Increase the appeal and value of your home with new moldings.  Craftsman Contracting specializes in finish carpentry, including cabinet installation, replacement doors and trim upgrades.

If you are looking to replace the doors in your Norwalk home, or if you would like to add crown molding or upgrade your existing trim, let the remodeling experts at Craftsman Contracting help you transform your home.

Craftsman Contracting LLC is a home remodeling contractor based out of Norwalk, CT and serving most of Fairfield County.  We specialize in remodeling homes and fine finish carpentry.  Craftsman Contracting stands out among other home improvement contractors due to our attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction.  When you hire Craftsman Contracting to remodel your home, you can rest assured that your project will get completed on time, on budget, and to your extreme satisfaction.

Home Improvement and Carpentry Services in Norwalk, CT:

• Interior door installation
• Entry door installation
• Storm door installation
• Baseboard and window/door casing installation/upgrade
• Crown molding installation
• Custom carpentry
• Millwork installations
• Custom built-in’s and cabinetry installations

By changing the trim in your house, you can instantly improve upon the whole look and feel of the home.  Whether you would like to add a simple, elegant crown molding to your dining room, or want to overhaul all the outdated, small trim throughout the house, we at Craftsman Contracting have you covered.  With the experience, knowledge and expertise to provide you with not only the right moldings to fit your home, but also the ability to execute even the toughest installations, Craftsman Contracting is your choice for all your home improvement needs.

Here are a few things to consider when planning a home renovation in Norwalk, CT

Style of House

Some styles of home in the Norwalk area include Modern, Ranch, Bungalow, Colonial and Victorian.  When performing a home renovation, it is important to understand the differences of each and which trim profiles would best serve your home’s style.  Contemporary or modern houses lend itself to sleek lines, very little detail, and a blended look to the walls.  While a traditional Colonial will tend to have larger moldings with lots of detail which really stand out from its surroundings.  It is equally important not to mix and match different style trim profiles in the same house.  A door casing with ornate details would look out of place next to a flat baseboard and a slab door.

Proportions

Ever walk into a house and the millwork just doesn’t “feel” right?  It’s as if your mind knows that something is wrong, but you aren’t sure exactly what it is.  Often times, this is due to the moldings not being sized properly.  A room with a 7’ ceiling shouldn’t have the same size trim as a room with 10’ ceilings.  We don’t often see small rooms with trim that is too big.  More often it is the trim which is too small for the room.  From crown molding, to chair rail size and location, to baseboard and door casing, guidelines for these proportions have been established long ago.  It is important that when remodeling your home, to understand what size moldings would look and feel “right” in your home.

Paint Grade vs Stain Grade

This can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your home.  Newly installed trim with a fresh coat of white paint will give a clean, bright feel to your home.  While that same trim with a wood stain will give a much warmer, softer look and feel.  Also, whether you plan to paint or stain your trim will affect the type of wood that is used.  Paint grade millwork is typically poplar or pine.  Stain grade millwork will usually be a hardwood, such as oak, mahogany or cherry.

Why Choose Craftsman Contracting For Your Carpentry Remodeling Project?

We at Craftsman Contracting pride ourselves on our attention to detail we give to each and every home we work on as if it were our own.  This ensures the highest level of quality and craftsmanship in everything we do.

A professional home renovation project relies on careful planning, excellent communication, precision & accuracy, and the contractor’s ability to understand your vision and execute the plan without excuses.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation to discuss updating your home’s millwork, then give us a call (203) 642-3343 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you.

The post Enhance The Look and Feel of Your House with New Millwork appeared first on Home Remodeling | Bathroom Remodeling | Kitchen Remodeling | Norwalk CT.

We specialize in replacing rotting wood on the exterior of your home.

Have you noticed peeling paint on the wood trim outside of your house?  Do you have trim boards starting to show signs of rot?  If you’re looking for a home improvement contractor to replace your rotting wood in Wilton, CT, then you have come to the right place.

Craftsman Contracting LLC is a licensed home remodeling contractor based out of Norwalk, CT and serving most of Fairfield County.  We specialize in replacing rotting exterior trim with low-maintenance PVC.  We have extensive knowledge and experience in identifying wood rot as well as potential problem areas for wood rot.  While PVC may look like wood, and be available in a wide number of trim profiles like wood, it requires a completely different set of skills in order to properly install.  When hiring a contractor to replace your wood rot, make sure they are skilled and experienced in low-maintenance alternatives to wood.

