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Posts Tagged ‘Kitchen home remodel’

Portland Kitchen Cabinet Remodel – Were Cookin’ Now!

Friday, October 14th, 2011

Our Cabinet Remodel has been flying by and we are on the final stages of the project. During this stage, Sitka takes on a full head of steam and pushes the project through to the final project. It is the belief that when a Kitchen remodel is this close to being completed and the owners are itching to have their house back, we deliver.

Throughout the project, the contractor’s duty is to listen to the customer’s needs and attend to every detail whether it is big or small so that our product is flawless. This particular project as you can see is turning out beautifully and only has a few more items to go. Stay tuned for the final result!

Portland Kitchen Cabinet Remodel – Out with the Old, In with the New

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

The inside of the boxes on the left have been stained so they can have beautiful glass doors.

Sitka Projects, LLC took on a remodel of cabinetry in a residential kitchen.  Among the required conditions, it was requested to use the same layout of the original cabinetry but create more economic and useful space.  Using a lazy susan, roll out storage, and other modern amenities, the required space is accomplished.  As seen in the picture to the right, all access to the plumbing and electrical that had to be altered has now been covered up with a standard drywall patch so the cabinets can go against a smooth surface.  Texture has also been applied to match original texturing of the orange peel wall and hand brocade ceiling.

Once preparation is done, our skilled carpenters install the cabinet boxes that are composed of pre-finished maple interiors.  Upon request, some interiors are stained as seen in the picture to the left.  These cabinets are carefully installed making sure every door functions properly and all countertop space is level.  The progress is significant and the final product pictures are to come!

Kitchen Remodel – Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Sheet Rock

Sunday, October 9th, 2011
Kitchen Dry wall

Sheet Rock installation

The installation and the location of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing components in a complete kitchen remodel are vital to the project’s success.  Sitka only uses licensed specialty tradesman to perform these tasks.  Over the years Sitka has developed a fantastic team of sub-contractors and vendors while staying true to what we do best; general contracting and fantastic wood work.  We place the “rough-out” locations in their specific locations according to the plans we create with the owner.  These locations are determined based off the custom cabinetry specifications.  Items such as gas lines, plugs, switches, water lines, vents, drains, and access panels are carefully considered prior to their placement in the field.  GFCI outlets are utilized per code, dedicated circuits are installed depending on appliance requirements, plumbing is updated, and new gas lines ran.  

In our experience, opening up old plumbing (galvanized pipe) in one section of the home can cause clogs in mixing valves in other sections of the home due to rust.  Water heater replacement or a re-pipe may be necessary.  Sitka suggests replacing all mixing valves, angle stops, water lines, and p-trap assemblies in the area of the remodel work at a minimum.  It is more cost effective to perform this now than down the road.  

I took this photo of our sheet rock team Thursday morning during a site visit.  We have insulated the exterior wall and the ceiling for acoustics.  The owners of this kitchen will be pleased with a traditional smooth wall finish.  We typically roll the paint on the walls to give a slight stipple texture.  The project is coming together.  We will have paint and cabinets going in this week!

Traditional style kitchen remodel during demolition

Friday, September 30th, 2011
Demolition phase of kitchen remodel

Complete kitchen remodels require extensive demolition

This kitchen remodel takes place in a nearly 100 year old Portland, Oregon home.  Working on older homes has its advantages and disadvantages.  From Sitka’s perspective the advantage is the shear character that homes of this period possess.  The disadvantage is that that the technology during the original construction is not what it is today.  Energy efficiency, electrical, and plumbing components are a few examples of how modern technology has made residential living better.  This is where we come in.  Sitka is able to stay true to the character of the home while providing modern creature comforts.

Protecting the existing finishes of the home especially during the demolition process is paramount.  Before we begin a project we  ensure the finishes to remain are properly covered or sealed off.  This is important and crucial to the success of the project.  It is important to understand the vitality of dust control, lead containment, and overall project cleanliness.  This demolition project has produced approximately 4.5 tons of debris that was properly bagged, sealed, and disposed of by trained personnel.  2.5 tons of the material came from the old chimney stack that ran through all 4 levels of the home.  Sitka was able to dismantle the chimney stack without demolishing any of the internal walls.  We dropped it from the bottom.  Only experienced professionals should attempt this.

