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1920′s Portland bathroom with walk in shower done.
Posted by:admin | Posted on: March 29th, 2013 | 0 Comments
This complete bathroom remodel worked very well. Being able to start with a clean slate made for a better project. All the plumbing was replaced and now the water is flowing smoothly through all new pipes and fixtures. We built the waterproofing through the whole floor and 3 feet up on the walls. We were also able to install insulation and draft sealing throughout the entire room. This whole room remodel allows homeowners to take advantage of new products available to improve the comfort and efficiency of their homes over the long term.
The shower has several fixtures with volume and temperature control. The plumbing was designed so that both fixtures can operate without a drop in pressure. The hand held shower is mounted on a heavy bar that is anchored to the studs so that it can also be used as a grab bar in the shower. This shows how a bit of planning can go a long way in the final results.
The room is small and selecting a wall mount sink opened up a lot floor space. Above the sink we were able to find enough space in the wall to build a recessed medicine cabinet with a hinged mirror.
The floor in the shower is a tumbled stone. The small shape of the stones provide a lot of traction in a wet area. They have a similar shape to the subway tiles on the walls but they are on each 1 inch by 2 inches, a mini-subway shape. The small format tiles conform to the slopes in the shower floor. The linear drain system can work with larger piece tiles but the slopes in this shower required tiles sized around 2 inches by 2 inches.
The main floor is a solid body tile with a good slip resistance so it is also safe for wet feet. The heated floor in the main area gets a lot of positive reviews. There is an option to turn it off to save energy; the thermostat is also equipped with a seven day thermostat that can warm the floor before the day starts. We also moved the room heating vent from its original floor location to the wall. The main floor is now a solid waterproof surface.
The shower floor and its surround was built using the Wedi system. This shower system gives us surface that we can tile directly to. The backer is water proof and vapor proof so it can be used to build steam rooms. It also provides some insulation in the floor; directing the heat from the floor in to the room.
The wall color works well with the design. It is a robin's egg blue that brightens the room and brings in a fresh spring feel. There is only one north facing window in the room but the new lights on two switches provide multiple lighting options in the room.
The homeowners think the room is "Just fantastic." We are happy with the project also.
Starting a bathroom remodel in 1920′s Portland house
Posted by:admin | Posted on: February 7th, 2013 | 0 Comments
Starting in on a bathroom remodel in a 1920’s house in NE Portland. The floor had a bit of dry rot so we decided to take the room down to the studs and floor joists. From here we can get every thing in place and correct. It may look a bit scary to some but to us it is like a blank canvas that we can build up on. There are a few things we can improve on from this point adding insulation to the exterior walls, new electric, water lines and blocking for the new room design. We will also be improving the ventilation of the room with a quiet and efficient fan.This bathroom will be a guest bathroom so we are planing to make it easy to use for all ages and sizes of people.
We are designing a walk in shower for this room. It will be about 3 feet wide and 5 feet long. This is a size of shower that will feel quite spacious. The floor of the shower will be a tumbled stone in a small shape. The shower is a bit unique in that it will have two shower fixtures a wall mounted shower head and bar mounted hand shower. The bar mounted hand shower will be a stout fixture that will attach to the studs. It will be strong enough to be used as a grab bar in the shower.
The tile floor will have an in floor heating. The system will have a seven day programable thermostat so that it will only heat up when needed It can also be turned off completely if not needed.
There are a few considerations a this time the type of sink, pedestal, vanity or wall mounted. In this room we will be installing a wall mounted sink. We will need to place extra blocking to support it, accommodate the vent line and place the supply lines in the right spot so that they do not interfere with the sink. There is a code requirement that the toilet have 15 inches of space from the center to the next closest fixture. That will not be too much of an issue in this bathroom.
