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From Just $3/sq ft
17+ Years of Local Expertise
Serving Chicago & 30+ Suburbs
15,000+ Hands-On Hours
Solid and Engineered Floors
Big Bro Hardwood is an employee-owned hardwood flooring company serving Lake Forest and the surrounding suburbs. We install, sand, stain, refinish, and repair solid and engineered wood floors, starting around $3 a square foot. In 17+ years, we have completed 500+ floors across the area – restoring original white oak and red oak in early 20th-century estates, matching worn boards in pre-war Colonial Revivals, and laying engineered hardwood with proper vapor control in moisture-prone lower levels near the lake.
The same small crew handles your project from the first measurement to the last coat – no rotating subcontractors, ever. Every estimate is itemized line by line so you know exactly what you are paying for. We use vacuum-assisted equipment that captures 95% or more of sanding dust, and we finish with Bona and Loba products that are kid- and pet-safe once cured. Contact us and we will come out to Lake Forest for a free estimate within 24 hours.
Premium Results From $3/sq ft
Beautiful hardwood floors in Lake Forest don’t have to come with an overwhelming price tag. Refinishing starts at just $3, and new installations are priced the same honest way. Use our hardwood floor cost calculator to get a clear sense of what your project might look like before we ever set foot in your home.
Free In-Home Estimate Within 24 Hours
We come to your home, walk the floors, check the actual conditions, and talk through what you want to accomplish. Then we put together a free, itemized estimate within 24 hours. Your quote is based on your real subfloor, your real square footage, and your real goals, not a ballpark pulled from a website form.
Serving Lake Forest and Nearby Suburbs
We work across Lake Forest and more than 30 suburbs throughout the local area. That experience means we understand the older homes, the historic districts, the high-end custom builds, and everything in between. And because we run one consistent crew, not a patchwork of regional contractors, you get the same people and the same standards on every job.
On-Time, No-Stress Projects
We show up when we say we will, keep your home clean and orderly, and stay in touch throughout the project. No guessing, no surprises. Our crew treats your home with respect and moves the work forward on a clear schedule so you can plan around us, not the other way around.
Owner-Led From Start to Finish
Donatas and the same small team handle your project from the first walkthrough to the final coat, whether that means installation, refinishing, staining, repair, or stair work. There are no rotating subcontractors handed off between stages. That means one crew, one clear line of accountability, and no important details falling through the cracks.
Complex Projects Planned, Not Improvised
Lake Forest homes, especially older estates and historic properties, often involve original hardwood around radiators, intricate staircases, formal entryways, and rooms remodeled more than once. We plan every detail in advance, from moisture checks and subfloor prep to species matching, stain sequencing, and room-to-room transitions, so the work goes smoothly once it starts.
From historic lakefront estates to mid-century colonials to brand-new custom builds, we handle every hardwood flooring need Lake Forest homeowners run into.
We’re a hardwood floor company based in the Lake Forest area, with 17+ years of hands-on experience in hardwood floor installation, floor refinishing, staining, and repair services. Our team is small, focused, and takes pride in doing every job right, from the first measurement to the final product.
We’ve completed 500+ Lake Forest-area projects across the city and the Chicagoland area, and we work closely with every client to make sure the results match their flooring needs — no shortcuts, no guesswork. Big Bro Hardwood wood flooring contractors adhere to the industry’s National Wood Flooring Association Technical Guidelines.
Our wood flooring company believes in clear communication, the best materials, and clean, quality work. More than 80% of our new clients come from satisfied customers who recommend us to family, friends, and neighbors — and we’re genuinely proud to earn that kind of trust.
17+ years
Of experience
500+
Hardwood floor projects completed
30+
Suburbs served
1 crew
No subcontractors - the owner is on every hardwood job
Donatas
Owner
Valdas
Team member
Slavek
Team member
Lake Forest's mix of historic estates, mid-century ranches, and high-end custom builds means no two flooring projects are the same. Here is how we approach each situation.
1
Historic Estates and Pre-War Homes
Many Lake Forest homes date to the early 1900s, and their original white oak or red oak strip floors are often still sound under layers of carpet or old finish. We sand them back carefully, patch boards where needed, and refinish to match the character of the home. For any house built before 1978, we follow EPA Lead RRP protocols – containment, HEPA filtration, and clearance verification – before we touch a sander.
2
Additions, Rehabs, and Blended Floors
Renovations on older Lake Forest properties often mean new wood meeting original flooring. We source boards that match the existing species and width as closely as possible, feather in the new sections, and sand everything together so the transition disappears rather than announces itself.
3
Luxury Custom Builds and Tear-Down Rebuilds
Newer custom homes in Lake Forest typically call for wide-plank solid or engineered hardwood. We check subfloor flatness and moisture levels before any board goes down, because even a well-built slab or plywood deck can have problem spots that show up later if you skip that step.
4
Below-Grade and Moisture-Prone Spaces
Lake Forest sits close to Lake Michigan, and a high water table means basements and lower levels can be damp. We recommend glue-down or floating engineered wood with proper vapor control for those areas rather than solid hardwood, which does not tolerate persistent moisture well.
5
Lake-Effect Humidity and Seasonal Movement
Winters here are dry and summers are humid, and hardwood moves with every swing in relative humidity. We acclimate wood on site before installation and advise keeping interior humidity between 30-50% year-round. That single habit prevents most of the gapping and cupping calls we get from homeowners who skipped it.
In many Lake Forest homes the original wood is worth saving rather than replacing - the only way to know is to look at the subfloor and boards up close.
