Wood floor damaged by water
Wood that buckles in front of the sink is a sign of moisture. We repair or replace it once the leak is found.
Serving Buffalo Grove & nearby Arlington Heights, Palatine
Kitchen Flooring Installation in Buffalo Grove, IL
Luxury vinyl plank, porcelain tile or hardwood laid flat and finished at every doorway in Buffalo Grove kitchens.
- Crews working in Buffalo Grove ZIP 60089
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Kitchen floor problems we fix in Buffalo Grove
We install kitchen floors in Buffalo Grove with the prep done right: appliances moved out, old layers taken up, the subfloor checked for flatness and the new floor laid under the dishwasher opening and up to clean thresholds.
Soft or bouncy spots
Bounce in front of the dishwasher usually means damaged subfloor. We open it up, replace it and then install.
Floor stops at the cabinets — or runs under them
Floating floors must stay free to move, so cabinets never sit on them. Tile and nailed hardwood can go underneath.
Cracked or curling sheet vinyl
Old sheet vinyl that is torn by the fridge, curling at the seams or stained near the sink is pulled up and replaced, with the subfloor checked underneath.
Several layers of old flooring
Stacking another floor on old layers raises the height at the dishwasher and the doorway. We take them up instead.
Squeaky floor
Squeaks come from loose subfloor on the joists. With the old flooring up, we screw the subfloor down before installing.
Dishwasher trapped by the floor
When a thick floor goes in around a dishwasher, the appliance can get stuck under the counter. We plan the height so it can still come out.
Uneven or sloped subfloor
Humps and dips telegraph through vinyl plank and crack tile. We grind high spots and fill low ones with patch or self-leveler.
What's included
- Moving appliancesFridge, range and dishwasher pulled out and protected, water and gas connections handled with care.
- Old flooring removalOld vinyl, tile, laminate or wood taken up and hauled away.
- Subfloor repair and flatteningDamaged plywood replaced, loose panels screwed down and the surface leveled.
- Underlayment or membraneThe right layer under the floor: foam or sound underlayment, backer board or membrane.
- Floor installationThe new floor laid straight from the main sight line, with expansion gaps where needed.
- Base and toe kick trimBaseboard, shoe molding or toe-kick trim to cover the expansion gap.
- Appliances back in placeAppliances returned, reconnected and checked for leaks; the room cleaned.
Materials and finishes
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP)Rigid-core plank floors that handle spills well and click together over a flat subfloor.
Wood-look plank tilePorcelain planks that look like wood but take water like tile.
Porcelain tileThe most durable kitchen floor, cold underfoot unless heated.
Laminate flooringAffordable wood-look plank with a tough wear layer; choose a water-resistant version for kitchens.
Underlayment and membranesFoam or cork underlayment under planks, acoustic underlayment for condos, uncoupling membrane under tile.
What the work looks like in Buffalo Grove homes
Before
In progress
After
DetailA Buffalo Grove two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s near Green Knolls. What we started with: 12-inch beige ceramic tile. What bothered the owners most: cracked tiles and grout that wouldn't come clean. Finished kitchen: hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring through the kitchen with clean transitions. Work included moving appliances, floor installation, plus appliances back in place.
Before
AfterArlington Heights kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen flooring installation
The site: a postwar bi-level in Arlington Heights. The kitchen as it was: vinyl in a checker pattern. What bothered the owners most: a dated vinyl tile floor. The result: warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring through the kitchen with clean transitions. On site this meant subfloor repair and flattening, underlayment or membrane, plus floor installation.
Kitchen Flooring Installation in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterPalatine kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen flooring installation
This one is a 1980s two-story in Palatine. The kitchen as it was: oak parquet. What bothered the owners most: worn parquet that didn't suit a kitchen. Finished kitchen: warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring through the kitchen with clean transitions. On site this meant moving appliances, subfloor repair and flattening, plus underlayment or membrane.
Kitchen Flooring Installation in Palatine →
Before
AfterBuffalo Grove kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: hardwood floor repair & refinishing
What changed: the oak floor sanded and refinished with a satin clear finish, grain visible and the water marks gone.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Buffalo Grove
What changed: new cabinets in light greige uppers and muted blue lowers with satin brass pulls, installed level and ready for charcoal concrete-look quartz counters.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Buffalo Grove →How your kitchen flooring installation goes
- Choose the floorWe compare LVP, tile and wood for your kitchen and your budget.
- Measure and checkWe measure, check the subfloor, look under the old floor and note the doorways.
- Prep the kitchenAppliances out, old floor up, subfloor repaired and leveled.
- Install and finishFloor installed, trim and transitions set and appliances put back — often a few days for LVP, longer for tile.
Kitchen Flooring Installation questions from Buffalo Grove homeowners
Does hardwood need to acclimate?
Most wood floors need to sit in the home first. We follow the maker's acclimation guidelines.
Do I need an underlayment?
Plank floors need underlayment; tile needs a backer or membrane; condos may require sound-rated material.
How long does kitchen flooring installation take?
It varies with material and prep. LVP is often done in a couple of days, tile in several.
Can new flooring go over the old floor?
Over one sound layer of vinyl, plank flooring can work. Over loose, cushioned or multiple layers, it has to come up.
Is luxury vinyl plank waterproof?
Most rigid-core LVP is highly water-resistant on the surface, but water can still get under it at the edges, so spills should be wiped up.
What kind of Buffalo Grove homes do you work in?
In Buffalo Grove we see Early post-Korean War single-family homes, some about 1,000 sq ft. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.
Buffalo Grove contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
All contractors working in the Village must register annually; $75 per trade, no fee for state-licensed contractors. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for kitchen flooring installation in Buffalo Grove?
It depends on the scope. Buffalo Grove's rule in short: Permit required to replace or modify a kitchen, including replacing cabinetry; replacing a sink or faucet needs a plumbing permit even in the same location; electrical must meet the 2017 NEC. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Services, Building & Zoning Services.
Do you work in my part of Buffalo Grove?
Yes. Our crews work across Buffalo Grove, including The Highlands, Green Knolls, Windfield, Didier Farms — ZIP 60089 — and nearby Arlington Heights, Palatine, Lake Zurich.
Working in Buffalo Grove
- A lot of Buffalo Grove kitchens date from the 1980s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Buffalo Grove homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Services, Building & Zoning Services handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
The HighlandsGreen KnollsWindfieldDidier Farms
ZIP 60089
Kitchen Flooring Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Buffalo Grove
Kitchen Subfloor RepairSoft spots, rot and squeaks fixed at the structure under the floor.
Hardwood Floor Repair & RefinishingSanding, refinishing and board repairs for kitchen hardwood floors.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & ReplacementNew cabinets installed, leveled and ready for counters.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.