Bouncy or sagging floor
A floor that flexes when someone walks through may have undersized, damaged or notched joists. We check the framing and may sister new lumber alongside.
Serving Des Plaines & nearby Mount Prospect, Park Ridge
Kitchen Subfloor Repair in Des Plaines, IL
Soft, rotted or squeaky kitchen subfloors opened up, rebuilt and made solid in Des Plaines homes.
- Technicians covering Des Plaines ZIP 60016, 60018
- Diagnosis first, then a written price for the repair
- Honest advice when replacing makes more sense
Subfloor problems we fix in Des Plaines kitchens
Kitchens are where leaks hide: under the dishwasher, behind the fridge water line and below the sink base. Our Des Plaines carpenters open the floor, trace the moisture to its source, replace what is damaged and reinforce framing where it needs it.
Squeaks and creaks underfoot
Noisy floors are usually loose, not broken. Re-securing the panels to the framing quiets them.
Leak from the refrigerator water line
A weeping ice-maker connection behind the fridge can soak the floor for months. We replace the line or valve and the damaged subfloor under it.
Spongy floor at the sink base
Years of small leaks under a sink can rot the subfloor while the cabinet bottom hides it. We look underneath before deciding how far the repair goes.
Swollen, mushroomed panel edges
Raised lines in a floor that follow a grid usually trace swollen subfloor seams. We replace the damaged panels.
Uneven or out-of-level floor
Humps and dips are corrected with planing, shims on the joists or a leveling compound, depending on how far out the floor is.
Musty smell or stains in the basement ceiling
A damp smell near the kitchen floor or stains seen from the basement are worth investigating before the floor softens.
Rot found during a remodel
Discoloration and soft wood under the old flooring are dealt with right away. Building over rot means problems under the new floor.
What we check and fix
- Finding and stopping the leakNo new subfloor goes in until the water that ruined the old one is stopped.
- Moving appliances and cabinetsThe dishwasher, fridge or range comes out, and toe kicks or a sink base are removed if the damage runs under them.
- Removing the finish floorThe finished surface comes up over the soft area, with a cut line that makes the later patch easy to hide.
- Moisture testingMeter readings across the area tell us where wet wood ends and when it is safe to close the floor.
- Joist inspection and reinforcementJoists under the opening are probed for rot and cracks; weak ones get new lumber fastened beside them.
- New subfloor panelsNew panels set flush with the existing floor and fastened with construction adhesive and screws.
- Ready for flooringWhen we leave, the base is flat, dry and fastened, whoever installs the flooring on top.
Repair options
Underlayment layerA thin top layer that adds stiffness or a smoother surface.
OSB panelsCommon in newer construction and fine when kept dry, but its edges swell if it gets wet.
Tongue-and-groove plywoodPlywood panels with interlocking edges that keep seams from moving.
Leveling compound and patchFlattening products for small dips and seams.
Sister joists and blockingNew lumber fastened alongside damaged or weak joists, plus blocking that supports panel edges.
Before and after: kitchens near Des Plaines
Problem
Fixed
DetailBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Des Plaines
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Des Plaines. The kitchen as it was: 12-inch beige ceramic tile and black appliances. The reason for the call: a floor that gave underfoot by the sink. Finished kitchen: new plywood subfloor glued and screwed down in front of the dishwasher, ready for flooring. On site this meant removing the finish floor, moisture testing, plus new subfloor panels.
Before
AfterKitchen Subfloor Repair in a 1980s two-story, Mount Prospect
This one is a 1980s two-story in Mount Prospect. The kitchen as it was: oak parquet and white appliances. The reason for the call: cupped boards over a wet subfloor. After: new plywood subfloor glued and screwed down in front of the dishwasher, ready for flooring. The job covered finding and stopping the leak, removing the finish floor, plus ready for flooring.
Kitchen Subfloor Repair in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterKitchen Subfloor Repair in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Park Ridge
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Park Ridge. Before: beige sheet vinyl and almond appliances. The main complaint was a spongy floor in front of the dishwasher. After: new plywood subfloor glued and screwed down in front of the dishwasher, ready for flooring. The job covered finding and stopping the leak, removing the finish floor, plus new subfloor panels.
Kitchen Subfloor Repair in Park Ridge →
Before
AfterA Des Plaines 1960s ranch: before and after
The oak floor sanded and refinished with a satin clear finish, grain visible and the water marks gone.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar bi-level in Des Plaines
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 →How the repair goes
- Inspect the floorWe walk the floor, check it from the basement if possible and measure moisture.
- Stop the waterThe leak is fixed and the area dried before we close anything up.
- Rebuild the subfloorCut out, reinforce, replace and level the subfloor.
- Finish the floorNew flooring goes down over the repair, or we leave it ready for your installer.
Kitchen Subfloor Repair questions from Des Plaines homeowners
Can a subfloor be repaired or does it need replacing?
Loose, squeaky subfloor can be refastened. Rotted, delaminated or swollen panels need to be replaced in the affected area.
Who should I call for subfloor repair?
Call a contractor that does subfloor and framing work, not just flooring. We repair the base and can install the new floor.
Do I need a permit for subfloor repair?
Replacing subfloor panels usually doesn't. Structural work such as sistering or replacing joists often does, and we pull the permit when it's required.
Plywood or OSB for a kitchen subfloor?
In a room with a dishwasher and sink, plywood is the safer choice.
Do cabinets have to come out?
Most repairs stop at the cabinet face. If the subfloor under a sink base is rotted, that cabinet comes out briefly.
What is the Des Plaines building department phone number?
Permits go through Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division, phone 847-391-5380. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen subfloor repair 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
Kitchen Subfloor Repair nearby
Other kitchen services in Des Plaines
Hardwood Floor Repair & RefinishingSanding, refinishing and board repairs for kitchen hardwood floors.
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.