Lead paint on older walls
Tearing out painted plaster in an older house can release lead dust. Our crews contain the area and clean with HEPA vacuums.
Serving Highland Park & nearby Northbrook, Glenview
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Highland Park, IL
We find out what your Highland Park kitchen wall carries, then open it safely with an engineered beam and a permit.
- Local crews working in Highland Park ZIP 60035
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Walls that close in Highland Park 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 Highland Park 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.
Loads that need support down to the foundation
Removing a bearing wall shifts its load to two points. We make sure each one has solid support all the way to the foundation.
Not sure if the wall is load-bearing
You can't tell from the paint. We check joist direction in the attic or basement, what sits above and below the wall, and open a small section if needed.
Doing it without a permit
Removing a load-bearing wall without a permit and engineering risks sagging floors and problems when you sell. We pull the permit and keep the documents.
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.
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.
Wanting no beam showing
A beam hidden in the ceiling looks cleanest but takes more work, since joists are cut and hung from the beam. We plan it with the engineer.
Patching floors and ceilings
Hardwood can often be woven in where the wall was; other floors may need replacing through both rooms. We plan the floor as part of the job.
Everything in a kitchen wall removal
- Structural assessmentA check of joist direction, loads above, support below and utilities in the wall.
- Engineer's beam designFor load-bearing walls, a structural engineer sizes the beam, posts and connections and provides stamped drawings.
- Temporary shoringTemporary support walls on both sides carry the load while the wall is removed and the beam set.
- Utility reroutingVents, drains, circuits and ducts rerouted before the wall comes down.
- Beam and post installationThe engineered beam set, joists connected with hangers and posts bearing on solid support.
- Ceiling, wall and floor patchingDrywall or plaster repair, flooring woven in or replaced, and paint.
- Lighting and outlets in the new openingLights and switches placed for the new open layout.
Finishes and options
Flush beamSits within the ceiling joists for a flat, uninterrupted ceiling.
Dropped beamA visible beam below the ceiling line, often wrapped in drywall or wood.
Glulam beamsLaminated wood beams that can be left visible and stained as a design element.
Wrapped and decorative beamsWe wrap visible beams in drywall, trim or stained wood to suit the room.
LVL beamsLaminated veneer lumber sized by the engineer; often used for flush beams.
Kitchens like yours in Highland Park: before and after
Before
In progress
AfterA Highland Park postwar Cape Cod: before and after
A postwar Cape Cod near St. John's, a typical kitchen for Highland Park. What we started with: 1970s dark pecan-stained cabinets, light beige laminate and a dome ceiling light. The main complaint was a wall that kept the cook out of every conversation. 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. The job covered engineer's beam design, utility rerouting, plus beam and post installation.
Before
AfterNorthbrook kitchen, postwar Cape Cod: kitchen wall removal & structural assessment
The site: a postwar Cape Cod near Downtown Northbrook. Before: original birch cabinets painted white decades ago, sagging doors, chrome pulls, laminate with an aluminum edge band and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. What bothered the owners most: a wall that kept the cook out of every conversation. Finished kitchen: 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. On site this meant engineer's beam design, ceiling, wall and floor patching, plus lighting and outlets in the new opening.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Northbrook →
Before
AfterKitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in a 1980s two-story, Buffalo Grove
A 1980s two-story near Didier Farms, a typical kitchen for Buffalo Grove. What we started with: 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. After: 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. On site this meant structural assessment, temporary shoring, plus lighting and outlets in the new opening.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Highland Park
A new layout with an island, cabinets in two-tone, white quartz counters and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Highland Park →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1960s ranch in Highland Park
What changed: 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 Highland Park →From first visit to final walk-through
- Assessment visitAn inspection of the wall and the framing around it, plus your plans for the new space.
- Engineering and estimateBeam design when needed and a line-item quote for the structural and finish work.
- PermitWe submit the permit with the engineer's documents and wait for approval.
- 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 Highland Park homeowners
Will the ceiling be flat after the wall is gone?
With a flush beam, usually yes. If the engineer requires a dropped beam, we finish it cleanly and can make it a feature.
What does it cost to remove a kitchen wall?
It depends on whether the wall is load-bearing, the beam type, what's inside the wall and how much floor and ceiling patching is needed. We give a written, itemized estimate after the visit.
Do I need an engineer to remove a kitchen wall in Highland Park?
For a load-bearing wall, yes. A structural engineer sizes the beam and posts, and villages typically want those documents with the permit.
Can I remove a load-bearing wall myself?
It's not a DIY job. Without proper shoring and a correctly sized beam, floors and ceilings can sag or crack.
How long does it take to remove a kitchen wall?
Usually a short on-site phase for shoring, removal and the beam, followed by inspection and patching.
What kind of Highland Park homes do you work in?
In Highland Park we see Ravinia District retains early artists' colony character and architecture. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.
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
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment nearby
Other kitchen services in Highland Park
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.