How Often to Refinish Hardwood Floors?
Donatas June 30, 2026
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(630) 418 4139Big Bro Hardwood is an owner-operated hardwood flooring company working across Aurora and the western and northern suburbs. We install, sand, stain, refinish, and repair solid and engineered wood floors, starting around $3 a square foot. In 17+ years, we’ve done 500+ floors around Chicagoland — reviving 1920s red oak in bungalows from Berwyn to Portage Park, refinishing greystones in Logan Square, matching new boards into old two-flats, and laying engineered plank over concrete in Lakeview and downtown high-rise condos.








The same small crew handles your floors from the first measurement to the last coat — no rotating subcontractors. We price everything line by line, keep sanding dust to a minimum with vacuum-assisted equipment, and finish with Bona and Loba products that are kid- and pet-safe once cured. We’ll come measure and give you a free estimate within 24 hours.
High-quality Aurora flooring doesn’t need a luxury price tag. Our services start at just $3 per square foot. Use our hardwood floor cost calculator for a quick check.
Our hardwood floor specialists use advanced dustless sanding systems to keep your home cleaner and sustain the indoor air quality during the sanding process.
Most of our work comes from word-of-mouth. Clients trust us — and tell their friends. That’s how we’ve earned strong customer satisfaction.
BBH hardwood floor company works with everything from historic bungalows to high-rise condos. Our wood flooring options are built to handle snow, humidity, and the rhythm of city life.
We use only certified products from brands like Loba and Bona — safe for families, pets, and perfect for engineered wood floors or solid hardwood flooring.
Our hardwood flooring contractors keep a tight schedule, respect your home, and stay in communication. The entire process is clear, smooth, and handled by true professionals.
From the Victorian-era homes near the Fox River to the newer subdivisions on Aurora’s far east side, we handle every hardwood flooring job with the same small, experienced crew from start to finish.





We’re a hardwood floor company based in the Aurora 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+ Aurora-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
15,000+ hours
Of hands-on hardwood work

Donatas
Owner

Valdas
Team member

Slavek
Team member
1
Vintage bungalows & greystones (pre-1940): Original red oak and maple strip floors can almost always be sanded and refinished — even after years under carpet — instead of replaced. For pre-1978 homes, we follow EPA lead-safe (RRP) containment. Full replacement is only worth it when boards are cupped through or water-rotted.
2
Two-flats & rehabs: The usual challenge is blending old and new wood. We match species, grade and board width and feather repairs in, so additions and patches disappear into the existing floor instead of leaving a visible seam.
3
New construction & suburban builds: Wide-plank engineered and prefinished hardwood dominate here. We check subfloor flatness and moisture before installation so seasonal movement does not open gaps between boards.
4
Downtown & high-rise condos: Concrete subfloors and building rules drive the method. We use glue-down or floating engineered systems, low-VOC finishes, and schedule around HOA quiet hours, elevator booking, and other nuances.
5
Lake-effect humidity: Aurora swings from dry forced-air winters to humid lake summers. We acclimate wood on site and keep rooms at 30–50% humidity to prevent cupping, gapping, and crowning.
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Call or send the form, tell us about your floors, and we’ll set a time to come look.
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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.
Get a free in-home estimate within 24 hours. No pressure, no hidden costs — just honest advice and expert results, and no cutting corners.
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 June 30, 2026
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Absolutely. Many older homes in central and near-river Aurora — Victorians, Craftsman bungalows, and catalog-style houses — still have their original site-finished oak strip floors. We assess the wood thickness first to confirm there’s enough material for sanding, then refinish using vacuum-assisted equipment that captures 95%+ of dust. We finish with low-VOC Bona or Loba coats that are kid- and pet-safe once cured. Refinishing starts at $3 per square foot.
Not with us. Aurora has a meaningful share of pre-1978 housing, particularly on the west side and in historic districts like the Near Eastside and Tanner areas. We follow EPA Lead RRP protocols on every job in older homes — full containment, HEPA vacuuming, and post-work verification. We’ll discuss this during your free in-home estimate so there are no surprises before we start.
The area’s cold, snowy winters and humid summers create real seasonal moisture swings. Wood expands in summer humidity and contracts in dry winter heat. We acclimate every board on-site before installation, cut proper expansion gaps, and check subfloor moisture levels before we ever nail anything down. We also recommend keeping indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent year-round to protect your investment — especially in homes with basements or crawlspaces.
Yes, and we do this regularly in the 1990s–2000s subdivisions on Aurora’s east side. Many of those homes have plywood subfloors over basements, which are well-suited for both solid and engineered hardwood. We check subfloor flatness and moisture before recommending a product, and we’ll walk you through whether site-finished solid or high-end engineered hardwood makes more sense for your specific foundation type. Learn more about our Aurora installation service.
It depends mostly on square footage, the condition of the floors, and whether you’re refinishing or installing new. Refinishing starts around $3 per square foot; new installation costs more because of materials. You get an itemized price at the free in-home estimate, and you can get a rough number first with our online cost calculator.
Most refinishing projects take 2–5 days, depending on size, stain, and number of finish coats. You can usually stay home – we seal off work areas and keep sanding dust to a minimum with vacuum-assisted equipment – but you’ll need to keep off the floors while the finish cures (water-based finishes are walkable sooner than oil-based). We give you a day-by-day plan before we start.
For most projects, we take a deposit to cover materials and lock in your dates, with the balance due once the work is finished and you’re happy with it. We put the exact terms in writing at the estimate, so there are no surprises.
Tell us what you need — we’ll help you figure out the best way to get it done.