Removing Bearing Walls

By Robert Robillard

Removing Load Bearing Walls Many people these days are opting to remove walls between rooms and create a more open floor plan.  In a similar fashion we are also seeing a lot of people ask for doorways to be enlarged as much larger trimmed openings,  sometimes two or three times the size of the original…

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Door Hinge Problems

By Robert Robillard

  Door Swings Open or Shut On Own – quick fix   Image: rd.com I’ve worked on a lot of old houses, and a few new ones, where the doors refuse to stay open or open by themselves when closed and not latched. Usually this problem can be traced back to loose hinges screws or…

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Should You Hire A Contractor

By Robert Robillard

Benefits of Doing It Yourself VS. Benefits of Hiring a Contractor Whether remodeling your kitchen, building a bathroom addition or simply repairing a screen door repairing things yourself can be rewarding and cost effective.   Depending on your level of expertise you need to decide whether or not it makes sense to tackle a project yourself…

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Refurbishing Old Radiators

By Robert Robillard

Salvaging  Steam Radiators Many homes in the Town of Concord, where I do remodeling,  have free standing, cast iron radiators.  Recently there has been a large push toward refurbishing old radiators. Many of these beautifully decorative iron radiators that are often buried under layers of paint.  Old, chipped paint is not only an eyesore but…

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Remodeling Pointers

By Robert Robillard

Remodeling Tips There’s a ton of stuff to read out there that portrays the remodeling process as fun, glamorous and exciting. What’s missing is the stressful, rutted path that most remodelers travel to achieve a great looking finished project. Many problems and surprises are common to the remodeling process. A little mental preparation will go…

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Remodeling An Older House

By Robert Robillard

Remodel One Room At A Time The “one room at a time” approach to remodeling an older house. Remodeling one room at a time (kitchen, bath or family room) — can have a dramatic effect on your overall comfort, health and budget. As the current steward to your home often the best thing to do…

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Hidden Remodeling Costs

By Robert Robillard

Remodeling What’s Behind The Wall? I don’t know too many people that are happy when a carpenter tells them their project is going to be more money or take longer due to unforeseen or hidden conditions. I’ll refer to these hidden remodeling costs as “what’s behind the walls?” The answer is, I don’t know until…

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Copper Door Entablature

By Robert Robillard

Entry Door Cap – Molding Detail My customer asked me to save and restore this small roof over their entryway and to keep the same moldings and details.  We removed the moldings and old tin roofing and decided it was best to rebuild this as a copper door entablature. This house has a very fancy…

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