The sink faucet and the shower handles will be able to be operated with one hand. They will be lever type handles that can be operated with a closed fist. This is a sort of a test to see if a person with arthritis, or a kid could operate the fixtures easily. Built in bookshelf for a 1924 bungalow
Posted by:admin | Posted on: December 5th, 2012 | 0 Comments
We just finished a built in bookshelf and window seat for book lover in this 1924 bungalow. The old book shelves were full and over loaded. We matched the decorative trim work existing in the house and ran it across the top of the bookshelf. We edged the shelves and front in vertical grain fir. It is a wood that would have been used at the time the house was built. There are less expensive woods that we could have used but fir is a strong wood that it easy to work with. The bottom shelf is a bit taller to accommodate some art and larger print books. There were some challenges in building straight and square on to the old lath and plaster walls which we were able to work through. We finished the book shelves with a low VOC oil based paint. We wanted a tough finnish that would stand up to books moving we have used it on other trim work projects. A latex paint would ware and may stick to the book covers.The window seat has a heating vent that directs out the front. We built a few decorative panels for the front. It may become the new favorite place for the cat and the homeowner.
Commercial kitchen with stanless steel counter tops
Posted by:admin | Posted on: November 26th, 2012 | 0 Comments
The project we are starting on is a challenge. It is a small high volume commercial kitchen. Currently the formica counters have warn out from abrasion, there is water damage around the sink area and the plumbing needs a re work. Durability, situation and water resistance are some key points we need to focus on. We also need to consider the ergonomics and the work flow of the kitchen. Many counter top choices have qualities and weaknesses. Some counter tops that we have built with before are wood butcher block: beautiful easy to maintain not good with heat or water near sinks Porcelain tile: Great with heat and water, medium cost not good with too much heavy use can be brittle and the grout can be an issue. Concrete counter tops are tough good with water and heat but need to be maintained with a wax finish or they can stain Metal counter tops will be the beat choice for the main work surfaces. The top cap rail will be a bamboo butcher block around the work space. We have built custom Zinc counter tops however for this project it will have to be stainless steel. The Zinc will develop a patina over time however, in this kitchen we want to keep the clean look.
Measuring and examining the layout of the room we tried to fit in as many stock size stainless steel counter tops as possible however the hand washing sink and counter will require a bit of custom work. One cool aspect of the custom stainless counter will be the continuous bent up back splash so that water will not be able to work its way under the back splash. We have also designed a 2 foot tall stainless back splash for the end of the sink that gets a lot of water and has been a leak problem for some time. 
We are toughening up the walls all around the sink in ways that can and can not be seen. The new drywall will be mold proof fiber glass faced. This will be covered with a plastic reinforced panels and in placed a stainless steel back splash. Building for durability with attention to detail will be the way to make this a lasting kitchen which serves 120 three times a day. This kitchen has more daily demands than a traditional home kitchen.An other great Yelp review
Posted by:admin | Posted on: November 19th, 2012 | 0 Comments
A great review of the project we just finished. It is always a joy to be appreciated for our work. Thanks.Pearl District modern bathroom in a historic building
Posted by:admin | Posted on: November 8th, 2012 | 0 Comments
With the rough in of the shower in place the tile work can start. There are a few precautions to make sure that the shower will be water tight and once those are in place we are ready to tile. For this project we decided to do the tile work with our own crew. The layout is precise the stacked arrangement of tile does not leave any room for fudging things. The lines need to be razor sharp from top to bottom. The dark grout is a nice contrast with the Carara marble but it would show anything out of line. The homeowners cose the Carara marble in two size formats. The 12x12 tiles for the end walls and a 3x6 subway with the backwall the heart of the project. The dark grout sets off this pattern change. The niche is inset with a 1x1 mosaic of handmade glass tile. This was set with a white thinset so the color of the glass shows through. The homeowners had the tile chosen early so we could have it ordered and shipped. This was great as delays waiting for a piece or two are a drag for everyone. Working with a designer and with some of their own ideas resulted in a exquisite bathroom.
The two shower heads are in place in the shower. The unique aspect of this shower is the custom plumbing work that allows one or both showers to have the volume of water set. It can be gentle summer rain or a downpour depending on the day.
The frameless glass shower doors were put in place by our glass champions. Talk about precision. The door and the solid wall line up exactly. The mass of the 3/8 thick glass door is substantial on the heavy hinges it opens and closes both in and out of the shower space with ease. I am always impressed with the skill and attention to detail the glass folks bring. We had the panels treated with a coating to reduce water spots which can affect untreated glass panels.