This morning I dug through 3 layers of vinyl flooring to discover the original Doug-fir flooring below.  In a situation like this the chances of salvaging this floor are less than 5%.  We will not be re-finishing this floor.   The owners of this project have elected to install new oak flooring to match the rest of the top nailed original oak in the home.  It may be hard to imagine how this demolished kitchen can become a magnificent blend of contemporary technology and traditional woodwork in a matter 6 weeks, however with Sitka Projects custom cabinetry and our dedicated team of construction managers, it will.  The overall investment from the owners of this Portland, Oregon kitchen remodel will be approximately $80,000.00.

Five Uses for Ceramic Tile in Your Home

Monday, August 30th, 2010

The bathroom is a natural location for ceramic tiles.

Ceramic tiles have long been loved for their beauty and durability. In fact, people have been using ceramic tiles for millennia. For instance, the Romans were famous for installing intricate mosaic ceramic tile designs on their floors, which are often excavated perfectly intact thousands of years later. Talk about a long-lasting material! The Egyptian Pharaohs were probably the first to use ceramic tiles—they decorated their tombs with ceramic tile designs. Today, ceramic tile installation is a great way to revive any room in your home, as tile is available in a wide variety of styles, and may be used in multiple applications. Depending on their size, color, and texture, ceramic tiles can lend a modern air or create a classic ancient feel—the creative possibilities are endless! This article will get your creative juices flowing by offering five uses for ceramic tile.

Flooring. Unlike wood, ceramic tile floors will never show wear from foot trafffic. Moreover, ceramic tile can conduct heat, which is perfect for modern heating and cooling radiation systems. (The Romans used this technology as well; they ran hot water underneath the floors of their baths to heat the ceramic tile floors.) Finally, aside from the grout, ceramic tiling is easy to clean, making it a great flooring material. For additional traction in wet areas, install small tiles; the grout will create a non-slip surface. Floor tile installation is a big job, so bring in a trustworthy contractor. If you don’t, moisture could seep through and weaken your home’s supports.

Decoration. Ceramic tiles are a wonderful way to bring beauty into your home. From decorative borders to murals of painted tiles, there are numerous ways to use ceramic tile as a decorative element. Plus, you can often place ceramic tile designs where no other decoration will fit. For instance, why not install patterned ceramic tiles on the risers of your staircase?

Countertops. Tile is a wonderful material for kitchen and bathroom countertops, as it is heat-resistant and able to stand up to spills. In years past, small ceramic tiles were used on kitchen countertops. Now, the vogue is to use large ceramic tiles. This cuts down on cleaning time, since there is less grout where grime can stick. To accentuate the color of your tiles, consider using a colored grout. Additionally, colored grout hides dirt. Bathroom tile installation is especially tricky, since bathroom countertop surfaces are often small enough to require cutting tiles. Again, find an expert contractor to help you with ceramic tile installation.

Backsplashes. The backsplash behind the kitchen stove is one area that demands high durability, and ceramic tile is the perfect solution. It is easy to wipe off with soap and water, and it won’t crack or fade, even after years of splattered sauce. Moreover, the backsplash is a wonderful place to create a unique ceramic tile design. To unify the entire kitchen, extend the backsplash design on surrounding walls, like a ribbon tying the room together.

Walls and Wainscotting. Shower walls are a great place for tiles, because tile is not affected by moisture. Actually, people install tiles on a variety of walls. For instance, because ceramic tile will never need to be refinished, it’s a great way to protect that new paint job. Tiling a wall up to the chair rail will help keep your home renovation looking new for years to come. It’s much easier to clean tile than it is to repaint an entire room.

Whatever application you choose, find a knowledgeable local contractor to help with the ceramic tile installation. That way your ceramic tile design will look like new for decades to come.

Photo: Andre Chinn