PVC stands for poly vinyl chloride, and is a rot and insect resistant man-made material that is manufactured into boards which resemble wood.  PVC trim boards are often referred to as Azek.  However, Azek is just the name of one of the first manufacturers of the material.  Other manufacturers include Royal, Kleer and Versatex.

While most wood products would quickly rot, PVC products can withstand ground contact installations, even in our brutal North East climate.  When remodeling the exterior of your home, consider PVC products not only for their versatility in applications, but also the versatility in profiles available.  Many of the same profiles available in wood are also available in PVC.  This includes baseboard, crown molding and window and door casing.  This also makes PVC an excellent choice for use in high-moisture areas inside the house, such as a bathroom.

A common drawback of PVC is its expansion and contraction property.  Improperly installed, tightly installed PVC will shrink considerably when exposed to cold weather.  In order to combat this, Craftsman Contracting employs manufacturer’s recommended best practices during installation.  This includes solvent welding all joints as well as mechanically fastening joints together.  When properly installed, PVC trim will last a lifetime with no threat of joint failure.

Once installed, PVC trim does not need any paint or topcoat to provide a weather-proof finish.  Aesthetically, however, we always recommend painting after installation.  Any high-quality latex paint can be applied to PVC with excellent results and no adhesion issues.

For those insistent upon real wood, Craftsman Contracting can help with that as well.  Several factors must be considered.  First, and most important, is wood selection.  Not all species of wood are suitable for exterior use.  Hardwoods, such as mahogany and ipe, will achieve the best, longest lasting results.  During installation, it is critical that the end cuts be sealed.  Leaving a raw edge to the elements, the end grain will soak up moisture into the board, similar to a tree sucking up water from its roots to its leaves.  Properly sealing end cuts will prevent this and thus prevent rotting.  Lastly, when replacing your exterior trim with new wood trim, it is important to apply either a protective top coat, such as wood sealer or oil-primer and paint.  Without a protective finish, the wood will be exposed to the elements and susceptible to rot.

Craftsman Contracting LLC is a licensed home improvement and home remodeling specialist in Fairfield County.  We perform replacement of rotted wood and installation of PVC trim boards throughout Wilton.

If you’re looking for a home improvement contractor in Wilton, and you’d like a consultation to discuss an exterior wood repair or replacement project, then give us a call (203) 642-3343 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you.

The post Got Wood Rot? appeared first on Home Remodeling | Bathroom Remodeling | Kitchen Remodeling | Norwalk CT.

Craftsman Contracting LLC specializes in structural renovations

Have you just moved into a home in the Wilton area?  Are you looking for a contractor to transform your closed-off, divided house into a beautiful open-floor plan with clear sight lines?  Craftsman Contracting is ready and able to open up the look of your Wilton home.

Homes throughout Fairfield County were originally built with many small rooms, chopping up the house into defined sections.  However, the trends today have leaned towards open-floor plan, creating wide open spaces throughout the main living area.  Great for hosting parties, or keeping an eye on children while preparing dinner, the open-concept house is one of the most popular requests we at Craftsman Contracting receive from clients remodeling their home.

Load-Bearing vs Partition

When taking down walls, the number one question is always “Is this a load-bearing wall?”  In other words, is there a load from the floor above or the roof that is being supported by the wall which will be removed?  If not, then it is a partition wall and can often be removed without requiring any beams.  Often times, however, the wall is supporting a load from above.  These circumstances require a professional contractor with the knowledge and experience to properly and safely transfer the load from the wall to a new beam.  Craftsman Contracting has a team of skilled professionals, including structural engineers, to properly size your new beam, as well as any posts needed to support the beam.  It is critical that when performing any major structural alterations such as this, the contractor performing the work knows what he is doing, and has done this type of work before.

Flush Beam or Drop Beam

Another important thing to consider is the type of beam to be installed.  If you are looking for your Wilton home to have a flat ceiling that is all one plane from end to end, then you will want a flush beam.  A flush beam is placed into the ceiling, making the bottom of the beam and bottom of the ceiling joists on the same plane.  While this provides the cleanest look, it also increases the cost of the job.  Alternatively, you can install a drop beam.  A drop beam rests under the load above, and protrudes through the ceiling.  A drop beam has several benefits over a flush beam.  Besides cost, a drop beam can provide a location where crown molding or a ceiling detail such as a coffered ceiling can terminate.

