Stair Repair
These stairs were rebuilt and reenforced with new treads. The stairs were widened so that they aligned with the existing large posts which supported the porch. A new hand rail was added. Each of those stair "stringers" has a pressure treated reinforcing beam on the lowest tread; where the most moisture and dirt is. The stringers sit on concrete to keep them off the dirt. The white board is a pvc plastic material which is completely durable and waterproof.
Lathe & Plaster Repair
This is a 1930's apartment building. The portion of the wall directly above the radiator had come apart. The edges were reenforced with specialty plaster washers and screws. Theses edges were painted with a binding agent. A thick scratch coat of plaster was used to fill and key into the wood lathe. Finally a skim coat of plaster was placed, sanded and the area finished with multiple coats of paint.
The pink material is a plaster binding agent which can be used in lieu of water to promote adhesion between the old and new plaster. Here we have a stair well to a second story condo in a 1916 building. Stairwells to the outside can have wider differentials in temperature, causing damage to the plaster over many years.
Work Bench
This work bench was made for a client. Bright shop lighting and a hardwired radiant electric heater on a simple timer for the cold days were simple additions.
Functional Sink Replacement
The sink in this very tiny studio apartment in San Francisco was replaced. The pink bonding agent was applied prior to a fresh coat of plaster.
Wire mesh is screwed into the framing and the lathe. The tile mortar grabs into that mesh, which allows the tiles to handle a lot of moisture and abuse without coming loose over the years.
The dark edge on the tile is a rounded molding formed from mortar. Upon completion the whole studio was painted, including the molding. There is no finished project photo, but the walls and and the dark tile trim edging were painted. The switch and outlet were replaced, and a new light fixture installed. What had been a drab and dreary room was more cheerful and serviceable.
Lead Shower Pan Replacement
This client's shower pan was leaking into the apartment below in a five story concrete and steel apartment building. This particular type of Calacatta marble was used throughout the bathroom. It was challenging to find a matching piece for this shower floor repair. The demo work has begun.
The thick cement mortar bed below the stone and the old lead shower pan are removed.
This building required that lead shower pans be used, which is an older style of waterproofing a shower.
Installing aluminum flashing to tie the existing ceramic tile walls into the new lead pan. The newly installed lead pan is filled for a water test prior to putting down the new mortar bed.
Finishing the stone installation.
The new drain without its nickel plated grate, and the new stone surrounding it. End results like this require a number of careful steps.
Gas Fireplace Installation
Working in conjunction with a gas pipe fitter and a gas fireplace company, I installed this new gas burning fireplace into what had been a wood burning fireplace in an old victorian home in San Francisco. The fireplace dimensions of the old fireplace were adjusted to fit the model. Other areas were opened and patched to allow for the installation of the new gas pipe and electrical supply.
Bringing a new hard piped gas line to this location required quite a bit of work. A number of walls were opened to allow this placement and then patched and painted after the new line was installed. The brass piece is the required accessible shutoff valve.
Gas fireplaces can be a very effective way to heat homes. The gas shutoff valve is to the left of the fireplace by the floor. The tiles that had been affected were reset.
A few years before I put in the gas stove I had retiled the fireplace and the hearth.
Stair Renovation
New oak treads were made and installed to dress up an old painted staircase in this studio.
The very loose handrail required close attention. An unsupported knob attachment on the left was replaced with the two point assembly to the the right, which made the handrail much more stable.
