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.

Westdale Bathroom Renovation

Bathroom renovation completed July 2012. Existing bathroom was gutted (all tiles and old drywall + plaster removed due to mold), and replaced with all new fiberglass drywall and cement board to ensure waterproofing. New square ceramic tiles on the floor, new faucet on sink, new dual-flush toilet installed, new white subway tiles installed in shower/tub stall and halfway up the walls around toilet and sink. New vanity installed above sink. New shower head and tap installed in bathtab.

Graham Ave Renovations - Basement Staircase Edition

Staircase before - wood paneling, more pink paint, and no railing, and indoor-outdoor carpeting on extremely steep, short steps.

Staircase after - wood paneling removed, walls expanded, redrywalled and painted. Railing added. Steps rebuilt with better depth and height. Laminate on steps with metal bull-noses.

Staircase view from basement before

Staircase view from basement after (+ storage for cleaning supplies!)

Graham Ave Renovations - Basement Bathroom Edition

Basement bathroom before - More aqua paint, unleveled floors, fluorescent lighting, and peel & stick tiles. Note the duct tape on the floor.

Basement Bathroom during - Walls stripped of old tiles and exterior wall drywalled. New larger shower stall is framed in.

Basement Bathroom after - New tiles on floor and wall, including mosaic tiles for ornamentation. New overhead light fixture installed. New shower stall is framed and drywalled, and new vanity and cabinet installed.

Shower stall before - I guess they used a mish-mash of sample tiles to build the original shower! Square area of missing tiles around the drain meant you had to be careful where you stepped with bare feet in order to miss sharp edges!

Shower stall after - New mosaic tiles on floor, cut to fit around drain. New ceramic tiles on wall, and new plumbing fixtures.

Sink area before - Green floral wallpaper above aqua wall tiles. Dated medicine cabinet and sink vanity.

Sink area after - Neutral paint freshens the space. New electrical outlet installed. New sink vanity, mirror, and dressing-room lights.

Graham Ave Renovations - Basement Living Room Edition

Basement Living Room before - Cement floor (un-level), fluorescent dropped ceiling light

Basement Living Room during - Floor has been leveled with 2x8 ribs cut down to 0 (each board is cut on an angle to bring the lower part of floor up to the same height as the highest part. Ribs are laid at equal distances across the floor , then topped with OSB. Recessed wall has been moved in a little to accommodate a larger bathroom, hence the new drywall.

Basement Living Room after - New laminate on floor, fresh paint, recessed pot lights to make the most out of 6ft2 ceiling height, new window covering, fresh paint throughout

Graham Ave Renovations - Second Bedroom Edition

2nd Bedroom before - More pink walls (see Living Room post below), more distressed subfloor acting as hardwood (see Master Bedroom post below), and a door to one very sketchy addition (see House Exterior post below) full of squirrel nests!

2nd bedroom after - New plush carpeting installed, door replaced with new window, new electrical outlet installed beneath window, neutral wall paint.

2nd Bedroom Closet before - Bathroom pipe blocking with only one rod for hanging clothes.

2nd Bedroom Closet after - Pipe is enclosed into a new wall (allows for deeper closet space in bathroom, too - see Bathroom Edition post below), another hanging rod is installed for pants in front, and a shelf installed above. Carpet installed on floor (not shown) and new paint freshen the space.

Graham Ave Renovations - Master Bedroom Edition

Master before - sub-floor had been stained in an effort to act as hardwood but large gaps exist between each distressed plank that filled easily with dirt and debris. Distressed wood trim on windows. Dark paint colour closing in the space.

Master after - Lighter wall colour brightens and freshens the space. New window coverings and white trim update the windows. Plush carpet on floor makes a cozier space

Master after - Opposite view of room

Master Closet before - Small linen closet is the only storage space in the room.

Master Closet after - New closet is installed by opening the wall deeper and then framing a new wall with sliding doors

Master Closet after - A peek at one side of the new closet with plenty of hanging space despite slanted ceiling, and a shoe shelf.