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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 Winnetka and the surrounding North Shore 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 – bringing original oak back to life in Colonial Revival and Tudor homes built before 1930, refreshing wide-plank engineered floors in newer lakefront estates, and carefully matching boards in historic houses where the subfloor needs leveling before anything else can happen.
The same small crew handles your project from the first measurement to the last coat – no rotating subcontractors, ever. We price everything line by line so there are no surprises, use vacuum-assisted equipment that captures 95% or more of sanding dust, and finish with Bona and Loba products that are kid- and pet-safe once cured. Call or email and we will have a free estimate to you within 24 hours.
High-quality Winnetka 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 century-old Colonials in Hubbard Woods to newer lakefront builds along the North Shore, we handle every hardwood flooring need Winnetka homeowners run into.
We’re a hardwood floor company based in the Winnetka 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+ Winnetka-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
Winnetka's mix of historic North Shore houses and lakefront climate shapes every decision we make on a job. Here is how we adapt by home type and condition:
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Pre-war and late Victorian homes: A large share of Winnetka’s housing stock dates to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Original oak strip floors in these homes can almost always be sanded and refinished rather than replaced. For any home built before 1978, we follow full EPA Lead RRP protocol – containment, HEPA vacuums, and post-work verification.
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Formal rooms and lakefront estates: Many older Winnetka homes feature walnut, cherry, or maple in dining rooms and formal spaces alongside standard oak. We match species, grade, and board width carefully so repairs or additions blend in without standing out.
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Additions and whole-home renovations: Colonial Revival and Tudor homes that have been expanded present mixed floor ages. We feather new wood into existing floors so the transition disappears naturally.
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Newer custom builds and infill construction: Wide-plank engineered hardwood is common in Winnetka’s newer homes. We check subfloor flatness and moisture content before installation so seasonal movement does not open gaps or cause squeaks later.
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Radiant heat and hydronic systems: High-end remodels here often include in-floor heating. We select species and thicknesses rated for radiant systems and follow NWFA guidelines to prevent cracking or cupping.
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Lake Michigan humidity swings: Dry forced-air winters and humid lakeside summers put real stress on wood. We acclimate every board on site and recommend keeping indoor humidity at 30-50% year-round to prevent cupping, gapping, and crowning.
In many Winnetka homes the original hardwood is worth saving rather than replacing - the only way to know for certain is to look at the subfloor and the boards up close.
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This one speaks for itself. A homeowner in Winnetka had original hardwood floors in a pre-1930 Colonial Revival - boards that had seen a century of foot traffic and were worn through, deeply scratched, and completely dull. We sanded them back to bare wood, repaired the damaged areas, and refinished them from scratch. Same floors, 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.
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
Absolutely. A large share of Winnetka homes were built before 1930, and many still have their original site-finished oak floors. If the wood has reasonable thickness left, refinishing is almost always the better choice over replacement. We do vacuum-assisted dustless sanding, apply Bona or Loba low-VOC finishes, and match stain tones to the home’s character. We’ll check the floors at your free estimate and give you an honest assessment.
It’s something we take seriously. Pre-1978 homes can have lead-based paint on trim and surrounding surfaces, and sanding disturbs dust. We follow EPA Lead RRP protocols – proper containment, HEPA vacuum equipment, and verification cleanup – so your family stays protected throughout the project. Given how much of Winnetka’s housing stock predates 1978, this is a routine part of how we work here, not an afterthought.
Lake proximity means humidity levels shift noticeably between seasons – wet summers and very dry winters. That movement causes hardwood to expand and contract, which can lead to cupping, gapping, or squeaks if the floors aren’t properly managed. We acclimate all wood on site before installation, recommend keeping indoor humidity between 30-50% year-round, and factor seasonal moisture into every Winnetka project we take on.
Yes. Many renovated and newly built Winnetka homes feature engineered wide-plank floors, often over high-quality subfloor systems in multi-story layouts. We install and refinish engineered hardwood, check subfloor flatness and moisture before any work begins, and follow NWFA Technical Guidelines throughout. Whether it’s a new install or refreshing an existing floor, we’ll walk you through the right approach at your free in-home estimate.
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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