Lead paint on older walls
We treat old paint as possibly lead-based on pre-1978 homes and follow lead-safe work practices throughout demolition.
Serving Hoffman Estates & nearby Schaumburg, Hanover Park
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Hoffman Estates, IL
We find out what your Hoffman Estates kitchen wall carries, then open it safely with an engineered beam and a permit.
- Local crews working in Hoffman Estates ZIP 60192, 60169, 60120, 60010
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Walls that close in Hoffman Estates kitchens, and what it takes to remove them
We remove kitchen walls in Hoffman Estates the careful way: assessment first, engineered design for load-bearing walls, shoring during the work and a finished ceiling and floor when we leave. You end up with an open kitchen and paperwork that shows it was done right.
Posts where you don't want them
Sometimes a post is unavoidable. We try to put it at the end of a peninsula or inside a cabinet run so it disappears into the design.
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.
Kitchen layout after the wall is gone
Losing a wall means losing cabinets and outlets. We redesign the kitchen so storage moves into an island or other walls.
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 wall that hides a structural problem
If the ceiling sags or the floor slopes near the wall, the structure needs attention. The engineer's design accounts for it.
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.
Wanting no beam showing
Most people want a smooth ceiling after the wall is gone. We aim for a flush beam and tell you early if a dropped beam is required.
What the project covers
- Structural assessmentWe inspect the wall, the framing above and below it and what runs inside it.
- Permit and inspectionsWe file the permit with the engineer's documents and schedule the inspections.
- Protection and lead-safe setupDust walls, floor protection and lead-safe containment on older homes.
- Temporary shoringTemporary support walls on both sides carry the load while the wall is removed and the beam set.
- Utility reroutingPlumbing, ducts, wiring and gas moved out of the wall by licensed trades.
- 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.
Finishes and options
Cased openingsA wide framed opening with trim, when keeping part of the wall makes more sense.
Posts and columnsWhen a post is needed, we hide it in a cabinet run or finish it as a column.
LVL beamsLaminated veneer lumber sized by the engineer; often used for flush beams.
Glulam beamsLaminated wood beams that can be left visible and stained as a design element.
Steel beamsA steel beam carries more load in less depth, which can avoid a dropped beam or a post.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment before and after — Hoffman Estates homes
Before
In progress
AfterKitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in a 1970s tract home, Hoffman Estates
A 1970s tract home in Hoffman Estates, a typical kitchen for Hoffman Estates. What we started with: white painted cabinets with yellowed paint and dated scalloped trim, white laminate with brown flecks and a fluorescent box light. The reason for the call: a dark kitchen cut 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 unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, black honed granite counters, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring through both rooms and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights. On site this meant structural assessment, permit and inspections, plus protection and lead-safe setup.
Before
AfterA Schaumburg 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near Olde Schaumburg Centre. 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. The reason for the call: 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 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 permit and inspections, protection and lead-safe setup, plus ceiling, wall and floor patching.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Schaumburg →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1970s tract home in Hoffman Estates
A new layout with an island, cabinets in terracotta, dark soapstone-look quartz counters and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Hoffman Estates →
Before
AfterHoffman Estates kitchen, 1970s split-level: accessible kitchen remodeling
What changed: a lowered bright white quartz counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in cream uppers and walnut-stained lowers with matte black pulls, pull-down shelves in the uppers, drawers instead of base doors, a side-opening wall oven, a lever faucet and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Hoffman Estates →
Before
AfterKitchen Additions in a 1970s split-level, Hoffman Estates
Finished: the kitchen extended by a 10-ft bump-out with a row of new windows and a dining area, cabinets in pale mint green with matte black pulls, creamy quartzite-look quartz counters, large-format light stone-look porcelain tile flooring through the old and new space and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Additions in Hoffman Estates →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.
- PermitWe submit the permit with the engineer's documents and wait for approval.
- 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 Hoffman Estates homeowners
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.
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.
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.
What happens to the floor where the wall was?
Hardwood can usually be woven in; mismatched floors often get replaced together for a continuous look.
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 a Hoffman Estates-registered contractor for kitchen wall removal?
Contractors must register through a BS&A Online Contractor account (annual registration form and documents) and submit the Contractor/Design Professionals Registration Form and a Workers Compensation Affidavit. No fee stated. We take care of that before work starts.
Does kitchen wall removal need a Hoffman Estates building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Development Services Department - Code Enforcement (Building Permits) (BS&A Online Permit Portal), phone (847) 781-2631. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen wall removal in Hoffman Estates?
It depends on the scope. Hoffman Estates's rule in short: Kitchen remodels go through the Residential Remodel permit: submit plans (1/4 inch scale) of existing and proposed kitchen showing plumbing fixtures, outlets, appliances and panel, plus a scope of work or contract. We handle the permit when one is needed with Development Services Department - Code Enforcement (Building Permits).
Do you work in my part of Hoffman Estates?
Yes. Our crews work across Hoffman Estates — ZIP 60192, 60169, 60120, 60010 — and nearby Schaumburg, Hanover Park, Palatine.
Working in Hoffman Estates
- A lot of Hoffman Estates kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Hoffman Estates homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Development Services Department - Code Enforcement (Building Permits) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60192ZIP 60169ZIP 60120ZIP 60010
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment nearby
Other kitchen services in Hoffman Estates
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.