Bouncy or sagging floor
A floor that flexes when someone walks through may have undersized, damaged or notched joists. We check the framing and may sister new lumber alongside.
Serving Palatine & nearby Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove
Kitchen Subfloor Repair in Palatine, IL
Soft, rotted or squeaky kitchen subfloors opened up, rebuilt and made solid in Palatine homes.
- Repairs across Palatine ZIP 60067, 60074
- We find the cause, not just the symptom
- Parts and labor quoted before work starts
Subfloor problems we fix in Palatine kitchens
Kitchens are where leaks hide: under the dishwasher, behind the fridge water line and below the sink base. Our Palatine carpenters open the floor, trace the moisture to its source, replace what is damaged and reinforce framing where it needs it.
Swollen, mushroomed panel edges
Ridges along panel joints often mean wet OSB. Sanding doesn't fix it; the swollen sections are cut out.
Uneven or out-of-level floor
Humps and dips are corrected with planing, shims on the joists or a leveling compound, depending on how far out the floor is.
Leak from the refrigerator water line
When the floor behind the refrigerator is dark or soft, the water line is the first suspect. We fix both.
Rot found during a remodel
Pulling up old vinyl often uncovers dark, crumbling plywood. We cut it out to sound wood, treat the cause and install new panels before the new floor goes down.
Soft spot in front of the dishwasher
A slow drip from a dishwasher hose or door seal soaks the floor beneath it without showing on top. We pull the appliance, open the floor and replace the wet section.
Squeaks and creaks underfoot
Squeaks happen when the subfloor moves against nails or joists. We fasten it down with screws, add construction adhesive or install blocking where it is loose.
Floor too thin for tile
Tile needs a stiffer base than vinyl. We add a layer of plywood or reinforce the framing before a tile floor goes in.
What the repair visit covers
- Finding and stopping the leakNo new subfloor goes in until the water that ruined the old one is stopped.
- Moving appliances and cabinetsThe dishwasher, fridge or range comes out, and toe kicks or a sink base are removed if the damage runs under them.
- Removing the finish floorWe remove flooring only as far as the repair needs.
- Moisture testingA moisture meter shows how far the wet wood extends and whether the framing is dry enough to close.
- New subfloor panelsNew panels set flush with the existing floor and fastened with construction adhesive and screws.
- Leveling and flatteningWe level the patch to the rest of the floor and check it with a straightedge.
- Ready for flooringWhen we leave, the base is flat, dry and fastened, whoever installs the flooring on top.
Parts we replace
OSB panelsEngineered strand board, used to match an existing OSB floor.
Sister joists and blockingNew lumber fastened alongside damaged or weak joists, plus blocking that supports panel edges.
Underlayment layerAn extra plywood or backer layer that stiffens the floor for tile or smooths it for vinyl.
Construction adhesive and subfloor screwsGlue and screws together keep the subfloor from moving and squeaking.
Tongue-and-groove plywoodThe usual choice for kitchen subfloors: stiff, holds screws well and tolerates brief wetting better than OSB.
Kitchens like yours in Palatine: before and after
Problem
Fixed
DetailKitchen Subfloor Repair in a 1990s two-story colonial, Palatine
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Palatine. The kitchen as it was: oak parquet and white appliances. What bothered the owners most: cupped boards over a wet subfloor. The result: new plywood subfloor glued and screwed down in front of the dishwasher, ready for flooring. The job covered removing the finish floor, leveling and flattening, plus ready for flooring.
Before
AfterA Buffalo Grove 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near The Highlands. What we started with: 12-inch beige ceramic tile and black appliances. The reason for the call: a floor that gave underfoot by the sink. Finished kitchen: new plywood subfloor glued and screwed down in front of the dishwasher, ready for flooring. On site this meant new subfloor panels, leveling and flattening, plus ready for flooring.
Kitchen Subfloor Repair in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Lake Zurich
A 1980s two-story in Lake Zurich, a typical kitchen for Lake Zurich. What we started with: beige sheet vinyl and almond appliances. The reason for the call: a spongy floor in front of the dishwasher. The result: new plywood subfloor glued and screwed down in front of the dishwasher, ready for flooring. The job covered finding and stopping the leak, removing the finish floor, plus moisture testing.
Kitchen Subfloor Repair in Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterA Palatine two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
The oak floor sanded and refinished with a satin clear finish, grain visible and the water marks gone.
Hardwood Floor Repair & Refinishing in Palatine →
Before
AfterPalatine kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: kitchen remodeling
Cabinets in white uppers and deep green lowers with polished nickel pulls, dark soapstone-look quartz counters, a white herringbone tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Palatine →How the repair goes
- Inspect the floorWe walk the floor, check it from the basement if possible and measure moisture.
- Stop the waterThe leak is fixed and the area dried before we close anything up.
- Rebuild the subfloorCut out, reinforce, replace and level the subfloor.
- Finish the floorNew flooring goes down over the repair, or we leave it ready for your installer.
Kitchen Subfloor Repair questions from Palatine homeowners
Why is the floor soft by my dishwasher?
Moisture from the dishwasher has likely reached the wood. We confirm it with a meter and repair it.
How do you find where the leak is coming from?
By tracing moisture readings and checking each appliance connection, plus a look from the basement when possible.
Do cabinets have to come out?
Only if the damage runs under them. We often remove a toe kick or sink base floor instead of the whole cabinet.
How long does subfloor repair take?
It depends on how much is damaged and whether the wood has to dry. We give you a schedule with the estimate.
Can you replace just a section of subfloor?
Usually, yes. Partial replacement is normal as long as the edges are properly supported.
Can you do kitchen subfloor repair in a Palatine 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.
Does kitchen subfloor repair need a Palatine building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Community Development Department - Building Permits & Inspections, phone (847) 359-9042. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen subfloor repair in Palatine?
It depends on the scope. Palatine's rule in short: A permit is required to remodel a kitchen or to add/alter the electrical system. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department - Building Permits & Inspections.
Do you work in my part of Palatine?
Yes. Our crews work across Palatine — ZIP 60067, 60074 — and nearby Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich.
Working in Palatine
- A lot of Palatine 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 - Building Permits & Inspections handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60067ZIP 60074
Kitchen Subfloor Repair nearby
Other kitchen services in Palatine
Hardwood Floor Repair & RefinishingSanding, refinishing and board repairs for kitchen hardwood floors.
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.