Donatas July 21, 2026
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(630) 418 4139Big Bro Hardwood is an employee-owned hardwood flooring company serving Bartlett 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 – refreshing original strip oak in 1980s colonials and split-levels, replacing dated ceramic and vinyl in kitchen and foyer remodels, and laying engineered hardwood over plywood subfloors in the newer planned subdivisions that make up much of Bartlett’s residential landscape.








The same small crew handles your project from the first measurement to the last coat – no rotating subcontractors, no surprises. Every estimate is itemized line by line, and we offer a free in-home visit within 24 hours. Our vacuum-assisted sanding captures 95% or more of dust, and we finish with Bona and Loba products that are kid- and pet-safe once cured.
Premium Results From $3/sq ft
Quality hardwood flooring in Bartlett does not have to mean an outsized bill. Our refinishing work starts at just $3, and installation pricing is straightforward with no hidden line items. Use our hardwood floor cost calculator to get a fast sense of your budget before we even set foot in your home. A free in-home estimate follows within 24 hours.
Complex Projects Planned, Not Improvised
Bartlett’s 1970s-2000s homes come with their own set of variables: OSB and plywood subfloors, finished basements over concrete, split-level transitions, and regional clay soils that demand a moisture check before anything gets nailed down. We map out every preparation step – subfloor flatness, acclimation, sequencing, species matching, and finish details – before the first board goes in. Nothing important gets figured out mid-project.
GREENGUARD-Certified, Pet-Safe Finishes
We use Bona and Loba products exclusively for finishing work. Both lines carry GREENGUARD certification and are low-VOC and pet-safe once fully cured, which matters in the busy family homes we work in most often. Whether you are refinishing solid oak or finishing new engineered hardwood, your household can get back to normal life quickly and safely.
Dustless Sanding Technology
Our vacuum-assisted sanding equipment captures 95% or more of the dust generated during refinishing, so it does not settle into your furniture, vents, or kitchen cabinets. This is especially important in the open floor plans common in Bartlett’s suburban colonials and ranch homes, where dust travels fast. You get cleaner air and a cleaner home throughout the entire sanding process.
On-Time, No-Stress Projects
We run a small, consistent crew – the same three people from start to finish, no rotating subcontractors brought in to fill gaps. That means clear communication every step of the way, a schedule we actually keep, and tradespeople who treat your home with genuine respect. About 80% of our clients come through referrals, and that does not happen by accident.
Floors and Stairs Under One Scope
Big Bro Hardwood handles installation, refinishing, staining, repair, and stair work as one coordinated project. You get a single team aligning the species, stain color, sheen level, and transitions from room to room and up the staircase, so nothing looks mismatched when the job is done. One crew, one scope, one finished result that holds together throughout your home.
From the older homes near downtown Bartlett to the newer subdivisions off Route 59, we handle every hardwood flooring need with the same small, experienced crew from start to finish.





We’re a hardwood floor company based in the Bartlett 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+ Bartlett-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
Bartlett's mix of 1970s-2000s subdivisions, a small historic core, and a humid continental climate all shape what hardwood installations here actually require - so we adjust our approach before we ever open a box of flooring.
1
1970s-1980s Ranch and Split-Level Homes
Many of these Bartlett homes came with standard strip red oak in the formal rooms and carpet everywhere else. The oak is often sound and worth saving. We check board thickness and subfloor condition first, then sand, stain, and refinish rather than replace. For pre-1978 homes we follow EPA Lead RRP protocols – containment, HEPA vacuuming, and clearance verification before we leave.
2
1990s-2000s Subdivision Colonials
Newer move-up homes in Bartlett’s planned subdivisions typically have OSB or plywood subfloors that are generally flat and stable. We still probe for moisture and check for deflection before installing wide-plank engineered or prefinished solid hardwood, because regional clay soils and freeze-thaw cycles can cause minor movement even on newer builds.
3
Townhomes and Metra-Area Clusters
Townhomes near the Bartlett Metra station sometimes sit on slab-on-grade. For those we use glue-down or floating engineered hardwood with a proper moisture barrier, and we coordinate scheduling to keep disruption manageable in attached-unit settings.
4
Finished Basements Over Concrete
Basements are common in Bartlett and many are finished living spaces. We install a vapor barrier and use engineered products rated for below-grade applications, because concrete holds residual moisture that solid hardwood cannot tolerate long-term.
5
Seasonal Humidity Swings
Hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters mean hardwood in Bartlett expands and contracts significantly across the year. We acclimate every delivery on site and ask homeowners to keep indoor humidity between 30-50% year-round to protect the finished floor.
In many Bartlett 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.
This one speaks for itself. A homeowner in Bartlett reached out about floors in a 1980s two-story that had taken years of heavy foot traffic - the boards were worn through, scratched and completely dull. We sanded them back to bare wood, repaired the damaged areas and refinished them from scratch. 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
It actually works in your favor. Homes from that era typically have wood-framed floors over plywood or OSB subfloors, which are ideal for both solid and engineered hardwood. Many already have original strip oak under carpet in formal areas. We check subfloor flatness and moisture before any install, following NWFA guidelines, so whatever shape your 1980s or 1990s subfloor is in, we know how to prep it correctly for a lasting result.
It matters more than most homeowners expect. Bartlett’s humid continental climate means your floors expand in summer and contract in winter. Keeping indoor humidity between 30-50% year-round is the single best thing you can do to prevent gaps and cupping. We acclimate every board on site before installation, and we’ll walk you through simple humidity management so your floors stay stable through every season.
Engineered hardwood is usually the right call for finished basements here. Bartlett’s widespread basement construction means concrete subfloors are common at that level, and solid hardwood doesn’t tolerate the moisture that concrete can release. We assess moisture levels before recommending anything, and we discuss vapor barriers where needed. Engineered products installed correctly over concrete can look just as warm and genuine as solid wood upstairs.
Yes, and it’s one of the most common remodels we do in homes like yours. We remove the existing tile, inspect and prep the plywood subfloor, and install site-finished or prefinished oak or maple to match or complement your existing floors. The transition from dated ceramic to hardwood makes a dramatic difference in how a 1980s or 1990s floor plan feels. We’ll bring samples and talk through the best fit at your free estimate.
Refinishing starts at $3 per square foot, and our cost calculator gives you a useful ballpark before we ever visit. For smaller homes under 1,200 square feet, we offer flat-rate pricing so there are no surprises. Every estimate is itemized line by line, and the in-home visit is always free – usually scheduled within 24 hours. New clients also receive 10% off when conditions allow.
Most solid hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished multiple times before replacement makes sense. We look at board thickness, the depth of any existing scratches or damage, and whether the wood has been sanded before. Refinishing is almost always the more affordable path and preserves the character of original floors. We’ll give you an honest answer at the estimate – we won’t push replacement if refinishing is the right call.
Refinishing a typical main floor takes two to three days including drying time between coats. Installation timelines vary by square footage and prep work needed. You don’t have to leave, but we recommend staying off finished surfaces while coats cure. Our vacuum-assisted sanding captures 95% or more of dust at the source, so the rest of your home stays livable. We use low-VOC Bona and Loba finishes that are kid- and pet-safe once fully cured.
We back every project with a workmanship warranty and a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee – if a craftsmanship issue comes up, we fix it. We also offer emergency repairs within 48 hours. The same small crew handles your project start to finish – no rotating subcontractors, no handoffs. Donatas, Valdas, and Slavek have been doing this work together for over 17 years, and about 80% of our Bartlett and area clients come to us through referrals. That says a lot.
Tell us what you need — we’ll help you figure out the best way to get it done.