Wood hidden under old vinyl or tile
Older kitchens sometimes hide hardwood under vinyl tile and black adhesive. Some old tiles and mastic contain asbestos, so we have them tested before anything is disturbed.
Serving Des Plaines & nearby Mount Prospect, Park Ridge
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Des Plaines, IL
Worn, stained and water-marked hardwood in Des Plaines kitchens sanded, repaired board by board and refinished.
- Crews working in Des Plaines ZIP 60016, 60018
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Hardwood floor problems we repair in Des Plaines
We repair and refinish wood floors in Des Plaines 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.
Gray, worn traffic paths
Dull lanes where everyone walks mean the protective coating is gone. Once wood shows through, a full sand and refinish is usually the right repair.
Squeaky or loose boards
Noisy boards are usually not tight to the subfloor. We secure them before sanding.
Deep scratches and dents
Light surface scratches come out with a screen and recoat. Scratches and dents into the wood need a full sanding, and deep gouges may mean a new board.
Damaged boards that need replacing
We remove damaged boards one by one and lace in replacements of the same species and width, then sand and finish them with the rest.
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.
Matching the kitchen to the next room
Refinishing a kitchen alone can leave a visible line at the doorway. We plan where the work stops or carry it through.
Floor turned yellow or orange
A floor that has gone orange is usually the finish, not the wood. Refinishing lets you choose a lighter, more neutral look.
What's included
- Floor assessmentA close look at the wood, the stains and the existing finish to decide between recoat, refinish and repair.
- Moisture checkMoisture readings on cupped or stained areas tell us whether the floor is dry enough to work on.
- Moving appliances and protecting the roomAppliances moved, cabinet faces masked and plastic hung at the openings.
- Board repair and replacementWe lace in matching boards wherever stains, rot or splits go too deep to sand out.
- 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.
- Trim and thresholdsEdge trim reinstalled and transitions to the next room finished.
Materials and finishes
Hardwax oil finishesPenetrating oil finishes that are easy to touch up in high-wear spots.
Replacement boardsMatching boards for weaving in repairs, chosen to blend after finishing.
Waterborne polyurethaneA clear finish that doesn't yellow much over time and dries fast between coats.
Engineered hardwoodA wood wear layer over plywood; how often it can be sanded depends on that layer's thickness.
Wood stainColors from light natural to deep brown, tested on the sanded floor.
Before and after: kitchens near Des Plaines
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Des Plaines
The site: a postwar Cape Cod in Des Plaines. What bothered the owners most: 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. Work included floor assessment, moisture check, plus moving appliances and protecting the room.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar bi-level in Mount Prospect
The site: a postwar bi-level in Mount Prospect. What bothered the owners most: dark water stains in front of the dishwasher. The result: the oak floor sanded and refinished with a satin clear finish, grain visible and the water marks gone. Work included floor assessment, moving appliances and protecting the room, plus board repair and replacement.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Des Plaines
Finished: cabinets in light butter yellow with satin brass pulls, creamy quartzite-look quartz counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a postwar Cape Cod, Des Plaines
The same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Des Plaines
New five-piece shaker doors in creamy white uppers and navy lowers on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Des Plaines →How the job goes
- Look at the floorAn on-site check of wear, stains and how much wood is left to sand.
- 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 cureFinish coats go on with dry time between them; light use comes first, full use after the cure.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing questions from Des Plaines homeowners
What affects the cost of refinishing a kitchen floor?
A recoat costs less than a full sand, and repairs add to either. We put the options in writing.
What is the best time of year to refinish hardwood floors?
Mild seasons are ideal, but we refinish year-round by controlling heat and ventilation.
Is it cheaper to refinish or replace a hardwood floor?
If the floor can be sanded, refinishing and spot board repair normally make more sense than tearing it out.
Can water-damaged hardwood be repaired?
It depends on how far the water went. Finish-level marks refinish out; wood-level stains and rot mean new boards.
What is the difference between refinishing and a screen-and-recoat?
Refinishing sands down to bare wood and removes deep scratches and color. A screen-and-recoat only abrades the top finish and adds a new coat.
Des Plaines contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Contractors must register with the City (via the online portal); registrations expire Dec 31. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for hardwood floor repair and refinishing in Des Plaines?
It depends on the scope. Des Plaines's rule in short: A building permit is required for any residential kitchen remodel; non-structural work uses the Kitchen/Bath Non-Structural permit ($150 fee, rough and final inspections). We handle the permit when one is needed with Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Des Plaines?
Yes. Our crews work across Des Plaines — ZIP 60016, 60018 — and nearby Mount Prospect, Park Ridge, Elk Grove Village.
Working in Des Plaines
- A lot of Des Plaines kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Des Plaines homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60016ZIP 60018
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing nearby
Other kitchen services in Des Plaines
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.