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From Just $3/sq ft
17+ Years of Local Expertise
Serving Chicago & 30+ Suburbs
Moisture Checks Done
Solid and Engineered Floors
Big Bro Hardwood is an employee-owned 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 – restoring original red and white oak strip floors in Winnetka’s pre-war Colonials and Tudor Revival homes, refreshing hardwood on multi-story staircases, and laying new engineered plank in high-end custom rebuilds throughout the village.
The same small crew handles your project from the first measurement to the last coat – no rotating subcontractors. 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 us and we will have a free estimate to you within 24 hours.
Premium Results From $3/sq ft
Great hardwood floors in Winnetka do not have to come with an outsized price. Our refinishing services start at just $3, and installation pricing is straightforward with no hidden charges. Use our hardwood floor cost calculator to get a quick ballpark before we visit. We also provide a free in-home estimate within 24 hours so you know exactly what to expect.
Complex Projects Planned, Not Improvised
Winnetka’s older homes bring real complexity – original plank subfloors, uneven joists, pre-1978 lead paint concerns, multi-story layouts, and staircases that need to match new flooring. We map out the full scope before a single board is touched: subfloor prep, moisture testing, material sequencing, and finish details are all settled in advance. Fewer surprises during the project means better results at the end.
Finish Options Matched to Daily Use
Choosing a finish is more than picking a sheen level. We ask about kids, pets, odor sensitivity, and how much traffic a room sees before recommending a Bona or Loba system that fits your household. You also get plain-language guidance on drying and cure times, furniture placement, rug use, and the right way to clean your floors once we are done.
17+ Years of Hands-On Hardwood Experience
Our small crew has spent 17+ years working with hardwood – solid and engineered, site-finished and prefinished, new installs and century-old floors that need careful sanding and repair. That depth of experience means we recognize early warning signs, choose the right process for each situation, and handle everything from oak strip floors to custom stair treads with real confidence.
On-Time, No-Stress Projects
We keep a clear schedule, show up when we say we will, and stay in touch throughout the project. The same crew starts and finishes every job – no rotating subcontractors, no handoffs, no confusion. Your home is respected throughout, and you always know where things stand. About 80% of our clients come through referrals, and that kind of trust is earned one project at a time.
Floors and Stairs Under One Scope
We handle installation, sanding and refinishing, staining, repair, and stair work as one coordinated scope. That matters in multi-story Winnetka homes where treads, landings, and main floors need to align in species, stain color, and sheen. When one team manages it all, the finished home looks connected and intentional from the front door to the top landing.
From century-old estates in Indian Hill to newer custom builds near Crow Island Woods, we handle every hardwood flooring need Winnetka homeowners bring us.
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
1 crew
No subcontractors - the owner is on every hardwood job
Donatas
Owner
Valdas
Team member
Slavek
Team member
Winnetka's mix of pre-war estates, mid-century ranches, and newer custom builds - combined with Lake Michigan's seasonal humidity swings - changes what good hardwood work actually requires here.
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Pre-War and Mid-Century Homes
Most of Winnetka was built out well before 1960, and a large share of those homes still have their original red or white oak strip floors under carpet or old finish. We sand and refinish them using vacuum-assisted equipment that captures 95% or more of dust, and we follow EPA Lead RRP containment and HEPA protocols in any pre-1978 interior – standard practice for us, not an add-on.
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Tudor, Colonial, and Estate-Style Homes
Winnetka’s larger historic homes often feature wider strips, parquet inlays, or custom borders that need careful matching when a section is damaged or a room is extended. We assess species, grain direction, and existing finish before we touch anything, so repairs blend rather than stand out.
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Additions, Rehabs, and Teardown Rebuilds
Blending new wood into an existing floor is one of the harder things we do. When a Winnetka home gets a rear addition or a full gut rehab, the new boards need to match the old ones in species, width, and stain tone. We source close matches and finish everything in the same coats so the seam disappears.
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Newer Luxury Custom Builds
Open-plan homes built in the last two to three decades typically use engineered wide-plank flooring over plywood subfloors. We check subfloor flatness and moisture content before installation begins, because even newer construction can have problem spots that cause cupping or squeaks later.
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Lake-Effect Humidity and Seasonal Moisture
The lake keeps Winnetka’s air wetter in summer and the freeze-thaw cycle stresses wood all winter. We acclimate every shipment of flooring on site before installation, and we recommend keeping indoor humidity between 30-50% year-round. Older basements here can also push moisture up through the subfloor, so we test before we sand or install – not after a problem shows up.
In many Winnetka 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.
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Call or send the form, tell us about your floors, and we’ll set a time to come look.
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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.
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We do a final walkthrough, go over care and timing, and stand behind the work.
This one speaks for itself. A homeowner in Winnetka had a classic two-story with original hardwood floors that had taken decades of wear - the boards were scratched, dull, and showing real fatigue under the finish. We sanded them back to bare wood, repaired the damaged sections, and refinished everything in place. Same floors, 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 does, and we plan for it. Many Winnetka homes were built in the 1920s through 1950s, so original subfloors are often dimensional lumber planks over joists rather than plywood. That means we check for squeaks, unevenness, and loose boards before we do anything else. We also follow EPA Lead RRP protocols in pre-1978 homes, including proper containment and HEPA vacuuming, so your family stays safe throughout the project.
Lake Michigan keeps humidity levels swinging season to season, and cold winters bring serious freeze-thaw cycles. Both conditions stress wood floors. We acclimate every board on site before installation and recommend keeping indoor humidity between 30-50% year-round. We also test subfloor moisture before we start, especially in homes with older basements. Skipping those steps is one of the most common reasons floors cup, gap, or buckle in this area.
Most of the time, yes. Pre-war red and white oak strip floors were milled thick and can typically handle multiple sandings over their lifetime. We assess the wood thickness and overall condition during our free in-home estimate. If the floors have been sanded before, we measure what is left before recommending refinishing. In our experience, most original Winnetka hardwood floors are worth restoring rather than replacing.
Stairs are one of our specialties. Winnetka’s traditional Colonials, Tudors, and Georgian-style homes often have original hardwood treads and risers that just need refinishing. Others need new treads installed over existing stringers. We handle both, and we use the same vacuum-assisted dust control on stair work as we do on the rest of the floor. You can learn more on our Winnetka stairs page.
Refinishing starts at $3 per square foot, and the final number depends on floor condition, square footage, number of coats, and whether staining is involved. We provide itemized, line-by-line estimates so you know exactly what you are paying for. For a quick ballpark before your estimate, try our cost calculator. New clients also receive 10% off their first project.
Refinishing makes sense when the wood is structurally sound and has enough thickness left for sanding. It costs significantly less than replacement and usually takes less time. Replacement is the right call when boards are warped beyond repair, heavily damaged, or too thin to sand again. We give you an honest assessment at the free estimate. We are not here to sell you more work than your floors actually need.
A typical refinishing project runs two to four days depending on square footage and dry time between coats. Installation timelines vary by scope. You do not need to vacate the whole house, but the rooms being worked on should stay clear of foot traffic during finishing and curing. We will walk you through the exact schedule before we start so you can plan around it without surprises.
We primarily use Bona and Loba waterborne finishes. Both are low-VOC and considered kid- and pet-safe once fully cured. Curing typically takes a few days after the final coat, though light foot traffic is usually fine sooner. We will tell you exactly when it is safe to bring furniture back in and let your pets roam freely. No guessing, no vague timelines.
Tell us what you need — we’ll help you figure out the best way to get it done.
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