CHICAGOLAND FLOORING INC

Very well. Several other flooring companies insisted the entire hardwood floor had to be replaced, But these people knew what too, did it beautifully, efficiently and for a lot less money.

Very well! Darek is extremely knowledgeable professional who came over right away and gave me the help I needed to get my beautiful old floors back on track!

Darek came to our house for an estimate and to look at the job. The job included refinishing Kitchen oak floors (approx 25 x15) and a sunroom (approx 13x20) We wanted to have a diamond pattern done in stain on the floor. I sent him a photo of the pattern and he said I needed to find a painter. So I did. We had planned on having Darek sand the floors and do the first coat of stain and then the painter would do the pattern and then Darek would come back and put three coats (we have dogs) of sealer on the floors. I also asked if we could replace the baseboards and quarter rounds with Oak. He quoted me $3,280 for the job and $40 per man per hour for baseboard and quarter round repair and replacement plus cost of the wood. And the oak vent covers to replace are $95.00 each. The first problem we had was two days before we were to start the job he sends an email saying it will cost $890-$1,190 to apply a colored coat of stain. I said we had agreed on a price and cannot raise it two days before the job is to start. This job included coordinating timing with our painter. We argued and he said to prepare the floors for a colored stain rather than a natural stain is more work. I explained that I had shown him a photo of what we had planned and he knew this required a "colored" coat of stain. Finally I said I was going to have to shop around for a new quote. And he then said fine he would do it without the extra charge. To make a long story short. The job went from $3,280. to $7,470. So basically the baseboard replacement and quarter rails and radiator covers cost us $4,190. That seemed astronomical to me. It was about 80 linear feet of baseboards for which he bought 100 feet. Also I should mention that the first day his men sat in their van in our driveway for the last hour of the day. I called Darek to tell them that they were sitting there, he made them go home. We also had problems with them taking down the plastic too early and dust going everywhere. They do not dispose of their own trash which in Lake Forest is illegal. All trash should be disposed by contractors because they know what is in it. I would not recommend them unless you confirm a hard price at he beginning with NO extras costs. We got ripped off. Below is a copy of his disclaimer which he will send you after the job starts. Approx. additional cost to prepare and apply light to medium stain is $890-$1,190. Our first part will take 2-3 days. You will most likely not be able to use kitchen after the first day. Below is updated agreement for your harwood floors. Same We will furnish all required labor, material, and equipment necessary to complete the work as detailed below. We include materials and/ or installation as describe only. The agreement does not include: Removal of furnishings, carpet; moving appliances, installation or repair of subfloor , flooring; any dust protection, unless indicated below. Working area: Kitchen area and Sunroom. !DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY! WE DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTY FOR FINISH DURABILITY, BONDING, FLAKING, ADHESION ISSUES OF NEW FINISH TO THE STAIN APPLIED BY THE OTHERS (Extra coat of stain is applied by other party. These conditions are beyond our control.) Proper customer expectations.1. Existing flooring is old, wavy with chatter marks and uneven. Floor sanding will not make floors look like new and flat There could be waves, stains, and sanding marks visible after sanding.2. We do not remove appliances and sanding under them is not included. During resanding and refinishing process bottom of wooden surfaces like: Door jambs, quarterround and baseboard trims could be scratched and painted over. Touchup painting is responsibility of the owner. Scope of work: 1. Sand hardwood floors in the above area. We exclude: Any filling of gaps and holes with wood putty, sanding under radiators.3. Apply three coat system of professional, natural, clear flooring finish, satin topcoat.Total amount for above labor and material is $3,280 Options: 1. Repairs of damaged floorboards. $50 per each board up to 3 linear feet. We do not warranty matching of color, grain, texture of repaired section to the existing flooring.2. Supply, install and finish flash wood vents - $95 each.3. Apply one coat of light stain to medium stain. Estimated cost is $890- $1,190. (Dark stains and mixes are charged additionally, stains chosen by the owner from the Duraseal base stain colors only, confirmed by the sample applied on the sanded wood floor. Custom stain mixing available for $90.00 per hour including transportation costs if necessary).4. All additional labor like: Baseboard replacement, new quarterrounds, possble flattening of the hardwood flooring, etc. is billed at $40 per one man per each started 30 min. including delivery times if required plus cost of materials needed. NOTE: We can not be responsible for cleaning and damage done by dust from sanding. All construction debris left at the job site in the place indicated by the owner and it is his responsibility to dispose it. No matter how hard we try, you should not expect a table top and dust, hair-free finish., without any swirl or machine marks. Each piece of oak flooring sands differently depending on its grain type and it is impossible to achieve a "clean room" environment in your house. Floors when touched will be rough. Floors should be looked at from an upright position, not on your hands and knees and against light source. Touching floor is not proper evaluation technique. Payment Terms: (Additional work is to be paid separately form the schedule below, upon starting or right after substantial completion) 1. $1,500 upon starting sanding of the flooring.2. $2,000 upon applying coat of stain. 3. Balance after substantial completion of the work. Accepting terms by ryplying OK to above agreement. Darek, Dariusz Zukowski, NWFA certified professional Chicagoland Flooring, Inc 5547 N Linder Ave Chicago, IL 60630-1308 www.chicagohardwood.com <http://www.chicagohardwood.com/> 773-775-8577

After closing on a condo early November, Darek was one of the few companies I asked an estimate from. I ended up contracting Chicagoland Flooring to re-finish the hardwood floors within few days to be able to move in less than 10 days after closing, and before having some other work done. The company was very accommodating with my dates, to ensure my schedule would properly work. They showed up the day after I approved the estimate and worked as scheduled. Despite my many constraints they did a very good job overall.

