Our customer had recently purchased this beautiful home on the water. The home comes with a great view from most of the house, but not the kitchen. They wanted us to take out a couple of load-bearing inside walls to open up and brighten the kitchen and capture the view. First we did lots of measurements, made a few exploratory openings and made some preliminary drawings. When we knew what direction we were heading we consulted with a structural engineer to make sure that it was feasible. As soon as we were confidant that it could be done, we bought in the kitchen designer. We had a plan that looked good but had to be tweaked a few times to allow for support columns and wall placements. We did run into a few problems during the project that we dealt with as they arose. Most of the first floor had a oak floor, the foyer and hall had ceramic tile and the kitchen had laminate. The ceramic and laminate floors were removed and hardwood installed, then whole floor was refinished.
Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products
Bosch Wall Scanner (GMS 120)
This wall scanner can locate wood and metal studs with respectable accuracy.
Now in it’s 5th edition, Rob Thallon’s book for builders has been a go-to resource for decades. This book features clear graphics that will help you understand how nearly all American houses are — or should be — built.
Stability is key when working off a ladder or accessing the roof, and this lightweight aluminum stand-off makes any extension ladder safer and more comfortable to use.
This saw features a brushless motor, a magnesium baseplate and blade guard for durability, LED lights that illuminate the cutline, and a well-designed rafter hook.
This tool makes tearing off shingles easier and faster, providing powerful leverage that allows you to work comfortably. Its beveled teeth and wide blade make it easy to remove nails and push shingles off the roof.
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