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 West Chicago & nearby Winfield, Carol Stream
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in West Chicago, IL
We find out what your West Chicago kitchen wall carries, then open it safely with an engineered beam and a permit.
- Kitchen remodels across West Chicago ZIP 60185
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Walls that close in West Chicago kitchens, and what it takes to remove them
We remove kitchen walls in West Chicago 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.
Partial wall or half wall
Sometimes the best answer is a large cased opening or a counter-height wall with seating. It keeps a structural element and still opens the room.
A narrow doorway that bottlenecks traffic
When serving dinner means turning sideways in a 30-inch door, the opening is too small. We enlarge it with a proper header or take the wall out entirely.
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.
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.
Daylight stuck in the next room
Plenty of kitchens have one small window while the dining room has three. Taking the wall out lets that daylight reach the counters.
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.
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.
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.
- Permit and inspectionsPermit application, framing inspection and final sign-off handled by us.
- 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.
- DemolitionWe take the wall out carefully and clear the site.
- Records for resaleYou keep the permit, the engineer's letter and the inspection sign-off for future buyers.
Materials and options
Wrapped and decorative beamsWe wrap visible beams in drywall, trim or stained wood to suit the room.
LVL beamsEngineered laminated lumber, strong and straight, the most common beam for residential openings.
Steel beamsUsed for long spans or heavy loads where a wood beam would be too deep.
Dropped beamHangs below the ceiling; simpler to install and sometimes required by span or load.
Glulam beamsLaminated wood beams that can be left visible and stained as a design element.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment before and after — West Chicago homes
Before
In progress
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in West Chicago
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in West Chicago. What we started with: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim, white ceramic tile with dark stained grout lines and a brass chandelier over the nook. The main complaint was no view from the kitchen to the family room. After: the wall removed and a flush beam in the ceiling, the kitchen open to the next room, cabinets in cobalt blue with brushed nickel bar pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring through both rooms and two glass pendants and recessed lights. The job covered engineer's beam design, permit and inspections, plus temporary shoring.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Winfield
The site: a 1980s two-story in Winfield. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above, white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam and two hanging glass pendants. The main complaint was a kitchen walled off from the rest of the house. 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. The job covered structural assessment, engineer's beam design, plus temporary shoring.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Winfield →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in West Chicago
A new layout with an island, cabinets in light warm taupe, warm walnut butcher block counters and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in West Chicago →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in West Chicago
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 West Chicago →
Before
AfterA West Chicago two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
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, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring through the old and new space and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Additions in West Chicago →The project, step by step
- 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 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 West Chicago homeowners
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.
Will removing the wall affect heating and cooling?
It can. A wall often holds a supply or return duct, and a bigger open room may need registers moved. We plan the duct reroute with the beam.
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.
Will the ceiling be flat after the wall is gone?
Often yes. Flush beams hide in the ceiling; when a dropped beam is needed, we finish it to suit the room.
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.
Do I need a West Chicago-registered contractor for kitchen wall removal?
All contractors and subcontractors working in West Chicago must be registered with the City (insurance, licensing and bonding are checked). We take care of that before work starts.
West Chicago building permit for kitchen wall removal: where do I apply?
Permits go through Community Development Department. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen wall removal in West Chicago?
It depends on the scope. West Chicago's rule in short: West Chicago requires a building permit for certain home improvement and remodeling projects; the city publishes an Additions & Remodeling permit guide with a submittal checklist. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department.
Do you work in my part of West Chicago?
Yes. Our crews work across West Chicago — ZIP 60185 — and nearby Winfield, Carol Stream, St. Charles.
Working in West Chicago
- A lot of West Chicago kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most West Chicago homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60185
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment nearby
Other kitchen services in West Chicago
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.