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 Wood Dale & nearby Itasca, Elk Grove Village
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Wood Dale, IL
We find out what your Wood Dale kitchen wall carries, then open it safely with an engineered beam and a permit.
- Kitchen remodels across Wood Dale ZIP 60191
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Walls that close in Wood Dale kitchens, and what it takes to remove them
We remove kitchen walls in Wood Dale 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.
Patching floors and ceilings
The finish work is what you see afterward: a level ceiling, a patched floor and painted walls without seams.
Posts where you don't want them
If the span is long, the engineer may call for a post. We plan its location with the kitchen layout so it doesn't block the walkway.
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.
Kitchen layout after the wall is gone
We draw the open plan before demolition, so the beam, lights and new cabinet runs all fit together.
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.
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.
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.
Everything in a kitchen wall removal
- Structural assessmentWe inspect the wall, the framing above and below it and what runs inside it.
- Engineer's beam designFor load-bearing walls, a structural engineer sizes the beam, posts and connections and provides stamped drawings.
- Permit and inspectionsWe file the permit with the engineer's documents and schedule the inspections.
- Protection and lead-safe setupWe seal off the work area and protect floors and furniture before demolition.
- Utility reroutingVents, drains, circuits and ducts rerouted before the wall comes down.
- DemolitionControlled removal of the wall, studs and debris, hauled away.
- Records for resaleWe hand over the structural paperwork so the change is documented when you sell.
Choices you'll make
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.
Steel beamsA steel beam carries more load in less depth, which can avoid a dropped beam or a post.
Cased openingsA trimmed, enlarged doorway that opens the view while keeping some wall for cabinets.
Dropped beamA visible beam below the ceiling line, often wrapped in drywall or wood.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment before and after — Wood Dale homes
Before
In progress
AfterKitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in a postwar bi-level, Wood Dale
A postwar bi-level in Wood Dale, a typical kitchen for Wood Dale. Before: original birch cabinets painted white decades ago, sagging doors, chrome pulls, laminate with an aluminum edge band and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. What bothered the owners most: 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 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 structural assessment, demolition, plus records for resale.
Before
AfterItasca kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: kitchen wall removal & structural assessment
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Itasca. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above, white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam and two hanging glass pendants. What bothered the owners most: no view from the kitchen to the family 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 structural assessment, utility rerouting, plus records for resale.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Itasca →
Before
AfterElk Grove Village kitchen, postwar Cape Cod: kitchen wall removal & structural assessment
A postwar Cape Cod in Elk Grove Village, a typical kitchen for Elk Grove Village. Before: 1970s dark pecan-stained cabinets, light beige laminate and a dome ceiling light. The reason for the call: a dark kitchen cut 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 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. On site this meant engineer's beam design, utility rerouting, plus demolition.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment in Elk Grove Village →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1960s ranch in Wood Dale
Finished: a new layout with an island, cabinets in warm white shaker, light gray quartz counters and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Design & Layout Planning in Wood Dale →
Before
AfterA Wood Dale 1950s ranch: before and after
What changed: 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 Wood Dale →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 estimateBeam design when needed and a line-item quote for the structural and finish work.
- PermitPermit filed and issued before any structural work starts.
- Removal and beamTemporary support, wall removal, beam and posts set and inspected.
- Finish workWe patch, paint and clean up so the open space is ready to use.
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment questions from Wood Dale homeowners
Can I remove a wall between the kitchen and living room?
Most kitchen walls can come out with the right support. We find out what the wall carries and plan the beam and reroutes.
Will removing the wall affect heating and cooling?
Possibly, if ducts run through it. We reroute them and adjust register locations for the new open space.
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.
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.
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.
Does kitchen wall removal need a Wood Dale building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Community Development Department (https://my.wooddale.com), phone 630-766-5133. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a Wood Dale-registered contractor for kitchen wall removal?
All contractors (general, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roofing, etc.) must register with the City before a permit is issued. Requires Certificate of Insurance ($2,000,000 public liability) naming the City, state license/IDPH registration if applicable. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for kitchen wall removal in Wood Dale?
It depends on the scope. Wood Dale's rule in short: A permit is required for any alteration or repair of a building. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department.
Do you work in my part of Wood Dale?
Yes. Our crews work across Wood Dale — ZIP 60191 — and nearby Itasca, Elk Grove Village, Addison.
Working in Wood Dale
- A lot of Wood Dale kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Wood Dale 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 60191
Kitchen Wall Removal & Structural Assessment nearby
Other kitchen services in Wood Dale
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.