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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 Downers Grove and the surrounding suburbs in DuPage County. 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 – bringing original red oak strip floors back to life in postwar ranch homes, refreshing hardwood in Sears kit houses and other early-20th-century properties, and installing engineered plank in the newer infill and townhome construction that has reshaped so many Downers Grove neighborhoods.
The same small crew handles your project from the first measurement to the last coat – no rotating subcontractors, ever. We give you a line-by-line estimate so every cost is clear, control sanding dust with vacuum-assisted equipment, and finish with Bona and Loba products that are kid- and pet-safe once cured. Call or email us and we will come out to Downers Grove for a free estimate within 24 hours.
High-quality Downers Grove 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 kit homes near downtown to the newer builds going up around Talon Preserve, we handle every hardwood flooring need Downers Grove homeowners run into.
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
15,000+ hours
Of hands-on hardwood work
Donatas
Owner
Valdas
Team member
Slavek
Team member
Downers Grove's mix of historic bungalows, postwar ranches, and newer infill builds means no two floors are the same situation. Here is how we adapt our work to what is actually under your feet:
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Historic and early 20th-century homes: Many older Downers Grove homes, including Sears kit houses and late-19th-century styles, still have original red oak or white oak strip floors worth saving. We sand and refinish them rather than tear them out. For any pre-1978 home, we follow EPA Lead RRP protocol, including proper containment and HEPA vacuuming.
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Postwar ranch and split-level homes: These 1950s-1970s homes often have framed wood subfloors on upper levels but slab-on-grade sections closer to grade. We check moisture and subfloor flatness before we touch anything, and choose the right method, nail-down, glue-down, or floating, based on what we find.
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Additions and whole-home rehabs: When a Downers Grove home has been expanded or remodeled, we match species, grade, and board width so the new wood blends into the existing floor rather than standing out.
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Newer infill and luxury builds: Larger new-construction homes throughout Downers Grove commonly use engineered hardwood over plywood or OSB. We verify subfloor flatness to tighter tolerances so wide planks stay stable through seasonal changes.
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Basements and near-grade spaces: Basements are common here, and older foundation waterproofing is not always reliable. We assess moisture carefully and use vapor barriers, adhesives, or floating systems where needed to protect your investment.
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Continental climate and humidity swings: Forced-air heat in winter drops indoor humidity fast, while summers bring real moisture. We acclimate wood on site and recommend keeping rooms at 30-50% humidity year-round to prevent cupping, gapping, and crowning.
In many Downers Grove homes the original wood is worth saving rather than replacing - the only way to know for sure is to look at the subfloor and boards up close.
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This one speaks for itself. A homeowner in Downers Grove had a postwar ranch with original hardwood floors that had taken decades of wear - deep scratches, scuffs, and a finish so dull the wood had lost all its character. We sanded them back to bare wood, repaired the damage, and refinished them from scratch. Same boards, no replacement. 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.
Donatas June 30, 2026
Donatas May 21, 2026
Donatas April 28, 2026
Almost always, yes. Postwar ranch and split-level homes in Downers Grove were commonly finished with red or white oak strip flooring, and those boards are usually thick enough for multiple sandings. We check for loose boards, subfloor moisture, and remaining wood thickness before we start. If the floors are sound, refinishing saves you real money and keeps the original character. Refinishing starts at $3 per square foot. We offer a free in-home estimate within 24 hours.
It does, and we take it seriously. Older homes here – including the historic and Sears kit houses near downtown – often have original finishes that may contain lead. We follow EPA Lead RRP protocols for every pre-1978 project: proper containment, HEPA vacuum equipment, and clearance verification before we leave. Our vacuum-assisted sanding system also captures 95% or more of dust regardless, so your home stays clean throughout the process.
The winters here are cold and dry, and summers bring real humidity. That swing causes hardwood to expand and contract seasonally, which can lead to gaps in winter or cupping in summer if moisture isn’t managed. We recommend keeping indoor humidity between 30-50% year-round. We also acclimate every new floor on site before installation. For homes with basements or any on-grade areas, we check subfloor moisture carefully and use appropriate systems to prevent problems down the road.
Yes on both counts. Many newer homes and townhomes in Downers Grove have engineered hardwood, and we work with it regularly. Whether it needs refinishing, spot repairs, or replacement of damaged boards, we assess the wear layer first so we give you an honest answer about what’s possible. We follow NWFA guidelines for engineered products and use low-VOC Bona and Loba finishes that are safe for kids and pets once cured.
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.
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