Before selecting color, grade, wood, or knobs, the first choice in cabinet selection should be face frame or frameless (shown) construction. A face frame constructed cabinet is the traditional choice and consists of a "frame" which is attached to the front of the cabinet and provides an anchor for cabinet hardware such as hinges. A frameless cabinet is more modern looking and typically built from man-made materials such as particle board or plywood and clad with veneer.
This thread from woodweb discusses some other differences such as cabinet alignment, strength, cost, and labor that may help you decide the best option for your kitchen or bath.
photo courtesy of Zipwall
When you are short on workspace and must work in environments that are sensitive to dust or paint particles you have other options besides covering everything with tarps.
Check out the Zipwall which is a temporary barrier that can be fastened in a variety of ways and will keep all dust particles within the enclosed space. The enclosure is sealed with zippers which provide much more protection than clips and tape. Having a barrier makes job cleanup much easier as it keeps all dirt in a confined space. They can be easily installed by one person and the zipwall poles have other handy uses.
To achieve a textured and vibrant look similar to buildings found throughout Europe, our friend recommends using natural ochres and oxides and recommends their use with milk paint to achieve that perfect patina.
The Environmental Home Center located in Seattle, WA has an assortment of these products that are also available online. One of their key mandates when selecting products to sell is that "they protect health, use energy and other resources sparingly, and are extraordinarily well made." Can't argue with that.
Tearing out old carpet is a quick way to give your room a fresh new look and if you are fortunate enough to live in an older home you may find wood floors underneath. Here are some tutorials for doing the job yourself which will at least save in 1/2 the labor of having new carpet installed.
Please remember to recycle your carpet padding and carpet.
Tips On Removing Carpet and Tack Strip [Hardwood Installer]
How to Remove Old Carpet [BoomJ]
Project Guide: Removing Carpet [Home Depot]
November 30, 2007 | Comments (1)