Removing walls always requires several other tasks to be completed.  Tying in flooring and trim from what used to be two different rooms, moving electrical wires, re-routing plumbing and patching walls and ceilings are just a few things involved when walls are removed.  This is why it is so important to hire a professional that is well versed in residential remodeling and has a team of experts.

Besides creating an open-floor space, many older homes in the Wilton area have structural issues which require repair.  From cracked joists, to sagging ceilings and out of level floors, Craftsman Contracting handles it all.  Capable of performing all work involved, we can quickly diagnose, repair, and put back together any structural issues your home may be experiencing.

Craftsman Contracting LLC is a home improvement and home remodeling specialist in Fairfield County.  From beginning to end, our team of experts is here to perform any structural alterations your home may need.

If you’re looking for a home improvement contractor in Wilton, and you’d like a consultation to discuss the home remodeling project you’ve dreamed about, then give us a call (203) 642-3343 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you.

The post Considering Open-Floor Concept? appeared first on Home Remodeling | Bathroom Remodeling | Kitchen Remodeling | Norwalk CT.

In situations like these, we like to build templates which we can use as a guide for our router to mortise out the door, as seen here:

Once we have made an exact template for our hardware, we then clamp it to our door, and can safely use a router to remove the material:

No need to worry about slipping and cutting too far or damaging the finish.  Now, all that’s left is to install the door hardware:

A little bit of careful preparation and planning make this difficult task safe and simple, ensuring that this home renovation goes smoothly.

Do You Have A Home Remodel Requiring Pocket Door Installation?

We hope this information has helped guide you in the process of installing your pocket door hardware.  Whether it be a stand-alone project, or part of a larger interior home remodel or renovation, Craftsman Contracting is here to help you with your pocket door installation.  We’ll treat your project as if it were our very own, ensuring the highest level of quality in everything we do.  Whether you’d like to repair an existing pocket door, or install a new door.  We at Craftsman Contracting pride ourselves on the attention to detail and quality of our workmanship that we invest into each and every carpentry project we work on.

A home remodeling project relies on careful planning, excellent communication between client and contractor, precision & accuracy, and the contractors ability to understand and execute the plan without excuses.  At Craftsman Contracting, we believe that is exactly what we have to offer.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation to discuss your carpentry or remodeling project then give us a call (203) 642-3343 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you.

The post Installing Pocket Door Hardware appeared first on Home Remodeling | Bathroom Remodeling | Kitchen Remodeling | Norwalk CT.

The second reason for open miters is usually due to what is known as “acclimation”.  Often times, the millwork which shows up to the job site has a higher amount of moisture in it then the wood in the house it is being installed in.  This is known as the moisture content, and is related to the relative humidity of the house.  Once the millwork has been in the house for some time, the material will dry out and thus begin to shrink.  So what was once installed as a tight fitting miter is now a sloppy looking joint with a gap.

So how do we combat this?  Here at Craftsman Contracting, we specialize in fine carpentry work.  We have proven methods that will ensure that when we install crown molding, window trim, baseboard, door casings, etc. that the joints will install tight, and stay tight.  First, we like to get the molding into the area that it is to be installed as quickly as possible.  The longer the wood is allowed to sit in the house, the more it will acclimate to the interior conditions and will minimize any shrinking.

However, often times when performing home improvements in Fairfield County, it can be difficult to get the moldings into the house prior to the install date.  This is where experienced home remodeling experts, such as Craftsman Contracting, come in.  With specialized tools and equipment, we can install moldings that will not move.  Special clamps, as shown in the picture below, draw the two mating pieces of window or door casing tightly together.  These clamps, combined with high quality wood glue, will pull the material tightly together and keep it under sufficient pressure while the glue dries so that the joint will be unbreakable and resistant to shrinking.

Another specialty piece of equipment Craftsman Contracting uses while remodeling homes in Fairfield County are these spring clamps, as shown in the following picture.  These clamps keep two small pieces of molding together while the glue dries.  This, combined with a few small nails, keep the molding under great pressure, so that the newly installed trim will not shrink.

Do You Have Some Trim, Molding or Millwork You Need Installed?

We’ll treat your project as if it were our very own, ensuring the highest level of quality in everything we do.  Whether you’d like to repair some rotting deck boards, or the fascia boards on your home.  We at Craftsman Contracting pride ourselves on the attention to detail and quality of our workmanship that we invest into each and every carpentry project we work on.

