Kitchen layout after the wall is gone
We draw the open plan before demolition, so the beam, lights and new cabinet runs all fit together.
Serving Bartlett & nearby Hanover Park, Carol Stream
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Bartlett, IL
We find out what your Bartlett kitchen wall carries, then open it safely with an engineered beam and a permit.
- Local crews working in Bartlett ZIP 60103, 60120
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Walls that close in Bartlett kitchens, and what it takes to remove them
Taking out the wall between the kitchen and the dining or family room is one of the most requested changes in Bartlett homes. Before any demolition we find out whether the wall is load-bearing and what runs through it, then remove it with an engineer-sized beam, a permit and proper temporary support.
A wall that hides a structural problem
If the ceiling sags or the floor slopes near the wall, the structure needs attention. The engineer's design accounts for it.
Posts where you don't want them
Sometimes a post is unavoidable. We try to put it at the end of a peninsula or inside a cabinet run so it disappears into the design.
Wanting no beam showing
A beam hidden in the ceiling looks cleanest but takes more work, since joists are cut and hung from the beam. We plan it with the engineer.
Daylight stuck in the next room
Plenty of kitchens have one small window while the dining room has three. Taking the wall out lets that daylight reach the counters.
Closed-off kitchen
If the cook can't see the family room or the kids at the table, a wall is usually the reason. Removing it, or most of it, connects the kitchen to the rest of the house.
Patching floors and ceilings
Hardwood can often be woven in where the wall was; other floors may need replacing through both rooms. We plan the floor as part of the job.
Doing it without a permit
Unpermitted structural work can show up during a home inspection. We file the permit and pass the inspections so the change is on record.
Everything in a kitchen wall removal
- Engineer's beam designFor load-bearing walls, a structural engineer sizes the beam, posts and connections and provides stamped drawings.
- Utility reroutingPlumbing, ducts, wiring and gas moved out of the wall by licensed trades.
- DemolitionControlled removal of the wall, studs and debris, hauled away.
- Beam and post installationLVL, steel or glulam beam installed flush or dropped, with posts and support down to the foundation.
- Ceiling, wall and floor patchingWe finish the ceiling, patch the floor where the wall stood and repaint.
- Records for resaleYou keep the permit, the engineer's letter and the inspection sign-off for future buyers.
- Lighting and outlets in the new openingLights and switches placed for the new open layout.
Materials and options
Flush beamSits within the ceiling joists for a flat, uninterrupted ceiling.
Steel beamsUsed for long spans or heavy loads where a wood beam would be too deep.
LVL beamsEngineered laminated lumber, strong and straight, the most common beam for residential openings.
Posts and columnsStructural posts concealed in walls or cabinets, or finished as columns.
Cased openingsA trimmed, enlarged doorway that opens the view while keeping some wall for cabinets.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment before and after — Bartlett homes
Before
In progress
AfterA Bartlett two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Bartlett. What we started with: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above, white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam and two hanging glass pendants. What bothered the owners most: no view from the kitchen to the family room. After: 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. On site this meant demolition, beam and post installation, plus lighting and outlets in the new opening.
Before
AfterHanover Park kitchen, 1970s split-level: kitchen wall removal & structural assessment
A 1970s split-level near Ontarioville, a typical kitchen for Hanover Park. What we started with: white painted cabinets with yellowed paint and dated scalloped trim, white laminate with brown flecks and a fluorescent box light. What bothered the owners most: a dark kitchen cut off from the rest of the house. The result: the wall removed and a flush beam in the ceiling, the kitchen open to the next room, cabinets in cobalt blue with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, black honed granite counters, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring through both rooms and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights. The job covered utility rerouting, demolition, plus ceiling, wall and floor patching.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Hanover Park →
Before
AfterA Carol Stream 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial in Carol Stream. The kitchen as it was: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim, white ceramic tile with dark stained grout lines and a brass chandelier over the nook. The main complaint was a kitchen walled off from the rest of the house. After: the wall removed and a flush beam in the ceiling, the kitchen open to the next room, cabinets in cobalt blue with brushed nickel bar pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring through both rooms and two glass pendants and recessed lights. On site this meant engineer's beam design, records for resale, plus lighting and outlets in the new opening.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Carol Stream →
Before
AfterA Bartlett 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
What changed: a new layout with an island, cabinets in terracotta, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Bartlett →
Before
AfterBartlett kitchen, 1980s two-story: accessible kitchen remodeling
What changed: a lowered charcoal concrete-look quartz counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in light greige with brushed nickel bar pulls, pull-down shelves in the uppers, drawers instead of base doors, a side-opening wall oven, a lever faucet and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Bartlett →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 estimateFor load-bearing walls, an engineer sizes the beam; you get a written, itemized estimate.
- PermitPermit filed and issued before any structural work starts.
- Removal and beamTemporary support, wall removal, beam and posts set and inspected.
- Finish workWe patch, paint and clean up so the open space is ready to use.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment questions from Bartlett homeowners
How much of a load-bearing wall can be removed?
It depends on the span and load. The engineer decides whether one beam can carry it or a post is needed.
How long does it take to remove a kitchen wall?
Plan for engineering and permit time first, then often one to two weeks of work for removal, beam and finishing.
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.
Will removing the wall affect heating and cooling?
Sometimes. Ducts in the wall get rerouted through the ceiling, floor or another wall, and we check that both rooms still get enough air.
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.
Does kitchen wall removal need a Bartlett building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Building Division (Planning & Development Services), phone 630-540-5920. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a Bartlett-registered contractor for kitchen wall removal?
All contractors must be licensed by the Village of Bartlett (per trade); licensing questions via Main Office 630-837-0800. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for kitchen wall removal in Bartlett?
It depends on the scope. Bartlett's rule in short: Building permits are required for all construction and home improvement projects, whether done by homeowner or contractor; Remodel is a listed permit type. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building Division (Planning & Development Services).
Do you work in my part of Bartlett?
Yes. Our crews work across Bartlett — ZIP 60103, 60120 — and nearby Hanover Park, Carol Stream, Bloomingdale.
Working in Bartlett
- A lot of Bartlett kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Bartlett homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Building Division (Planning & Development Services) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60103ZIP 60120
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment nearby
Other kitchen services in Bartlett
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.