Care is taken to minimize the construction impact on the household. Preparation includes protection of windows, doors, and any other items to be saved. Preparation may require covering the floors in the adjacent room or hallway as well. Preparation may also include construction of temporary walls or zip doors taped into place to isolate the construction area. We can also set up a temporary kitchen in an adjacent room or in the basement.
Items to be saved will be removed or protected. During removal of plaster in the ceiling or wall sections, we maintain a negative air pressure to control dust. We often build a chute from a second floor window to the ground. This prevents wear and tear on your house (as well as our legs). Construction debris is contained and picked up on a regular basis. All construction debris is taken to a transfer station via our dump truck, where it is sorted and recycled. There will be no unsightly dumpster in your driveway or outside your home.
The structural integrity of the walls and ceilings is assessed and repaired as needed. Next the floor, walls, and ceiling, which may have sagged or sloped over the years — a common problem in older homes — will be straightened and brought closer to level. A little extra time taken in this endeavor will make a big difference in the finished product.
We will complete a thorough assessment of the electrical, plumbing, and heating systems. After the evaluation, we’ll make any repair or replacement recommendations to the owner.
Insulating the exterior envelope can use a number of different materials. One of the most common is fiberglass, which can either be installed as pre-formed batts or blown in. Cellulose, which is an excellent choice for many areas in the home, is blown into walls or attic space. We can also use a variety of sprayed-on open and closed-cell foam insulation products.
Most commonly, we install 5/8” drywall, and the seams are then taped, filled, and finished. Another option is blue board, which is similar to drywall, except it has a finished veneer of plaster. The “old standard” is also an option, using rock lathe and three coats of plaster. Wet areas are a different story. 5/8” tile backerboard, commonly known as Durarock™, is glued and screwed to the studs on the walls as well as over the plywood underlayment of the floor. Shower bases are then often constructed of poured concrete to achieve custom shapes and sizes.
There is a large variety of options available for kitchen floors. One of the more commonly used products is 3/4” X 2 1/4” maple tongue & groove hardwood flooring. Cork, bamboo, tile, slate, or stone may all be used. The choices are limited only by your imagination.
Wall and ceiling finishes include the full spectrum of finishes including paint, wallpaper, faux finishes, and stenciling. Any treatment the customer or designer imagines is possible.