Thursday, September 13, 2012

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

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

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.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

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.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

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.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

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