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 Palatine & nearby Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Palatine, IL
We find out what your Palatine kitchen wall carries, then open it safely with an engineered beam and a permit.
- Local crews working in Palatine ZIP 60067, 60074
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Walls that close in Palatine 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 Palatine 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
In a condo, interior walls can be structural or hold shared risers. We get association approval and an engineer's review before opening one.
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.
Doing it without a permit
Unpermitted structural work can show up during a home inspection. We file the permit and pass the inspections so the change is on record.
Patching floors and ceilings
Where a wall stood, there's a gap in the flooring and the ceiling. We patch or weave in matching flooring and finish the ceiling so the line disappears.
A wall that hides a structural problem
Previous owners sometimes cut openings without proper headers. We look for signs of that and fix them as part of the new beam design.
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.
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
- Engineer's beam designEngineered beam sizing and a sealed letter or drawing for the permit.
- Permit and inspectionsPermit application, framing inspection and final sign-off handled by us.
- 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.
- Beam and post installationLVL, steel or glulam beam installed flush or dropped, with posts and support down to the foundation.
- Records for resaleYou keep the permit, the engineer's letter and the inspection sign-off for future buyers.
- Lighting and outlets in the new openingNew ceiling lights, relocated switches and code-required outlets for the open space.
Materials and options
Cased openingsA trimmed, enlarged doorway that opens the view while keeping some wall for cabinets.
Dropped beamHangs below the ceiling; simpler to install and sometimes required by span or load.
Posts and columnsWhen a post is needed, we hide it in a cabinet run or finish it as a column.
Flush beamSits within the ceiling joists for a flat, uninterrupted ceiling.
Wrapped and decorative beamsA dropped beam finished in painted trim or wood so it looks intentional.
What the work looks like in Palatine homes
Before
In progress
AfterKitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in a 1990s two-story colonial, Palatine
A 1990s two-story colonial in Palatine, a typical kitchen for Palatine. 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 closed-off kitchen that stayed dark all day. 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. On site this meant temporary shoring, beam and post installation, plus lighting and outlets in the new opening.
Before
AfterArlington Heights kitchen, 1960s ranch: kitchen wall removal & structural assessment
This one is a 1960s ranch in Arlington Heights. What we started with: dark walnut-stained flush-panel cabinets with brass pulls, speckled laminate and a fluorescent box light. The main complaint was 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 light warm taupe with polished nickel pulls, bright white quartz counters, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring through both rooms and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights. The job covered engineer's beam design, beam and post installation, plus lighting and outlets in the new opening.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterA Lake Zurich two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
A two-story colonial from the 1990s in Lake Zurich, a typical kitchen for Lake Zurich. The kitchen as it was: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above, white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam and two hanging glass pendants. The reason for the call: cooking with their back to everyone in the next room. The result: the wall removed and a flush beam in the ceiling, the kitchen open to the next room, cabinets in light terracotta with brushed nickel bar pulls, black honed granite counters, light oak hardwood flooring through both rooms and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips. Work included protection and lead-safe setup, records for resale, plus lighting and outlets in the new opening.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Palatine
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 Palatine →
Before
AfterA Palatine 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
A lowered warm walnut butcher block counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in pale mint green 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 two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Palatine →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 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 beamShoring, utility reroutes, demolition and beam installation, followed by inspection.
- Finish workWe patch, paint and clean up so the open space is ready to use.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment questions from Palatine homeowners
Can I remove a kitchen wall in a condo?
It depends on the building. We check with the association and an engineer before planning removal.
How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?
Exterior walls and many center walls are bearing. Interior walls need checking from the attic or basement, which is what our assessment does.
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.
How much of a load-bearing wall can be removed?
It depends on the span and load. The engineer decides whether one beam can carry it or a post is needed.
What does it cost to remove a kitchen wall?
There's no honest number before seeing the wall and what's in it. We price it after the inspection.
What is the Palatine building department phone number?
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 Palatine-registered contractor for kitchen wall removal?
Contractors must be registered and bonded with the Village before a permit is issued. Registration is online and expires Dec 31 each year. We take care of that before work starts.
Do Palatine 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 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 Wall Removal & Structural Assessment nearby
Other kitchen services in Palatine
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.