A custom carpentry project relies on careful planning, excellent communication between client and contractor, precision & accuracy, and the contractors ability to understand and execute the plan without excuses.  At Craftsman Contracting, we believe that is exactly what we have to offer.

So, when hiring a residential home improvement contractor for your next carpentry project, make sure you hire someone who understands wood movement.  Whether it be a kitchen remodel, door or window installation, or simply a molding upgrade, rest assured that the carpenters at Craftsman Contracting have the experience, skill and knowledge to get the job done right.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation to discuss your trim, molding or millwork installation, then give us a call (203) 642-3343 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you.

The post Installing Moldings That Last appeared first on Home Remodeling | Bathroom Remodeling | Kitchen Remodeling | Norwalk CT.

At Craftsman Contracting, we specialize in fine carpentry, including interior door installation, throughout Fairfield County, CT.  There are several factors to consider when having the interior doors in your home replaced.  Before starting your home remodeling project, here are a few things you should discuss with your home improvement contractor.

Pre-hung, or slab only?  If you are remodeling your home, you probably have doors in place already.  These doors likely have a door jamb and door casing around the door.  If you are happy with the way the jamb and casing look, you can keep them, and replace only the door slab.  There are a few advantages to this approach.  For one, it is less expensive then replacing the entire door.  Secondly, there is much less dust, as well as less chance of doing damage to the walls next to the door.  The disadvantages, however, are that this method does nothing to fix any out of level or out of plumb openings.  While a properly installed door will be scribed to fit the opening, leaving you with a consistent reveal between the door and jamb, it is not necessarily going to be plumb or level.  Also, while your doors will be brand new, everything around it will be old, and may look even worse next to your clean, new doors.

The alternative to replacing just the door slab is to replace the entire door with a pre-hung unit.  These doors come pre-attached to the jamb.  Any existing jambs and moldings around the door must be removed.  The advantages to this approach are that, when properly installed, your new door will be plumb, level and square.  Also, all the moldings and jamb around the door will be brand new.  Disadvantages to this method are: Cost.  Additional labor goes into removing the old, added labor to install the new trim, as well as the added cost of the new moldings.  Also, the removal of the existing doors can sometimes damage the paint next to the old trim.  Touch-up paint comes in handy here, but there is another way we always recommend to our clients replacing their doors.  That is to increase the size of your door casing.  Not only is this a great time to increase the value and style of your homes interior décor, choosing a wider casing will cover any spots where casing the same size as the old, which may have been out of level and plumb, do not cover.

Now that we’ve decided on either a slab or a pre-hung, and selected our new moldings, we can start talking about hardware.  Many people select their hardware as an afterthought to the process.  And they usually pick up some hardware at the local big box store.  While these stores may have some decent quality offerings, we always recommend for our clients to spend a little extra and purchase all brass hardware, such as from Baldwin or, as pictured below, Omnia.

While many contractors won’t give much care or consideration as to who and how the hardware is installed, we always have a skilled worker who has been properly trained perform this operation.  As simple as it may seem, it’s actually quite easy to mess up!  The use of a few specialty tools, such as this self-centering drill bit and corner chisel pictured below, will aid tremendously in making sure the installation goes smoothly.

Do You Have Some Doors To Replace Or A Home Remodeling Project?

We hope this information has helped guide you in the process of replacing your interior doors.  Whether it be a stand-alone project, or part of a larger interior home remodel or renovation, Craftsman Contracting is here to help you with your door installation.  We’ll treat your project as if it were our very own, ensuring the highest level of quality in everything we do.  Whether you’d like to replace a single door slab, or change out all the door and trim in your home.  We at Craftsman Contracting pride ourselves on the attention to detail and quality of our workmanship that we invest into each and every carpentry project we work on.

A home remodeling project relies on careful planning, excellent communication between client and contractor, precision & accuracy, and the contractors ability to understand and execute the plan without excuses.  At Craftsman Contracting, we believe that is exactly what we have to offer.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation to discuss your carpentry or remodeling project then give us a call (203) 642-3343 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you.

The post Enhance The Look And Value of Your Home With New Doors appeared first on Home Remodeling | Bathroom Remodeling | Kitchen Remodeling | Norwalk CT.

