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 Highland Park & nearby Northbrook, Glenview
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Highland Park, IL
Worn, stained and water-marked hardwood in Highland Park kitchens sanded, repaired board by board and refinished.
- Serving Highland Park ZIP 60035
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Hardwood floor problems we repair in Highland Park
A solid hardwood floor can usually be sanded and refinished more than once, which makes repair far less disruptive than replacement. Our Highland Park crew matches the species and width of your boards, fixes water-damaged areas and finishes the kitchen to blend with the rooms next to it.
Damaged boards that need replacing
Split, rotted or deeply stained boards are cut out and new ones woven in, staggered with the existing joints so the repair doesn't form a square patch.
Deep scratches and dents
Fine scuffs stay in the finish; gouges reach the wood. Sanding takes out most of them.
Cupped or crowned boards
Cupping is a moisture symptom. Sanding a cupped floor too early leaves it crowned once it dries, so drying and time come before refinishing.
Pet stains and scratches
Scratches from dogs are common in kitchens and sand out well. Urine stains that go deep mean replacing those boards.
Gaps between boards
Gaps that open each winter and close each summer are normal seasonal movement. Wide permanent gaps can be filled with wood strips or, in some cases, filler.
White water marks in the finish
Cloudy white rings and spots usually sit in the finish rather than the wood. A light abrade and recoat, or sanding in that area, often clears them.
Gray, worn traffic paths
When the path from the doorway to the sink looks lighter and rougher than the rest, the finish has worn off. We sand it back and recoat the whole floor evenly.
What's included
- Floor assessmentWe check the species, board width, finish type and how much wear layer remains for sanding.
- Moisture checkMoisture readings on cupped or stained areas tell us whether the floor is dry enough to work on.
- Moving appliances and protecting the roomThe fridge and range come out, cabinets and doorways are covered and the space is sealed off.
- Board repair and replacementDamaged boards are cut out and new ones woven in, staggered to match the floor's pattern.
- SandingWe sand to clean wood, finishing edges and corners by hand where machines can't reach.
- Stain and color samplesStain samples on your own sanded floor so you see the real color before committing.
- Trim and thresholdsShoe molding, toe-kick trim and thresholds are reset or replaced after the finish cures.
Materials and finishes
Replacement boardsSame species, grade and width — commonly red or white oak strip — from new stock or salvage.
Wood stainColors from light natural to deep brown, tested on the sanded floor.
Waterborne polyurethaneA clear finish that doesn't yellow much over time and dries fast between coats.
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.
Kitchens like yours in Highland Park: before and after
Before
AfterHardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in a postwar bi-level, Highland Park
The site: a postwar bi-level in Highland Park. The main complaint was gray traffic paths and water marks by the sink. Finished kitchen: the oak floor sanded and refinished with a satin clear finish, grain visible and the water marks gone. The job covered moving appliances and protecting the room, sanding, plus trim and thresholds.
Before
AfterNorthbrook kitchen, 1950s ranch: hardwood floor repair & refinishing
A 1950s ranch near Techny, a typical kitchen for Northbrook. The reason for the call: gray traffic paths and water marks by the sink. After: 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, sanding, plus stain and color samples.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Northbrook →
Before
AfterHardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Buffalo Grove
A two-story colonial from the 1990s near Didier Farms, a typical kitchen for Buffalo Grove. The main complaint was 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, moving appliances and protecting the room, plus stain and color samples.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a postwar Cape Cod, Highland Park
What changed: cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with matte black pulls, bright white quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Highland Park →
Before
AfterA Highland Park postwar bi-level: before and after
Finished: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Highland Park →Day by day
- 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 Highland Park homeowners
What affects the cost of refinishing a kitchen floor?
The floor area, how many boards need replacing, stain versus natural, the finish and whether adjoining rooms are included. We give a written, itemized estimate after the visit.
Is dustless sanding really dust-free?
Dust-containment sanders reduce dust a lot. Expect much less cleanup, not zero.
Waterborne or oil-based finish?
Both protect well. The choice comes down to color, odor and drying time.
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.
Will a warped wood floor go back to normal?
Give it time after the leak is fixed; many floors flatten partly. We wait for dry readings before sanding.
Highland Park contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
The City publishes contractor requirements on its Building Division page (new building codes effective March 1, 2026). We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Highland Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Highland Park, including Ravinia District, Downtown Highland Park, Port Clinton, St. John's — ZIP 60035 — and nearby Northbrook, Glenview, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Highland Park
- A lot of Highland Park kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Highland Park homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Older paint is treated with lead-safe practices: containment, HEPA cleanup and a clean hand-over.
Ravinia DistrictDowntown Highland ParkPort ClintonSt. John's
ZIP 60035
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing nearby
Other kitchen services in Highland Park
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.