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(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 Western Springs 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 narrow-strip red oak in early 1900s American Foursquare and Craftsman homes near Old Town, refreshing post-war colonials and ranches throughout Western Springs, and laying engineered hardwood in the newer custom builds going up in Forest Hills and Timber Trails.
You get the same small crew from the first measurement to the last coat – no rotating subcontractors, ever. Every estimate is priced line by line, and we will have one in your hands within 24 hours at no charge. 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.
High-quality Western Springs 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 century-old oak strips in an Old Town Foursquare to the engineered planks going into a new Timber Trails build, we handle every kind of hardwood flooring project Western Springs homeowners bring our way.
We’re a hardwood floor company based in the Western Springs 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+ Western Springs-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
Western Springs has one of the more varied housing stocks in the western suburbs, from late-Victorian commuter-era homes near Old Town to mid-century ranches to brand-new luxury builds in Timber Trails. What works on one floor rarely works on the next. Here is how we adapt by home type and condition:
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Early 1900s homes near Old Town and Field Park: These houses often still have their original narrow-strip red oak or pine floors. In most cases we can sand and refinish rather than replace. For any pre-1978 home, we follow EPA Lead RRP protocol – full containment, HEPA vacuuming, and clearance verification before we leave.
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Post-war ranches and colonials: Mid-century homes typically have 3/4-inch plank or plywood subfloors with original site-finished red oak on top. Many have already been refinished once or twice, so we check the wear layer carefully before recommending another full sand.
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Teardown rebuilds and new construction in Forest Hills and Timber Trails: These homes often call for wide-plank engineered hardwood. We verify subfloor flatness and moisture levels before installation so seasonal movement does not open gaps later.
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Finished basements and below-grade spaces: Many Western Springs homes use their lower level as living space. We test concrete slab moisture, use appropriate vapor barriers, and recommend engineered products below grade to prevent cupping and buckling.
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Additions and blended spaces: When new square footage meets original flooring, we match species, board width, and grade so the repair or extension disappears into the existing floor.
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Four-season humidity swings: Dry forced-air winters and humid summers put real stress on hardwood. We acclimate all wood on site and advise keeping indoor humidity at 30-50% year-round to prevent gapping, cupping, and crowning.
In many Western Springs homes the original wood is worth saving rather than replacing - but the only way to know for certain is to look at the subfloor and the boards up close, which is exactly what we do on every free estimate.
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Words only go so far, so take a look at the work itself. This Western Springs home was a post-war colonial with original floors that had seen decades of foot traffic, deep pet stains, and a finish worn down to bare wood in the heavy-use areas. We sanded everything back, repaired the damage, and refinished the boards - same wood, no replacement needed. Browse 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 we do this kind of work regularly in older Western Springs homes. Because so many of these houses predate 1978, we follow EPA Lead RRP protocols – proper containment, HEPA vacuuming, and verification – before any sanding begins. We also check the wear layer first, since original narrow-strip oak that has been refinished before may have limited thickness left. We will tell you honestly whether refinishing makes sense or whether replacement is the smarter call.
It does if you let indoor humidity swing too far. Our cold, dry winters and humid summers put real stress on wood floors – causing seasonal gapping in winter and potential cupping in summer. We follow NWFA guidelines, acclimate every board on site before installation, and recommend keeping indoor humidity between 30-50% year-round. A whole-house humidifier in winter and air conditioning or a dehumidifier in summer go a long way toward protecting your investment.
Below-grade installations need extra care here, especially near lower-lying areas where moisture can be a factor. We test for concrete slab moisture and vapor emissions before recommending anything. Engineered hardwood is usually the right choice below grade – it handles humidity swings better than solid wood and can be glued down over concrete with the appropriate underlayment. We will walk you through the options at your free in-home estimate and will not oversell a product that is wrong for your space.
Absolutely. A lot of the newer and rebuilt homes in those neighborhoods use engineered hardwood over plywood subfloors, sometimes across multiple levels. We handle nail-down, glue-down, and floating installations depending on the subfloor and the specific product. We check subfloor flatness and moisture before we start, and we factor in sound control for multi-level living. Site-finished and prefinished options are both available – we will help you choose what fits the home and your timeline.
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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