Buchanan Hardwood Floor Refinishing

This house built in the 1940s had existing hardwood throughout the main level that had been shellaced and looked orangey/yellow. We stripped it down with a belt sander (using palm sanders for the perimetre of the rooms), restained it a more modern dark colour, and added some polyeurothane to protect it and add gloss.

Sanding the hardwood with a belt sander

Staining the newly sanded floor

Finished flooring with polyeurothane applied

Patio Door Install and Brick Replacement

This homeowner renovated her kitchen and blocked off the back patio door with her fridge in the new layout. She wished to have the existing door closed-in and a new patio door installed where the dining room windows were.

Here you can see the original back door and the dining room windows. Work is beginning on the new back deck.

Finished project: the old door was closed in using bricks from the chimney we removed.  Sliding patio doors replace the old dining room windows while still giving light to the room.

View of the deck from on the deck.

Locke St Fence Install

The new home owner at this property wanted a back fence for privacy, as her property connects to/faces a public lot. This fence made of 2x4 pressure treated fence boards took just two days to put up and looks great. The gate leads to a private parking area behind the property.

Work in progress: fence boards going up

Final product, fence with gate.

New Front Door and Window Install

Before: Storm door had been removed, leaving wooden framing and old chain visibly exposed on the front door. Old window and front door are drafty and dated.

After: New window and front door have been installed. Window size has been adjusted to accommodate new cabinetry inside and front door has been reframed to fit properly. New siding better compliments the house.

Dundas Kitchen Enlargement & Renovation Completed

Here are some photos upon the completion of the Dundas Kitchen Enlargement & Renovation we did this summer. You can see some "During" photos by clicking here.  The island was custom-built from two cabinets and plywood, and stained to match the other cabinets. The countertops are corian.

Competed Kitchen Reno

Completed Kitchen Reno

Completed Kitchen Reno

Completed Kitchen Reno

Dundas Kitchen Window Installation

 The homeowners at this Dundas house wanted to open up a section of their back wall to allow more light into their newly renovated kitchen (see Dundas Kitchen Renovation posts). The wall had to be reframed with a header installed to support the upper floor and the brick cut out to put the new window in, complete with new window sill.

After: A window!

Before: Framing around new window hole complete. Drywall installed around new window. Time to cut the brick out!

After: The new window is the one on the right. Having windows on both walls allows a lot of light into this newly renovated eat-in kitchen/breakfast nook.

Dundas Kitchen Enlargement Renovation

It has been a busy summer at A Board and Beyond. We are currently finishing up a large-scale project in Dundas where we have enlarged a kitchen by removing a load-bearing wall and replaced it with an LVL beam; rerouted electrical lines, water lines & drains, phone & cable lines, and vent ducts that were in the removed wall; installed new cherrywood cabinetry and a custom island; installed corian countertops; retiled the floor with porcelain tiles; painted; rerouted wiring throughout the kitchen to install new potlights, a chandelier, and new outlets on the island and above the countertop; rerouted plumbing and wiring to install a dishwasher & icemaker; and cut through the exterior house stone to install a large new window. Before and after pictures to come in a few days. Here are some "under construction" photos in the meantime.

Here you can see the orange LVL beam in place. The temporary walls you see are put up to support the load while the beam is being installed. The green jackpost is used to push the beam snugly into place. The joists are attached to the side of the beam with hangers.

This is the now-open kitchen (beam is just visible at the top of the photo). The upright bulkhead on the right contains all the plumbing, wiring and ductwork that used to be in the wall between the rooms.

Hole cut through drywall exposing the exterior stone wall. The framing has been redone with a header to support the load and redrywalled. This is where the new window will be located.

Completed hole (cut through exterior stone wall), awaiting new window.

Tearing up the existing tile in the original kitchen in order to install new porcelain tile.

New cherry-wood cabinets installed. Note the bulkhead being built on the cabinets on the right, and the completed bulkhead (minus paint) over the cabinets on the left.

Two-Tier Backyard Deck

New deck, built July 2012, made of pressure-treated wood.

Upper deck is set up for barbeque and lower deck holds table and chairs. Wide steps form the backyard are perfect for those summer entertaining nights. A second set of steps leads directly from the driveway up to the upper deck.