1
Call or send the form, tell us about your floors, and we’ll set a time to come look.
2
We measure, check the wood and subfloor, talk through color and options, and leave you an itemized estimate.
3
Our crew handles prep, sanding, install, stain, and finish on a dust-controlled setup, cleaning up daily.
4
We do a final walkthrough, go over care and timing, and stand behind the work.
A Lake Forest homeowner reached out about floors in an older two-story that had taken years of wear - boards were scratched, scuffed, and had lost their finish almost completely in the high-traffic areas. We sanded them back to bare wood, repaired the damaged sections, and refinished everything in place - same boards, no replacement. Take a look at the before and after photos below and judge the results for yourself.
Get a free in-home estimate within 24 hours. No pressure, no hidden costs — just honest advice and expert results, and no cutting corners.
Get a realistic budget range in about a minute for refinishing, new installation, replacing carpet with hardwood, or stairs. It’s a starting point, not a firm quote, and we confirm the exact figure with a free in-home estimate.
Choose what you'd like an estimate for
Not sure which one? Learn about wood types →
* This estimate is for budgeting purposes only. Actual pricing may vary based on site conditions, moisture levels, subfloor state, and access. A final quote requires an on-site inspection.
Not sure which one? Learn about wood types →
Red Oak $3–$7 / sq ft
White Oak $4–$10 / sq ft
Maple (clear coat) $4–$9 / sq ft
Maple (stained) $4–$9 / sq ft
Cherry $5–$12 / sq ft
Walnut $7–$15 / sq ft
Hickory $4–$10 / sq ft
Exotic / Other $8–$20 / sq ft
No removal needed
Remove carpet +$0.70–$1.60 / sq ft
Remove vinyl / linoleum +$1.00–$2.50 / sq ft
Remove tile +$1.50–$3.50 / sq ft
Subfloor leveling / repairs+$1.00–$3.00 / sq ft
Moisture barrier / underlayment+$0.70–$1.50 / sq ft
* This estimate is for budgeting purposes only. Actual pricing may vary based on site conditions, moisture levels, subfloor state, and access. A final quote requires an on-site inspection.
Not sure which one? Learn about wood types →
Red Oak $3–$7 / sq ft
White Oak $4–$10 / sq ft
Maple (clear coat) $4–$9 / sq ft
Maple (stained) $4–$9 / sq ft
Cherry $5–$12 / sq ft
Walnut $7–$15 / sq ft
Hickory $4–$10 / sq ft
Exotic / Other $8–$20 / sq ft
Subfloor leveling / repairs+$1.00–$3.00 / sq ft
Moisture barrier / underlayment+$0.70–$1.50 / sq ft
* This estimate is for budgeting purposes only. Actual pricing may vary based on site conditions, moisture levels, subfloor state, and access. A final quote requires an on-site inspection.
Donatas July 21, 2026
Donatas May 21, 2026
Donatas April 28, 2026
Older Lake Forest estates and early 20th-century homes often have site-finished white oak or red oak that has aged beautifully but needs careful attention. We check every board for loose fasteners, cupping, and gaps before we touch a sander. In historic-district properties, we also match original board widths and stain colors as closely as possible. Most of these floors can be fully restored without replacement, which is almost always the better choice.
The seasonal swing here is real. Hardwood expands in humid summers and contracts in dry winters, which can open gaps or cause cupping if conditions get extreme. We follow NWFA guidelines and recommend keeping indoor humidity between 30-50% year-round. We also acclimate every board on site before installation and leave proper expansion gaps. A good whole-home humidifier goes a long way in protecting your investment through a Lake Forest winter.
Lake Forest’s proximity to Lake Michigan and a high water table means below-grade spaces can carry real moisture risk. Solid hardwood is generally not a safe choice there. We recommend engineered hardwood with a proper vapor barrier or glued-down installation instead. We test subfloor moisture levels before any work begins. Getting this step right protects the floor for decades, not just the first season or two.
Yes. For any Lake Forest home built before 1978, we follow EPA Lead RRP protocols, which include proper containment, HEPA vacuum equipment, and post-work verification. Lake Forest has a large share of pre-war housing, so this comes up often for us. We are trained and equipped to handle it safely for your family. You do not need to research this on your own – we walk you through everything before work starts.
Refinishing starts at $3 per square foot, and we offer a flat rate for homes under 1,200 square feet. Every estimate is itemized line by line so you know exactly what you are paying for. For a quick ballpark before we visit, try our cost calculator. New clients also receive 10% off. We provide free in-home estimates, usually scheduled within 24 hours of your call.
We look at the thickness of wood remaining above the tongue, the severity of damage, and whether the species and grade still suit the room. Most floors in Lake Forest homes have been sanded only once or twice and have plenty of life left. Refinishing costs a fraction of replacement and preserves original character, especially in older homes where the wood itself is irreplaceable. We give you an honest recommendation either way.
A typical refinishing project runs two to four days depending on square footage, number of coats, and dry time between coats. Installation projects vary by scope. You do not have to leave entirely, but we ask that you keep foot traffic off the finished areas while coats cure. We use vacuum-assisted sanding that captures 95% or more of dust, so the rest of your Lake Forest home stays much cleaner than with traditional methods.
We use Bona and Loba finishes primarily, both low-VOC waterborne products trusted across the industry. Once fully cured, they are safe for children and pets. We also carry Pallmann and DuraSeal depending on the project. We talk through sheen levels, durability, and drying times with you before we start so there are no surprises. All our finish work is backed by a workmanship warranty and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Tell us what you need — we’ll help you figure out the best way to get it done.
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