Chicago Hardwood Flooring — Vintage Oak, Refinish, Engineered, Condo Sound
Chicago hardwood reality. Vintage red oak strip flooring in 90% of pre-1950 apartments, sand-and-refinish vs replace decision, engineered hardwood for condos (sound attenuation), condo board STC-50+ underlayment requirement. $6-$16/sqft installed.
Pre-1950 Chicago apartments and 2-flats typically have red oak strip flooring (2.25" wide, 3/4" thick) that can be sanded and refinished 4-6 times over the life of the building. Engineered hardwood with cork or rubber underlayment is required in most condo alterations to meet STC-50+ sound-attenuation standards in Alteration Agreements.
Frequently asked questions
Can my Chicago hardwood be refinished? If it's 3/4" solid oak with at least 1/4" wear layer remaining (measure at a floor register), yes. If it's been sanded 4+ times, replacement may be required.
How much does Chicago hardwood cost? Sand and refinish: $4-$8/sqft. Replace with solid oak: $10-$16/sqft installed. Engineered with underlayment: $8-$18/sqft.
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