Thinking through what is important to get in the bathroom remodel, who will be using it, and what materials to you like is a great way to start. There are some good bathroom planning tips on our planning page here.
Linear floor drain for walk in shower
Posted by:admin | Posted on: November 6th, 2012 | 0 Comments
We got the shower floor drain in place. This is a unique system that fits in to space. It is a pre-sloped linear drain system that will allow large 12x12 tiles to be placed on it. Most of the time a small 2x2 tile will be used to cover the floor. The linear drain is stainless steel and will allow a lot of water to flow which is useful in a shower taht has several fixtures. The floor tiles need to have a certain slip resistance rating and also be non porous to be used on the shower floor.The must have list for the Bathroom remodel
Posted by:admin | Posted on: November 5th, 2012 | 0 Comments
This project is a great one the home owners have made the choices for what they want wand even some tile choices. We are happy to help people with this however it is good when there are some specifics. The main feature of this project will be the walk in shower. The water will be supplied from two fixtures a standard wall shower and a ceiling mounted rain head. The homeowners want to be able to turn both fixtures on at the same time and control the amount of water to each fixture. This requires some extra valve controls and good plumbing planning.There is a lot going on behind the walls in this one. They also want a wall niche and a linear floor drain all of these will be included in the project.
Plans for work on an historic Portland building
Posted by:admin | Posted on: November 1st, 2012 | 0 Comments
We put together plans for a bathroom remodel in historic building in the pearl district. The old brick warehouse was turned in to loft condominiums about 15 years ago; it is a mix of historic structure and modern convenience. We created plans to meet the owner's needs; the condominium board's historic requirements; and the safety requirements for a building with six floors of tenants.
Much of the charm of the loading docks has been preserved in the development of the building. The architectural features of the old warehouse provide visual interest. Here is a link to some of our other historic projects.
Green Light Construction in Oregon Home
Posted by:admin | Posted on: November 1st, 2012 | 0 Comments
We got a mention in Oregon Home. It is great to be in a local magazine that covers building projects in Portland. Our philosophy on building is cited. Thanks. click here for Oregon Home Bathroom remodeling link.
Mid Century Modern up date
Posted by:admin | Posted on: October 6th, 2012 | 0 Comments
We just finished a bathroom remodel for a 1950's house on Mt. Tabor. The house was built on the side of the hill with a daylight lower floor. The bathroom had suffered some dry rot and needed repair. We installed a new window, shower and marmoleum flooring. The pattern in the marmoleum went well with the style of the house. It is a wood-like bamboo pattern, a bit different from the standard single color. The sink set on a formica counter top remained in place, a bit of modern history.
St John’s Bridge design play structure
Posted by:admin | Posted on: August 21st, 2012 | 0 Comments
Play structure based on the theme of bridges. We worked out a plan for a play structure for a local Pre-school. The class was studying bridges so we chose the St. Johns bridge as a model for the design. With the distinctive tower shapes and the arch cut outs the character of the bridge is represented.
We needed to build it safe for our 3ft tall clients. So it is extra stout and attached to the wall. The stair access have enclosed sides so that the climbers stay on track. So far we have had great reports of fun with a few instances of batting the globe lights. They may need to be moved. We Built it mainly out of Blue stained pine from NW Sustainable woods.
Choosing: Oregon sustainable wood
Posted by:admin | Posted on: July 18th, 2012 | 0 Comments
We will be using this unique Oregon produced wood product on our next project. The wood is pine. It is being harvested in eastern Oregon from trees that have been killed by an invasive beetle. Just a few years ago this sort of timber would have been considered waste and may have been burnt just to dispose of. Currently it is abundant and is being harvested. It is keeping mills in eastern Oregon in operation. It is a cool looking soft wood that that has a varied colors blue, green, and yellow through out the grain structure. An Oregon wood product we feel great about using.Bathroom and Kitchen Remodeling plans
Posted by:admin | Posted on: July 11th, 2012 | 1 Comments
I just read through this special issue from Fine home building and this one is a good one. To be honest these days most people are trying to get the most from their remodeling budget. This issue has some projects and ideas that look great are built of quality materials and are on budget. An issue well worth it.