Mark & Darek offered a good price, the workers were good, and the quality was great. They refinished the floors on both the first and second floors, including four bedrooms. We upgraded to a Synteko finish which is supposed to be more durable and longer-lasting, and then they did a second coat in polyurethane. Several of the floors had been covered in carpet for at least 30 years, and looked very rough before the crew came in and worked their magic. We had a slight miscommunication on start date (they actually started a day earlier than expected) and had to coordinate the work with the other contractors, but it was minor stuff. That, and the fact that the crew left the circuit breaker panel partially dismantled (they had to jump circuits to hook up a 220-volt extension cord for the sander), were the reasons for a B grade on professionalism. I wouldn't have found the circuit breaker problem right away, but the electrician came out the day they left by coincidence. Overall, would definitely use them again.

Dariusz made sure that we were monitoring the temperature and relative humidity in the 2 weeks prior to starting the job so that conditions would be ideal for installing the new floor. The workers generated a lot of sawdust that filtered down through the gaps between the subfloor boards into the utility room, where we had our boiler and hot water heater. This generated some concern on my part regarding a possible fire hazard. I cleaned it up. Demolition of the old flooring and installing new hardwood flooring is a dirty job, however. There was some minor damage to the heating registers but surprisingly little damage to the walls given how narrow our hallways are and the fact that the workers had to remove old flooring and bring in big bundles of new flooring (up to 6 feet long). (We had contracted with a painting company to repair any damage to wals and to repaint the rooms). Dariusz and his people were very conscientious about sanding and refinishing the flooring. The technique he uses generates strong fumes, so I was glad I had isolated this area from the rest of the house. The finish is strong and very good-looking. Dariusz emphasized the importance of letting the floor cure for at least a week before putting rugs down and other items that might interfere with that process. We are quite pleased with the results. The flooring has a smooth finish and they did the job very cleanly. There is virtually no hair from the workers, debris, or other ga-ga trapped in the finish, unlike results I have obtained with another flooring company I have used. Dariusz and his company are extremely conscientious, they take pride in their work, and if they say they will do something, they will do it:. In other words, they have a high degree of integrity--a rare thing these days, at least in my experience. They also made a special trip the following week to help us move a couple pieces of very heavy furniture back into one of the rooms. However, they do not remove and dispose of old carpeting, old flooring, or other demolition debris. So we had to do this on our own. This fact would be a consideration should we consider using this company again, because getting rid of all of this debris on our own is a big inconvenience. We subsequently discovered that the Village of Skokie (where the work was done) requires that all contractors dispose of all their own construction debris.

They were prompt and professional. They were fairly priced and did a good job. I liked their services and will use the same in future.

Darek and his team were great. From the very beginning he was very consultative and presented me with a few options, each with different price points, pro's, and cons. Once I had decided which option I wanted to move forward with, he was able to start within a couple days. At every point in the process he and his team were professional, courteous, and very focused on quality - paying attention to all the smallest details. I'm very happy with the results and would definitely recommend them.

Chicagoland Flooring was the only company we spoke with who understand our needs and provided us refinishing options. We have some warn spots on our floor that aren't bad but we wanted fixed. We assumed it would be a BIG re-sanding project and it was according to all of the other contractors we contacted. But Chicagoland suggested an alternative. It is half the cost, looks great and is high quality workmanship! Thank you!

We had an extremely tight schedule b/c we purchased a home and had 1 week to get this project completed before we moved in and Darek was very accommodating. They followed up several weeks after the job to make sure we were happy with the floors and it could not have been a better experience. This company has it right...very skilled employees and also very good at customer service.

Darek was extremely knowledgeable and responsive. I appreciated his professionalism from start to finish. He was extremely reliable and followed through exactly as he planned in terms of time and cost of the job. The floors look great and he was able to blend the new wood extremely well. Also, my dog walker accidently stepped on the polished floor before it was completely dry. Without any additional complaint or charge, Darek's team returned the next day to refinish the floor. I highly recommend this company!

All interactions with the company were absolutely outstanding. They were extremely attentive and cared intensely about the quality of the work and our satisfaction with the job. The first day, the boss actually came to our house with cookies for us! The final results on the floors were beautiful. We never thought sitting around our house and looking at the floor could be so much fun, but that's all we want to do now! I would find it hard to imagine that there is a better flooring company than these guys.

