It’s completion day.  Appliances are in, fixtures are installed, and inspections were passed.  The new space is well insulated, and holds a comfortable temperature just from the adjacent heated space in the kitchen.  As a precaution, thermostatically controlled wall heater units were installed, so the powder room should never be chilly.  As you may recall from when we started, one of the major challenges in enclosing a porch on slab is taking adequate measures to make the space comfortable.  Mike’s done a nice job with this enclosure, and I’m sure it will be a welcome extension of the living space in this home.

Our new double hung window fits nicely above the washer and dryer, while allowing ample natural light for the space.

In the powder room, our new vanity provides valuable storage space.  The vanity faucet, bathroom accessories, and grab bar are coordinated with chrome finishes for a clean and modern look.

Chop box and coping saw.  Telltale signs of a trim carpenter at work.  With sheetrock completed, Mike is busy installing his trim mouldings.

Inside the laundry room, a new resilient floor is in place, and the space rounds into form with new window and door casings.  Plumbing fixtures are on site, the painter is in tomorrow, appliance delivery is scheduled for Wednesday, and final plumbing and electrical installation are set up for Thursday.  A busy week as we approach the finale.  If all goes well, this laundry and powder room will be up and running for the weekend!

Happy New Year everyone!  Mike is back to work and moving quickly towards wrapping up this porch conversion.  A progress meeting with the Client was held earlier today.  Final selections for flooring and plumbing fixtures were made, and schedule was discussed in the “2 week lookahead”.  Today’s task is installing aluminum siding.  The tri-tone color combination is unintended and inconsequential, as this material will be painted to blend in with the existing siding.  What’s most important for now is simply matching the profile, and installing the material with appropriate underlayment and flashing at the window.

Back inside, the sheetrockers have just finished hanging their boards so it’s time for some mud.  As you can see, water lines and electric are in place for the new laundry.  Our trim order is in place, so we’ll be able to go right ahead once the sheetrock is finished.

Front Roof Replacement

The air is getting colder, but the rain is mostly cooperating as we complete this roof replacement.  As the roofers tear off the existing shingles, lead carpenter Mike Payne is replacing rotted sheathing as needed.  Moisture damage was particularly apparent at the chimney and plumbing stack, due to failed flashing.  With new sheathing, underlayment, flashing, and shingles, wet wood will be a thing of the past.  This roof will be all buttoned up by tomorrow, when we wrap for our annual holiday break.  We’ll be back after the New Year to finish up our Laundry/Powder Room.  Happy Holidays everyone!

New Stucco Chimney

Chimney repairs are now completed.  The exterior received two new coats of finish stucco.  In addition to the aesthetic improvement, these repairs protect from moisture damage and ensure that the chimney will be in safe working condition going forward.

 Next order of business is replacing the asphalt shingled roof which is well past its intended life expectancy.  We’ll replace with new 30yr shingles to keep this home protected for years to come.  While tearing off the existing roof, tarps and plywood are utilized to contain debris, and protect the home from damage.

Plumbing Rough In

Meanwhile, back in the new powder room/laundry room, drains and water lines are located and roughed in.  The concrete slab was saw cut and trenched as needed to provide slope for the drains, connecting back to existing lines in the basement.  With the plumbing out of the way, Mike is able to proceed with his floor joists.

A "before" shot of the chimney

With the porch framed in, and pending inspection from the building department, we’ve turned our attention to the dilapidated masonry chimney.  Years of exposure, moisture intrusion, and vegetation have caused the stucco finish to crack and the top of the chimney to fall apart.  Luckily, we’ve got the experts to restore it.

After removing vegetation and loose plaster,wire mesh is attached.  The mesh will serve as a bonding agent for the first layer, or “brown coat”, of the new stucco finish.  As you can see, scaffolding is in place for work at the top of the chimney.

Up top, several courses of block were completely replaced.  Once the brick cap is complete, a new concrete chimney cap, otherwise known as a wash, will be poured in place.  A properly installed wash is the most important defense against moisture related damage, so care must be taken with material selection and application.

Lead carpenter Mike Payne is hard at work framing in the new living space.  2×6 framing lumber was chosen to allow for extra insulation in the exterior walls.  Using the larger framing members compromises floor space for designing the interior (yes, a couple of inches here and there can make a difference), but the trade-off is well worth it, especially considering the plumbing lines required for both the laundry and powder room.  Mike is standing in front of what will be the framed opening for a new double hung window, allowing natural light into the laundry area.  Our plumbing subcontractor is scheduled for tomorrow to install rough-ins for pipes and drains.

Our latest featured job blog is a bit of an anomaly for us, a porch conversion.  Porches built over a slab notoriously difficult to convert into comfortable living space.  As a result we typically prefer to remove the slab, dig a crawlspace foundation which can be properly insulated, and then build over top.  In this case, the slab is in good shape, and the elevation from grade works, so increasing the budget for a crawlspace was harder to justify.  We’ll have to take measures to insulate properly, and provide adequate heating to make the room comfortable.  The converted porch will house a new powder room and a laundry area, which will be rescued from the basement.  Having these spaces accessible on the first floor will make the home safer and more comfortable for our client.

If you’ve been contemplating a new kitchen, be it for the last decade, the last year, or just since you read this, R. Craig Lord University has a great opportunity for you.  On Saturday October 15th, 2011 @ 10:00 am, RCLU will host its latest seminar, “Savvy Kitchens: Recipe for a Successful Project”.  Presenters will include Eric Ravikio, Owner of Apple Kitchens, and R. Craig Lord, President of R. Craig Lord Construction.  To register or for more info, give us a call (856) 235-4237.

R. Craig Lord University will kick off the fall seminar series with a program entitled “Home School 101: Taking Care of Your Home”.  R. Craig Lord will cover all facets of interior and exterior maintenance to help homeowners learn to best protect their investments.  The seminar will take place Saturday, September 24th, 2011 @ 10:00am.  All RCLU seminars are presented in our conference room @ 1237 North Church Street, Moorestown, NJ.  To register, contact the office, (856) 235-4237 or email, ines@rcraiglord.com