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 Park Ridge & nearby Des Plaines, Glenview
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Park Ridge, IL
We find out what your Park Ridge kitchen wall carries, then open it safely with an engineered beam and a permit.
- Kitchen remodels across Park Ridge ZIP 60068
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Walls that close in Park Ridge 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 Park Ridge 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.
Closed-off kitchen
When guests gather in the doorway because the kitchen has no room, it's time to look at the wall that separates it from the living space.
Pipes, ducts or wires inside the wall
What is inside the wall matters as much as what it holds up. Wiring, gas lines, ducts and vents each need a new route.
Not sure if the wall is load-bearing
Clues include joists running across the wall above it, a beam or wall directly below it in the basement and another wall stacked above it. We confirm with an inspection and, when needed, an engineer.
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.
Doing it without a permit
A permitted, engineered wall removal protects the house and its resale. We handle the paperwork as part of the job.
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.
Partial wall or half wall
If the full wall can't come out, a wide opening, a half wall or a pass-through still opens the view. We compare the options with you.
What's included
- 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.
- Utility reroutingPlumbing, ducts, wiring and gas moved out of the wall by licensed trades.
- DemolitionWe take the wall out carefully and clear the site.
- 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
Steel beamsUsed for long spans or heavy loads where a wood beam would be too deep.
Posts and columnsStructural posts concealed in walls or cabinets, or finished as columns.
Cased openingsA wide framed opening with trim, when keeping part of the wall makes more sense.
Glulam beamsGlued-laminated timber, an option when the beam will stay exposed or carry a long span.
Flush beamHidden in the ceiling plane, with joists hung from it on metal hangers.
What the work looks like in Park Ridge homes
Before
In progress
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Park Ridge
The site: a postwar Cape Cod in Park Ridge. The kitchen as it was: 1970s dark pecan-stained cabinets, light beige laminate and a dome ceiling light. The main complaint was 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 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. Work included protection and lead-safe setup, demolition, plus lighting and outlets in the new opening.
Before
AfterDes Plaines kitchen, postwar Cape Cod: kitchen wall removal & structural assessment
This one is a postwar Cape Cod in Des Plaines. Before: original birch cabinets painted white decades ago, sagging doors, chrome pulls, laminate with an aluminum edge band and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. The reason for the call: 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 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. Work included permit and inspections, protection and lead-safe setup, plus lighting and outlets in the new opening.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Park Ridge
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 Park Ridge →
Before
AfterA Park Ridge 1960s ranch: before and after
Finished: 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 Park Ridge →
Before
AfterKitchen Additions in a postwar bi-level, Park Ridge
What changed: the kitchen extended by a 10-ft bump-out with a row of new windows and a dining area, cabinets in deep olive with polished nickel pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, light oak hardwood flooring through the old and new space and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Kitchen Additions in Park Ridge →How your kitchen wall removal goes
- 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 Park Ridge homeowners
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 Park Ridge?
Yes, when the wall is structural. We coordinate the engineer as part of the project.
How long does it take to remove a kitchen wall?
The structural work itself often takes days to a couple of weeks, plus engineering and permit time beforehand. Finish work follows.
Can I remove a wall between the kitchen and living room?
Usually yes. If the wall is load-bearing, it needs a beam sized by an engineer and a permit; if not, it still needs a check for pipes, ducts and wiring.
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.
Do I need a Park Ridge-registered contractor for kitchen wall removal?
Building contractors must register with the City each calendar year ($50 per firm). We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for kitchen wall removal in Park Ridge?
It depends on the scope. Park Ridge's rule in short: Park Ridge publishes permit guidelines by project type; contact the Permit Technicians to confirm whether a kitchen project needs a permit. We handle the permit when one is needed.
Do you work in my part of Park Ridge?
Yes. Our crews work across Park Ridge — ZIP 60068 — and nearby Des Plaines, Glenview, Skokie.
Working in Park Ridge
- A lot of Park Ridge kitchens date from the 1950s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Park Ridge homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Park Ridge building department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60068
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment nearby
Other kitchen services in Park Ridge
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.