On the List it said they were very good at repairing damage floor, and he was. He said it may still be visible when he was done but you couldn't tell.

They are the best. I spoke with several other companies rated high on Angie's List before choosing Chicagoland Flooring, and I am so glad I decided to go with Darek and Chicagoland Flooring. They are definitely the most professional and offer the highest quality work in my opinion. Darek actually talked us out of the more expensive options--that was my first clue that these guys really deserve their great reputation. (He advised us to buff and apply a protective coat instead of sanding or replacing the floors, based on our particular situation.) We couldn't be more pleased with how the floors turned out. They did a lot of work for us on two radically different properties (a newer construction condo which is currently on the market, and the home we just moved into, which is an historic row house with original floors.) In both cases the work is beautiful and they did an amazing job.

They answered my phone call the same day and asked that I email photos of the problem so he already was aware of what was needed.

I was very satisfied and would recommend them.

I have always found Darek to be responsive and professional. Their price has always been rate and nice work. Not museum-quality sort of work but quite nice and for the price a great value.

They were extremely prompt and courteous. They did an excellent job on the floors. They told me they would have to do touch up to the wood, and they dinged up the floors a little bit and had replace some of the floor. They were really nice and the floors look beautiful. I thought the price was appropriate.

I got several estimates for this work and went with someone else because this estimate was so high. They were professional and timely with the estimate, but were more than $1000 higher on a $6200 job.

We wanted to replace old carpeting with wood floors in two small rooms on our first floor and called Dariusz for an estimate based on his AList ratings. He came immediately and gave us an estimate for both refinishing the original floors that were underneath (something he encouraged for their potential beauty and to save us money), and if not possible, for creating new sub-flooring and building and staining new wood floors. I thought it unusual that he charges $50 for an estimate but since we ended up using him, and it applied to the total, for us it was fine. Dariusz is very knowledgeable and works hard to set clear expectations before the job, and encouraged us to ask a lot of questions. We did, and we hired him to come do the job a month later. Because we didn't know if the old floors would work, we pulled up the carpeting ourselves in one room (he gave us a discount for this) and we discovered we could not use the existing pine floor. We let him know before he started. Dariusz' team worked very hard, were charming, and even helped move one huge sofa out of the room. The work took a bit longer than we'd planned but Dariusz gave us clear expectations at each step. When it came to choosing the stain, he went so far as to paint 5-6 different samples on the new floor to help us decide and his team also put in one piece of maple (not planned) for where the new oak threshold and our older maple kitchen floor met. Dariusz made sure we were satisfied, gave us extensive instruction on how to clean the floors (including giving us a bottle of floor cleaner) and brought us chocolates as a thank you,. Overall, we are very satisfied and grateful for the good job they did. The only cautions are: 1) he/his team did not always show up on time which wouldn't be a big deal but my husband was working from home and with business calls, slightly late arrivals were disruptive; 2) while I enjoyed working with Dariusz a lot, he can be a bit "in your face" and it helps to be decisive once he's provided all the information; 3) the first coat of varnish smelled so strong and burned our throats that we had to spend one night elsewhere; next day it was fine and 2nd coat isn't an issue. It's clear Dariusz only wants happy customers and we are.

I did not use this contractor because I got a lower quote.

In one word, Great! Marek came to the house and gave me a thorough evaluation of the best way to handle transitions to other areas of flooring and replacement of areas that were damaged. The guys did a great job. You can't even tell that boards were missing. The floors are beautiful! They were very polite, cleaned up after themselves, were on time and did quality work. What else could you ask for? On top of all that, they use environmentally friendly sealants and dustless sanding.

I called because I thought my floors needed refinishing, but I wasn't sure. I wanted someone to come out and look at them for me, as well as give me an estimate on what it would cost. The person on the phone tried to coach me through a test-something like, put a drop of water on them, if it soaks up, they need refinishing. What the heck? They then asked me to estimate the square footage of my house and then gave me a ballpark figure. I'm horrible with guessing that type of thing, so I'm sure the estimate was pretty much worthless. I was shocked they wouldn't come out to do the estimate themselves, especially since I read about them on Angie's list. I ended up going with another wonderful company I found on this site, and had the complete opposite experience.

It went excellent! After my initial call, Dariusz called me back the next day and scheduled an appointment with me to look at the floor. Even though it was a small job, Dariusz assured me they were interested in the job and would be able to do it soon. After we agreed on a good date for both of us, a technician was sent out. He was very friendly, professional and ultimately did a good job. The floor board was replaced, stained and varnished in a few hours. When it became apparent that the new floor board didn't quite match the existing floor boards, Dariusz sent the technician back the very next day to look at the floor board for no extra charge. It was determined that the floor had a semi-gloss finish, so the technician put a couple coats of semi-gloss down for me and now it looks like it's always been there! Plus the technician even filled another floor board that had a large gouge in it! Great job and customer service! I appreciate how they're more than willing to go the extra mile to get the job done correctly, in a very timely manner.

I was unable to get a quote from Chicagoland Flooring.