment, moisture check, plus finish coats.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Palatine →
Before
AfterAn Arlington Heights 1950s ranch: before and after
Finished: cabinets in dark teal with brushed nickel bar pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a postwar bi-level, Arlington Heights
The same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Arlington Heights →How your hardwood floor repair and refinishing goes
- Look at the floorWe visit, test moisture where needed and tell you whether to recoat, refinish or replace boards.
- Plan the workWe agree on color, finish and the rooms included before work starts.
- Repair and sandDamaged boards replaced, then the floor sanded and stained; a kitchen refinish often takes a few days.
- Finish and cureCoats applied, appliances returned once the finish allows and care tips left.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing questions from Arlington Heights homeowners
What is the best time of year to refinish hardwood floors?
Spring and fall are easiest: moderate humidity and the option to open windows help the finish dry. Heated, dry winter air and humid summers can slow things down.
Waterborne or oil-based finish?
Both protect well. The choice comes down to color, odor and drying time.
How many times can hardwood be refinished?
Solid strip flooring can usually be sanded several times. Engineered flooring depends on its wear layer; some can be sanded once or twice, some not at all.
Can water-damaged hardwood be repaired?
Often. White marks in the finish usually come out; black stains and badly cupped boards may need replacing. The source of the water has to be fixed first.
Can you match new boards to an old floor?
New wood is woven in and finished with the rest. A full sand and stain makes it blend best.
Arlington Heights contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
The Village of Arlington Heights contractor license number must be listed on permit applications; homeowners doing their own work file a Homeowner as General Contractor form. We take care of that before work starts.
Do Arlington Heights condo associations need to approve hardwood floor repair and refinishing?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Do I need a permit for hardwood floor repair and refinishing in Arlington Heights?
It depends on the scope. Arlington Heights's rule in short: Remodel permit applications (shown here via a basement remodel checklist dated 2020) require a building permit application, plans and a contractor proposal; plumbing and electrical permit applications are added if applicable. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building & Life Safety Department.
Do you work in my part of Arlington Heights?
Yes. Our crews work across Arlington Heights — ZIP 60004, 60005 — and nearby Mount Prospect, Palatine, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Arlington Heights
- A lot of Arlington Heights kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- We know how Building & Life Safety Department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60004ZIP 60005
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing nearby
Other kitchen services in Arlington Heights
Kitchen Subfloor RepairSoft spots, rot and squeaks fixed at the structure under the floor.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.