Original oak floor in an older home
Original hardwood from the pre-1940 has often been sanded before. Before refinishing, we confirm there is enough thickness for another sanding.
Serving Evanston & nearby Skokie, Glenview
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Evanston, IL
Worn, stained and water-marked hardwood in Evanston kitchens sanded, repaired board by board and refinished.
- Crews working in Evanston ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Hardwood floor problems we repair in Evanston
We repair and refinish wood floors in Evanston 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.
Wood hidden under old vinyl or tile
If you find oak under the kitchen vinyl, the adhesive is the question. We arrange testing first; positive material is handled by licensed abatement contractors.
Dull finish that is otherwise intact
If the finish is dull but not worn through, a screen-and-recoat — abrading the top coat and adding fresh finish — restores the sheen without sanding to bare wood.
Pet stains and scratches
Scratches from dogs are common in kitchens and sand out well. Urine stains that go deep mean replacing those boards.
Cupped or crowned boards
Boards whose edges rise above their centers have taken on moisture from below. We find and fix the moisture first and let the floor dry before deciding whether to sand.
Matching the kitchen to the next room
Kitchen floors that look different from the adjoining wood can be sanded together and finished in one color.
Gaps between boards
Wood shrinks in dry winter air. Persistent wide gaps get slivers of matching wood glued in.
Deep scratches and dents
Fine scuffs stay in the finish; gouges reach the wood. Sanding takes out most of them.
What's included
- 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 replacementDamaged boards are cut out and new ones woven in, staggered to match the floor's pattern.
- SandingThe floor is sanded in progressive grits with a drum or belt sander and an edger along cabinets.
- Stain and color samplesWe put test patches down on the floor for you to compare.
- Finish coatsSeveral coats of waterborne or oil-modified polyurethane, lightly abraded between coats.
- Appliances back and care adviceAppliances return once the finish allows, with felt pads and care instructions left behind.
Finishes we offer
Engineered hardwoodA wood wear layer over plywood; how often it can be sanded depends on that layer's thickness.
Oil-modified polyurethaneThe traditional finish that deepens the wood color and takes longer to dry.
Hardwax oil finishesPenetrating oil finishes that are easy to touch up in high-wear spots.
Wood stainColors from light natural to deep brown, tested on the sanded floor.
Waterborne polyurethaneClear, low-odor and quick to dry; it keeps light woods light and lets you use the kitchen sooner.
Kitchens like yours in Evanston: before and after
Before
AfterAn Evanston prewar foursquare: before and after
This one is a prewar foursquare in Evanston. The reason for the call: dark water stains in front of the dishwasher. Finished kitchen: the oak floor sanded and refinished with a satin clear finish, grain visible and the water marks gone. Work included moisture check, moving appliances and protecting the room, plus stain and color samples.
Before
AfterSkokie kitchen, 1960s ranch: hardwood floor repair & refinishing
The site: a 1960s ranch in Skokie. What bothered the owners most: dark water stains in front of the dishwasher. Finished kitchen: the oak floor sanded and refinished with a satin clear finish, grain visible and the water marks gone. Work included moving appliances and protecting the room, board repair and replacement, plus finish coats.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Skokie →
Before
AfterA Glenview 1950s ranch: before and after
The site: a 1950s ranch near The Glen. The reason for the call: dark water stains in front of the dishwasher. After: the oak floor sanded and refinished with a satin clear finish, grain visible and the water marks gone. The job covered moisture check, moving appliances and protecting the room, plus stain and color samples.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Glenview →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a prewar brick bungalow, Evanston
Soft sage-green inset-style cabinets with unlacquered brass hardware, honed white marble-look quartz counters, a white handmade-look square tile backsplash, restored oak strip floor and schoolhouse pendant lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Evanston →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a prewar foursquare, Evanston
What changed: the same doors sprayed in soft white, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Evanston →How your hardwood floor repair and refinishing goes
- Look at the floorWe visit, test moisture where needed and tell you whether to recoat, refinish or replace boards.
- Plan the workWe agree on color, finish and the rooms included before work starts.
- Repair and sandBoard repairs first, then sanding to fresh wood and staining.
- 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 Evanston homeowners
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?
Often. White marks in the finish usually come out; black stains and badly cupped boards may need replacing. The source of the water has to be fixed first.
Is dustless sanding really dust-free?
No sanding is completely dust-free, but systems that vacuum at the sander capture most of it. We also seal off the kitchen with plastic.
Can you match new boards to an old floor?
We match species, width and grade, weave them into the existing pattern and refinish the area so color blends.
How many times can hardwood be refinished?
Solid floors take multiple sandings over their life. Thin engineered floors get recoated instead.
Evanston contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
All contractors working in city limits must register with the City; annual fee General Contractor $150, Trade Contractor $125. We take care of that before work starts.
Can you do hardwood floor repair and refinishing in an Evanston condo?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Do I need a permit for hardwood floor repair and refinishing in Evanston?
It depends on the scope. Evanston's rule in short: Residential permit applications go through the Citizen Portal; City worksheets signed by the contractors are required for any electrical, plumbing or HVAC work. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services).
Do you work in my part of Evanston?
Yes. Our crews work across Evanston — ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208 — and nearby Skokie, Glenview, Park Ridge.
Working in Evanston
- Most Evanston homes are prewar. We work around plaster walls, radiators and out-of-square rooms every week.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
ZIP 60201ZIP 60202ZIP 60208
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing nearby
Other kitchen services in Evanston
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.