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From Just $3/sq ft
17+ Years of Local Expertise
Owner-Led
Company
Dust-Controlled Sanding
15,000+ Hands-On Hours
Big Bro Hardwood is an employee-owned hardwood flooring company serving Downers Grove 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 red oak strip flooring in older homes near downtown Downers Grove, pulling up worn carpet to reveal postwar hardwood in 1950s and 1960s ranches, and laying new engineered plank in homes where basements or crawlspaces make moisture management a priority.
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 sanding equipment that captures 95% or more of dust, and we finish with Bona and Loba products that are kid- and pet-safe once cured. Call us and we will come out to your Downers Grove home with a free estimate within 24 hours.
Premium Results From $3/sq ft
Beautiful hardwood floors in your Downers Grove home do not have to mean an overwhelming bill. Our refinishing services start at just $3, and installation pricing is straightforward with no hidden surprises. Use our hardwood floor cost calculator to get a quick sense of where your project lands before we even step through the door.
On-Time, No-Stress Projects
We show up when we say we will, keep the work area tidy, and walk you through each step before it happens. There are no vague timelines or last-minute surprises. Our crew communicates clearly throughout, so you always know what is happening in your home. The entire process is handled by people who take real pride in getting it right.
Tailored for Downers Grove Homes
Downers Grove has a wide range of housing, from early 1900s frame homes near the historic downtown to postwar ranches and split-levels to newer infill two-stories. We understand the subfloor conditions, moisture considerations, and construction quirks that come with each era. Every recommendation we make is shaped by what we actually find in homes here, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Owner-Led From Start to Finish
Donatas, Valdas, and Slavek are the same crew on your job from the first measurement to the final walkthrough. No rotating subcontractors, no handoffs, no details lost between stages. Whether your project involves installation, refinishing, staining, repair, or stair work, the same experienced hands and the same accountable team see it through completely.
GREENGUARD-Certified, Pet-Safe Finishes
We use Bona and Loba products on every finish job, both solid and engineered hardwood. These are low-VOC, GREENGUARD-certified coatings that are safe for kids and pets once cured, so you are not airing out your Downers Grove home for days on end after we leave.
Serving Downers Grove and Nearby Suburbs
Big Bro Hardwood has been working in Downers Grove and across 30-plus suburbs in the area since 2008. That local experience is backed by a small, consistent crew, not a loose network of regional contractors. You get the same workmanship, the same communication, and the same accountability on every project, wherever you are.
From the older bungalows near downtown to the postwar ranches and newer infill homes throughout Downers Grove, we handle every hardwood flooring service your home needs – with the same small, experienced crew from start to finish.
We’re a hardwood floor company based in the Downers Grove 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+ Downers Grove-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
Downers Grove's mix of pre-war bungalows, postwar ranches, and newer infill construction means every project starts differently - and the local climate adds another layer to plan around. Here is how we adapt our work to what we actually find in Downers Grove homes.
1
Older Downtown and Pre-War Homes
Homes near the historic downtown core often have original red or white oak strip flooring laid over board subfloors. That wood is frequently worth saving with a full sand and refinish rather than replacing. For any home built before 1978, we follow EPA Lead RRP protocols – containment, HEPA filtration, and verified cleanup – before we touch a single board.
2
Postwar Ranches and Split-Levels
The large stock of 1950s and 1960s ranches and split-levels in Downers Grove often hides solid hardwood under decades of carpet. We check subfloor flatness and moisture levels before committing to an approach, because board-subfloor construction from that era can have surprises once the carpet comes up.
3
Rehabs, Additions, and Teardown Rebuilds
Blending new flooring with existing wood is one of the trickier jobs we do. We match species, grade, and stain so the transition between an original section and a new addition reads as one continuous floor rather than a patch.
4
Newer Infill and Townhomes
Infill builds and newer townhomes sometimes sit on concrete slabs rather than basements. In those cases we recommend glue-down or floating engineered hardwood, and we use low-VOC Bona and Loba finishes that are safe for occupied homes once cured.
5
Basements and Moisture Management
Basements are common throughout Downers Grove, and moisture moving up through a subfloor is the most common reason hardwood cups or gaps. We take moisture readings before every install and recommend keeping indoor humidity between 30-50% year-round to protect the floor long after we leave.
6
Seasonal Climate and Acclimation
Hot, humid summers and dry, freezing winters create real movement in hardwood. We acclimate every delivery of wood on site before installation and size expansion gaps to account for Downers Grove’s seasonal swings, so the floor stays tight through July heat and January cold alike.
In many Downers Grove 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 lot of postwar homes in Downers Grove have original hardwood hiding under decades of wear - and this one was no different. The boards were scratched, dull, and showing real damage from years of foot traffic. We sanded them back, repaired what needed fixing, and refinished them from scratch - same wood, 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
Yes, and we plan for it. Older homes in the downtown area often have original board subfloors under existing hardwood, which we inspect carefully before any installation or refinishing. We also follow EPA Lead RRP protocols for pre-1978 homes, using proper containment and HEPA equipment so dust and debris are handled safely. If your home is from that era, just let us know when you call and we will come prepared.
It matters more than most people expect. Hardwood expands in humid summers and contracts in dry winters, which can cause cupping or gapping if the wood was not properly acclimated or if indoor humidity swings too wide. We acclimate every job on site and recommend keeping indoor humidity between 30-50% year-round. A humidifier in winter and consistent air conditioning in summer go a long way toward protecting your investment.
Almost always, yes. Postwar strip oak is typically thick enough to sand two or three more times, and the character of that wood is hard to replicate with new material. We check the floor thickness and condition during our free estimate. If the boards are solid and the subfloor is flat, refinishing is almost always the better value, and the result tends to look better than new prefinished flooring laid over an older structure.
It depends on moisture conditions below the floor. Solid hardwood is sensitive to moisture, so we check subfloor moisture readings before recommending a product. Many Downers Grove ranches with vented crawlspaces or partial basements do fine with nail-down solid hardwood on the main level, but we may suggest engineered hardwood in areas closer to grade. Getting moisture right before installation is the step that prevents problems down the road.
Refinishing starts at $3 per square foot, and the final number depends on the size of the area, the condition of the floors, and whether staining is involved. For a quick estimate before we visit, try our cost calculator. We also offer a flat rate for homes under 1,200 square feet, and new clients receive 10% off. Every estimate we provide is itemized line by line so you know exactly what you are paying for.
If the wood is solid hardwood with enough thickness remaining, refinishing is almost always the smarter choice. It costs significantly less than replacement, produces less waste, and often yields a more beautiful result because older growth wood has tight grain that is genuinely hard to find today. We only recommend replacement when boards are structurally damaged, too thin to sand again, or the homeowner wants a wider plank or different species. We will give you an honest answer either way.
Most refinishing projects in a standard Downers Grove home take two to four days from sanding through final coat. You do not need to vacate entirely, but foot traffic on the coated areas must stop until the finish cures, typically 24 hours between coats and a few days before placing furniture back. We use Bona and Loba low-VOC finishes, so odor is manageable. We will walk you through the exact timeline during the estimate so you can plan around it.
Call or email us and we will schedule a free in-home estimate within 24 hours. Our crew, the same small team of experienced craftsmen on every job, will look at your floors, check subfloor conditions, and walk you through options without any pressure. We work Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Reach us at (630) 418-4139 or bigbrohardwood@gmail.com. About 80% of our clients come through referrals, and we would like to earn the same trust in your home.
Tell us what you need — we’ll help you figure out the best way to get it done.
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