Chicago and the north and northwest suburbs
Hardwood Floor Installation in Chicago
Solid and engineered hardwood laid over properly prepared subfloor, in straight lay, chevron or herringbone. From $10 per square foot including materials.
A hardwood floor is only as good as what is under it.
Most hardwood failures are not finish problems. They are moisture problems and flatness problems that were visible before a single board went down. We take moisture readings on the subfloor and the wood, flatten anything outside tolerance, and let the material acclimate in your home before installation starts.
Chicago housing stock makes this matter more than it does elsewhere. Century-old joists move, additions sit at different heights, and a slab in a garden unit behaves nothing like a second-floor bedroom. We measure each one rather than assuming.
Installed pricing starts at $10 per square foot including materials. Trim runs $1.50 per linear foot. You get an exact written figure at the on-site measure, not a range.
What the job includes
- Moisture readings on subfloor and material
- Material acclimation before install
- Subfloor flattening and prep
- Straight lay, chevron or herringbone
- Stair treads and risers
- Transitions to adjoining rooms
- Trim and shoe moulding at $1.50 per linear foot
- Full clean-up and walkthrough
Species, patterns and what they cost to live with.
Red and white oak are the Chicago default for good reason — they take stain evenly, they are readily available, and they can be refinished several times over a lifetime. Maple is harder and lighter but blotches under some stains, so it wants a conditioner or a natural finish. Hickory gives you the most grain contrast. Walnut is the softest of the four and the most expensive.
Herringbone and chevron cost more to install than straight lay because of the cutting and the layout time, not because the material is different. If you are weighing the two, we will tell you the real difference at the measure.
Common questions.
Call (224) 536-0627 for anything not covered here.
How much does hardwood floor installation cost in Chicago?
Installation starts at $10 per square foot including materials. Trim is $1.50 per linear foot. You get an exact written price at the free on-site measure.
Solid or engineered hardwood?
Solid can be refinished more times and suits above-grade rooms over a wood subfloor. Engineered is more dimensionally stable and is the better choice over concrete, in basements, and over radiant heat.
Can you install over my existing floor?
Sometimes. It depends on what is there, the height it adds at doorways and transitions, and whether the existing surface is flat and sound. We check at the measure.
How long does installation take?
A typical single-floor home is one to three days for the install itself. Site-finished floors need additional days for sanding, stain and polyurethane cure.
Our work.
Floors we installed, photographed on site. No stock photography and no showroom renders — these are the actual jobs.
What our customers say.
Rated 5.0 on Thumbtack. Hover to pause.
Connor W. · Full flooring installation · July 2026I had water damage and some serious squeaky floors. Instead of trying to patch things up for a quick buck, they told me straight up that a proper fix meant full replacement, not a band-aid repair. They gave me a fair, competitive quote and did a full installation throughout — done professionally, no more squeaks.
Mary V. · Sanding & refinishing · July 2026I am so happy with how my floors turned out. FloorCraft was professional, efficient and extremely fast. I will definitely be hiring them again for more projects.
Paul B. · Sanding & refinishing · July 2026Flooring is amazing. Great job start to finish, so very pleased. They showed up on time, were super friendly and fast. Quality of work is great.
Connor W. · Full flooring installation · July 2026I had water damage and some serious squeaky floors. Instead of trying to patch things up for a quick buck, they told me straight up that a proper fix meant full replacement, not a band-aid repair. They gave me a fair, competitive quote and did a full installation throughout — done professionally, no more squeaks.
Mary V. · Sanding & refinishing · July 2026I am so happy with how my floors turned out. FloorCraft was professional, efficient and extremely fast. I will definitely be hiring them again for more projects.
Paul B. · Sanding & refinishing · July 2026Flooring is amazing. Great job start to finish, so very pleased. They showed up on time, were super friendly and fast. Quality of work is great.
Where we work.
Based on the North Side of Chicago and working across the city, the North Shore and the northwest suburbs. Outside this list, ask anyway — we regularly take jobs throughout Cook and Lake County.
- Chicago
- Evanston
- Skokie
- Wilmette
- Glenview
- Morton Grove
- Niles
- Park Ridge
- Northbrook
- Des Plaines
- Lincolnwood
- Buffalo Grove
- Arlington Heights
- Mount Prospect
Other flooring we handle.
Sanding & refinishing
Dust-contained sanding, stain matched to your samples, and two to three coats of water- or oil-based polyurethane.
Luxury vinyl plank
Waterproof LVP for kitchens, basements and rental units. Glue-down, floating click-lock or rigid core, over wood or concrete.
Laminate flooring
Hard-wearing laminate at a budget-friendly price point, with underlayment, transitions and trim handled in the same visit.
Tell us about your floors.
Send the square footage and what you need done. We reply within one business day and set up a free on-site measure.
Your details are used only to prepare your quote. Prefer to talk? Call (224) 536-0627.