CALL US TODAY!
(630) 418 4139Get a free quote
From Just $3/sq ft
17+ Years of Local Expertise
Employee Owned
Company
Serving Chicago & 30+ Suburbs
Certified Pet- & Family-Safe Finishes
Big Bro Hardwood is an owner-operated hardwood flooring company serving Barrington 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 narrow-plank oak in Barrington’s historic Victorian and Foursquare homes, uncovering original hardwood buried under decades of carpet, and laying wider-plank engineered flooring in the custom estate homes that have defined the village’s newer construction.
The same small crew handles your project from the first measurement to the last coat – no rotating subcontractors, ever. We give you a clear, line-by-line estimate, control sanding dust with vacuum-assisted equipment, and finish with Bona and Loba products that are kid- and pet-safe once cured. Call us and we will have a free in-home estimate to you within 24 hours.
High-quality Barrington 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 historic Victorian homes near the village core to newer custom estates on the outskirts, we handle every hardwood flooring need Barrington homeowners bring us.
We’re a hardwood floor company based in the Barrington 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+ Barrington-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
Barrington's mix of Victorian-era cottages, mid-century ranches, and modern custom estates means every project starts with a different set of conditions. Here is how we adapt by home type:
1
Historic and pre-war homes (1870s-1940s): The village core and historic district have plenty of original narrow-plank oak and maple strip floors. Most can be sanded and refinished rather than replaced. For any home built before 1978, we follow EPA Lead RRP protocols – containment, HEPA vacuuming, and verification – because lead paint on trim, stairs, and radiators is common in older Barrington properties.
2
Layered remodel history: Many Barrington homes have been updated more than once. We often find original hardwood hiding under carpet or a later laminate layer. We check what is actually there before recommending a path forward.
3
Additions and blended spaces: When a newer addition meets an older floor, we match species, board width, and grade so the new wood disappears into the existing floor rather than standing out.
4
Mid-century and post-war homes: Strip oak over plywood subfloor is typical here. We check for subfloor flatness and moisture before installation so seasonal movement does not open gaps later.
5
Estate and custom homes (1980s-present): Wider-plank hardwood, specialty species, and complex stair details are common. We verify subfloor conditions and acclimate wood on site before any boards go down.
6
Seasonal humidity swings: Cold, dry winters followed by warm, humid summers put real stress on hardwood. We acclimate wood on site and recommend keeping indoor humidity at 30-50% year-round to prevent cupping, gapping, and crowning.
In many Barrington homes the original wood is worth saving rather than replacing - the only way to know for certain is to look at your subfloor and boards up close.
1
2
3
4
This one speaks for itself. A homeowner in Barrington reached out about floors in an older two-story that had seen decades of foot traffic - the boards were worn down, scratched and completely dull. No replacement needed. We sanded them back to bare wood, repaired the damaged areas and refinished them from scratch. Same floors, totally different look. Take a look at the before and after photos 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.
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
Donatas May 21, 2026
Donatas April 28, 2026
Yes, and it’s work we genuinely enjoy. Many older homes in the Barrington Historic District have narrow-plank oak or maple floors that have been covered by carpet for decades. We assess the wood thickness, check for previous finishes, and sand carefully to bring them back. Because so many of these homes predate 1978, we follow full EPA Lead RRP protocols – proper containment, HEPA vacuuming, and verification – before any sanding or demo begins.
The seasonal swings here are real. Cold, dry winters drop indoor humidity well below comfortable levels for wood, while humid summers push it back up. That cycle causes hardwood to expand and contract, leading to gaps, cupping, or squeaks over time. We recommend keeping indoor humidity between 30-50% year-round. We also acclimate every board on-site before installation and check subfloor moisture readings before we start any project.
It’s something we always factor in. Most single-family homes in Barrington sit over a full basement, which means moisture can migrate upward through the subfloor, especially in older frame construction. Before any installation, we check subfloor flatness and take moisture readings. Depending on what we find, we may recommend engineered hardwood over solid in areas with higher readings. We follow NWFA guidelines on every install to make sure the floor performs long-term.
Absolutely. Wider planks and specialty species require a different approach than standard strip oak. We adjust our sanding technique to avoid cross-grain scratches and uneven wear across the wider face. For staining, we test on a hidden area first, since some species and prefinished products take color differently. We use Bona and Loba low-VOC finishes that are safe for kids and pets once cured, and we can match existing stain tones closely on partial repairs.
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.
5.0