In the top picture you will see a completed repair to a deck which was damaged during a storm. This project posed some difficult challenges. A tree had struck the deck, damaging several sections of railing as well as a large portion of the border of the deck. Unfortunately for the client, the original decking and railing was a first generation composite material, and is no longer available, so simply replacing the damaged pieces with the same material was impossible.

Financial constraints removed the option of removing all of the decking and providing a brand new deck. So Craftsman Contracting provided the owners with a cost-effective solution which would also provide a stylish look while blending in with the original decking.

We removed all the existing railing, and replaced with new, no-maintenance TimberTech railings as you can see in the following picture:

We also carefully cut back the existing decking so that all the damaged material was removed. We then installed a contrasting composite deck board from TimberTech, using color matched screws and plugs to provide a clean, finished look, as you can see in the following picture:

This provided a nice border around the entire deck, which not only repaired the damaged deck boards, but also gave a much more finished look then how the original
deck was constructed. While this job required some thoughtful planning, performing the work proved to be just as tricky in order to execute a seamless transition.

In this picture you will see the use of Craftsman Contracting’s specialized rail saw being used to precisely cut the existing decking
back.

This equipment allows for a perfect cut across the decking, as well as providing nearly 100% dust collection through our dust collection system, making this job virtually dust-free.

And in this final picture you will see the damaged decking removed, new posts installed, and the deck ready for finishes.

Do You Have Some General Carpentry or Repair Projects You Need Completed?

We’ll treat your project as if it were our very own, ensuring the highest level of quality in everything we do.  Whether you’d like to repair some rotting deck boards, or the fascia boards on your home.  We at Craftsman Contracting pride ourselves on the attention to detail and quality of our workmanship that we invest into each and every carpentry project we work on.

A custom carpentry project relies on careful planning, excellent communication between client and contractor, precision & accuracy, and the contractors ability to understand and execute the plan without excuses.  At Craftsman Contracting, we believe that is exactly what we have to offer.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation to discuss your carpentry or repair project then give us a call (203) 642-3343 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you.

The post A Challenging Composite Deck Repair Project appeared first on Home Remodeling | Bathroom Remodeling | Kitchen Remodeling | Norwalk CT.

In the top picture, you will see a completed bedroom renovation. In this room, all the old wood paneling and linoleum flooring was removed, as well as all the doors, moldings and electrical. Exterior walls were insulated, new wiring was ran for outlets and lighting, sheetrock was hung, new doors, baseboard, crown molding and window and door trim were installed, and everything was painted. Finally, the new oak hardwood flooring was finished with environmentally friendly water-based polyurethane.

The following picture is a completed deck with aluminum railings, and a little something else beyond the surface.

Underneath this beautiful decking, we installed a product from Trex called Rain Escapes. This essentially waterproofs the area below the deck. A series of troughs carries the water that falls between the deck boards into a gutter at the end of the deck, where it is carried away from the house. This allows for the underside of this deck to be finished with recessed lighting and beadboard ceiling, allowing the owners of this outdoor Oasis to entertain on 2 levels!

After the Rain Escapes system was installed and tested, we began installation of this rot resistant decking made from thermally treated ash wood. All trim boards and moldings were made with PVC. Aluminum railings were then installed along the perimeter, completing the sleek, modern design which will require no maintenance. The completed deck can be seen in this next picture

And in the final picture you will see an exterior renovation of a shed dormer.

The original cedar shingles were beginning to fall off the house and beyond repair. The three old, leaky windows in the front of the dormer were removed and replaced with new, air-tight Andersen windows. All trim was then capped in aluminum coil. The owner will be able to enjoy decades of use from the exterior of this dormer, with no worries of rotting wood, water leaks or drafts coming from the windows.

Are You Ready To Start Planning Your Custom Carpentry or Remodeling Project?

At Craftsman Contracting, we believe your carpentry project deserves the best, and we’re prepared to deliver.  We at Craftsman Contracting pride ourselves on our attention to detail, ensuring the highest level of quality in everything we do when we work on building you a better home.  A professional carpentry project relies on careful planning, good communication, precision & accuracy, and the contractors ability to execute the plan you’ve all agreed on without excuses.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation to discuss your custom carpentry project please call (203) 642-3343 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you.

The post 3 Recent Custom Carpentry Projects We’ve Completed appeared first on Home Remodeling | Bathroom Remodeling | Kitchen Remodeling | Norwalk CT.