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 Glendale Heights & nearby Bloomingdale, Carol Stream
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Glendale Heights, IL
We find out what your Glendale Heights kitchen wall carries, then open it safely with an engineered beam and a permit.
- Kitchen remodels across Glendale Heights ZIP 60139
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Walls that close in Glendale Heights 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 Glendale Heights 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.
Walls in condo buildings
We check the building plans, get the association's approval and have an engineer review any condo wall before removal.
Posts where you don't want them
If the span is long, the engineer may call for a post. We plan its location with the kitchen layout so it doesn't block the walkway.
A narrow doorway that bottlenecks traffic
When serving dinner means turning sideways in a 30-inch door, the opening is too small. We enlarge it with a proper header or take the wall out entirely.
Not sure if the wall is load-bearing
Clues include joists running across the wall above it, a beam or wall directly below it in the basement and another wall stacked above it. We confirm with an inspection and, when needed, an engineer.
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.
Kitchen layout after the wall is gone
We draw the open plan before demolition, so the beam, lights and new cabinet runs all fit together.
Loads that need support down to the foundation
The beam's ends carry concentrated loads that must travel down to the foundation. We check what's below each post and add blocking or a footing when required.
What's included
- Structural assessmentA check of joist direction, loads above, support below and utilities in the wall.
- Permit and inspectionsWe file the permit with the engineer's documents and schedule the inspections.
- Protection and lead-safe setupWe seal off the work area and protect floors and furniture before demolition.
- Temporary shoringTemporary support walls on both sides carry the load while the wall is removed and the beam set.
- DemolitionWe take the wall out carefully and clear the site.
- Records for resaleYou keep the permit, the engineer's letter and the inspection sign-off for future buyers.
- Lighting and outlets in the new openingLights and switches placed for the new open layout.
Finishes and options
LVL beamsLaminated veneer lumber sized by the engineer; often used for flush beams.
Cased openingsA wide framed opening with trim, when keeping part of the wall makes more sense.
Wrapped and decorative beamsWe wrap visible beams in drywall, trim or stained wood to suit the room.
Steel beamsUsed for long spans or heavy loads where a wood beam would be too deep.
Posts and columnsWhen a post is needed, we hide it in a cabinet run or finish it as a column.
What the work looks like in Glendale Heights homes
Before
In progress
AfterGlendale Heights kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen wall removal & structural assessment
The site: a 1980s two-story in Glendale Heights. Before: 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 wall that kept the cook out of every conversation. The result: 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. Work included structural assessment, protection and lead-safe setup, plus lighting and outlets in the new opening.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Bloomingdale
This one is a 1980s two-story near Old Town Bloomingdale. The kitchen as it was: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim, white ceramic tile with dark stained grout lines and a brass chandelier over the nook. The main complaint was a kitchen walled off from the rest of the house. Finished kitchen: the wall removed and a flush beam in the ceiling, the kitchen open to the next room, cabinets in cobalt blue with brushed nickel bar pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring through both rooms and two glass pendants and recessed lights. Work included demolition, records for resale, plus lighting and outlets in the new opening.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Bloomingdale →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Addison
This one is a postwar Cape Cod in Addison. The kitchen as it was: original birch cabinets painted white decades ago, sagging doors, chrome pulls, laminate with an aluminum edge band and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. The main complaint was 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 cobalt blue with satin brass pulls, black honed granite counters, light oak hardwood flooring through both rooms and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights. The job covered permit and inspections, demolition, plus records for resale.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Addison →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Glendale Heights
What changed: a new layout with an island, cabinets in terracotta, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Glendale Heights →
Before
AfterGlendale Heights kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: accessible kitchen remodeling
Finished: a lowered charcoal concrete-look quartz counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in deep burgundy with brushed nickel bar pulls, pull-down shelves in the uppers, drawers instead of base doors, a side-opening wall oven, a lever faucet and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Glendale Heights →How your kitchen wall removal goes
- Assessment visitWe look at the wall, the attic or basement and what's inside, and talk about the open layout you want.
- Engineering and estimateBeam design when needed and a line-item quote for the structural and finish work.
- PermitPermit filed and issued before any structural work starts.
- Removal and beamShoring, utility reroutes, demolition and beam installation, followed by inspection.
- Finish workCeiling, floor and wall patching, paint and lighting, then a walk-through.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment questions from Glendale Heights homeowners
Can I remove a kitchen wall in a condo?
Sometimes. You'll need association approval, and an engineer should review the wall since it may carry building loads or shared pipes.
How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?
Check whether the joists above run perpendicular to it and whether it sits over a beam in the basement. We verify on site.
What happens to the floor where the wall was?
There's usually a strip with no flooring. We weave in matching boards or install new flooring across both rooms.
Do I need a permit to remove a wall?
Yes for load-bearing walls, and often for any wall that has wiring or plumbing in it. We file the permit and schedule the inspections.
Can I remove a wall between the kitchen and living room?
Usually yes. If the wall is load-bearing, it needs a beam sized by an engineer and a permit; if not, it still needs a check for pipes, ducts and wiring.
Glendale Heights contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Contractors must be licensed with the Village before working; $20,000 surety/license bond required. We take care of that before work starts.
What is the Glendale Heights building department phone number?
Permits go through Community Development Department, phone 630-260-6030. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do Glendale Heights condo associations need to approve kitchen wall removal?
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 kitchen wall removal in Glendale Heights?
It depends on the scope. Glendale Heights's rule in short: Permits required for most construction projects; a Residential Remodel/Alteration application exists; call Community Development if unsure. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department.
Do you work in my part of Glendale Heights?
Yes. Our crews work across Glendale Heights — ZIP 60139 — and nearby Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Addison.
Working in Glendale Heights
- A lot of Glendale Heights kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- We know how Community Development Department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60139
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment nearby
Other kitchen services in Glendale Heights
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.