Lead paint on older walls
Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint on walls and trim. We use lead-safe practices: containment, controlled demolition and HEPA cleanup.
Serving Downers Grove & nearby Lisle, Woodridge
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Downers Grove, IL
We find out what your Downers Grove kitchen wall carries, then open it safely with an engineered beam and a permit.
- Local crews working in Downers Grove ZIP 60515, 60516
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Walls that close in Downers Grove 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 Downers Grove 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.
Closed-off kitchen
A kitchen boxed in by walls feels smaller and darker than it is. Opening it to the next room is often the single biggest change you can make.
Partial wall or half wall
Not every wall needs to disappear completely. A wider opening or a peninsula in place of the wall can give most of the benefit.
A narrow doorway that bottlenecks traffic
One small doorway between the kitchen and the dining room means everyone squeezes through the same spot with plates. Widening it or removing the wall fixes the jam.
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.
A wall that hides a structural problem
Cracks over a doorway, a sagging ceiling or a floor that dips at the wall can point to an overloaded header or past changes. We check before removing anything.
Not sure if the wall is load-bearing
Center walls in ranches and walls under upstairs walls are often bearing, but not always. We verify before anyone swings a hammer.
Pipes, ducts or wires inside the wall
A vent stack or a main supply duct can change the plan. We open an inspection hole, see what's inside and price the reroute up front.
What the project covers
- Structural assessmentWe inspect the wall, the framing above and below it and what runs inside it.
- Engineer's beam designEngineered beam sizing and a sealed letter or drawing for the permit.
- Temporary shoringShoring holds up the ceiling and floor above during the work.
- DemolitionWe take the wall out carefully and clear the site.
- Beam and post installationLVL, steel or glulam beam installed flush or dropped, with posts and support down to the foundation.
- Ceiling, wall and floor patchingDrywall or plaster repair, flooring woven in or replaced, and paint.
- Records for resaleWe hand over the structural paperwork so the change is documented when you sell.
Finishes and options
Wrapped and decorative beamsA dropped beam finished in painted trim or wood so it looks intentional.
Posts and columnsWhen a post is needed, we hide it in a cabinet run or finish it as a column.
Dropped beamA visible beam below the ceiling line, often wrapped in drywall or wood.
Cased openingsA wide framed opening with trim, when keeping part of the wall makes more sense.
Flush beamHidden in the ceiling plane, with joists hung from it on metal hangers.
Kitchens like yours in Downers Grove: before and after
Before
In progress
AfterDowners Grove kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen wall removal & structural assessment
This one is a postwar bi-level near E.H. Prince Subdivision. The kitchen as it was: 1970s dark pecan-stained cabinets, light beige laminate and a dome ceiling light. What bothered the owners most: a closed-off kitchen that stayed dark all day. After: the wall removed and a flush beam in the ceiling, the kitchen open to the next room, cabinets in light warm taupe with satin brass pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring through both rooms and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights. Work included temporary shoring, demolition, plus records for resale.
Before
AfterLisle kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen wall removal & structural assessment
A 1980s two-story near Four Lakes Village, a typical kitchen for Lisle. The kitchen as it was: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs, almond laminate with a backsplash lip and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. What bothered the owners most: a closed-off kitchen that stayed dark all day. Finished kitchen: the wall removed and a flush beam in the ceiling, the kitchen open to the next room, cabinets in powder blue with brushed nickel bar pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, large-format light stone-look porcelain tile flooring through both rooms and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips. The job covered structural assessment, temporary shoring, plus demolition.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Lisle →
Before
AfterKitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Woodridge
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s near The Ridge. The kitchen as it was: 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: a kitchen walled 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 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 structural assessment, beam and post installation, plus records for resale.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Woodridge →
Before
AfterDowners Grove kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen design & layout planning
A new layout with an island, cabinets in light greige uppers and muted blue lowers, black honed granite counters and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Downers Grove →
Before
AfterDowners Grove kitchen, 1960s ranch: accessible kitchen remodeling
Finished: a lowered black honed granite counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in deep burgundy with polished nickel pulls, pull-down shelves in the uppers, drawers instead of base doors, a side-opening wall oven, a lever faucet and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Downers Grove →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 workCeiling, floor and wall patching, paint and lighting, then a walk-through.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment questions from Downers Grove homeowners
Do I need an engineer to remove a kitchen wall in Downers Grove?
For a load-bearing wall, yes. A structural engineer sizes the beam and posts, and villages typically want those documents with the permit.
Will the ceiling be flat after the wall is gone?
We aim for a flat ceiling with a flush beam where the structure allows. Otherwise a wrapped beam looks deliberate.
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.
Can I remove a load-bearing wall myself?
We don't recommend it. It requires temporary shoring, an engineered beam, a permit and inspections, and mistakes can damage the structure.
How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?
Exterior walls and many center walls are bearing. Interior walls need checking from the attic or basement, which is what our assessment does.
Which Downers Grove homes do you most often see for kitchen wall removal?
In Downers Grove we see Mix of housing from mid-19th century onward, Sears and other kit homes and Frequent teardowns replaced by new houses. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.
Does a Downers Grove historic district affect kitchen wall removal?
Downers Grove has locally reviewed areas, including Shady Lane Estates, E.H. Prince Subdivision and Maple Ave/Main St corridor. Exterior changes there can need review; interior-only work usually does not. We check before anything changes on the outside.
Does kitchen wall removal need a Downers Grove building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Community Development Department, Building Division (https://cvportal.downers.us), phone 630-434-5515. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen wall removal in Downers Grove?
It depends on the scope. Downers Grove's rule in short: Village states most projects require a permit and applications are submitted online; First review about 10 business days. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Downers Grove?
Yes. Our crews work across Downers Grove, including Denburn Woods, Shady Lane Estates, E.H. Prince Subdivision — ZIP 60515, 60516 — and nearby Lisle, Woodridge, Oak Brook.
Working in Downers Grove
- A lot of Downers Grove kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Downers Grove homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Denburn WoodsShady Lane EstatesE.H. Prince Subdivision
ZIP 60515ZIP 60516
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment nearby
Other kitchen services in Downers Grove
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.