Miguel Villafane Ruiz – Lead Carpenter
Our lead carpenter, Miguel Villafane Ruiz, is originally from the rural town of San Pedro Tidaa Nochixtlan, Oaxaca, Mexico. He [...]
ADUs in Portland, Oregon
There are expected to be more and more people in Portland. Where are they all going to stay? There are [...]
Ikea Kitchen Installed
Interested in having an Ikea kitchen unit installed? These pictures are from our 13th Ikea Kitchen we have installed. Contact [...]
Houseboat Remodel – Bathrooms and More
My first experience with houseboats was 25 years ago when my parents bought a framed shell of a house with [...]
Dry Rot Repair
Even if you have to pay to have your roof and gutters cleaned, it is money well spent! I bought [...]
Storm Damage
Damage and consequential damage from storms is no small thing. We do yard clean-ups, gutter replacement, roof repair, downed tree [...]
Houseboat Demolition
Knowing how buildings are put together can expedite the demolition process. We dismantled this 700 square foot houseboat and transported [...]
Skinny houses – Portland’s houses on a diet
Portland style shotgun homes or skinny houses add density to Portland and limit sprawl. While Portland may have traffic jams, Portland traffic is still far better than what is seen these days in L.A. These skinny homes are part of the reason that we see Portland maintaining its svelte figure. They live large on the inside with minimal care on the outside, ideal for a busy modern lifestyle. Once inside, home owners see no difference between their homes and other homes on the block because all room sizes are standard. There are other advantages, too! With smaller lots, the monthly payment is lower.
Tree House
This tree house was built using a combination of reclaimed cedar decking and railing from another demolished house. Triangle trusses support the outer corners and act as outriggers to maintain the structural diaphragm. Mylar acts as both a wind break and vapor barrier. One open side allows parents to check occupancy easily. The two level stair give the excitement of a ladder with a little added safety. Future plans, the kids are a little older, include a pulley and bucket and a fire pole exit (repurposed galvanized fence pole).
Houseboat Bathroom Renovation
Our biggest challenge when working on any home is to have our new work seamlessly fit with the rest of the home. To this end on this project, we reused the cabinetry and trim to achieve the owner's goals: reconfigure a continental bath and closet for more effective use of space, replace sinks, counters, tub and flooring to freshen the bathroom, add two high windows to brighten while maintaining privacy....without it feeling out of place with the rest of her home.
2227 SW Troy St.
Our relationship with this owner started when they moved to town and became our tenants. After having been treated right as tenants, we were their first call when they were looking at buying and again when ready to remodel and expand. We have replaced five windows and added an air conditioner. We are now replacing another two windows, fixing a sticky front door and creating a new dining room out of a first floor bedroom.
Houseboat Window Replacement
We have a dedicated following among the owners at a few moorages who call us for all their needs: water-heaters, decks, window replacement, bathroom and kitchen remodeling, roof replacement, siding replacement, handyman services, and dry-rot repair. Working on a houseboat presents a unique set of challenges. It is not for the uninitiated or for the faint of heart. First, you cannot bring a level to work. A set of passing boats will have your work looking like an Escher drawing. Everything must be measured and remeasured to achieve square, level and plumb. echers-reality First, you cannot bring a level to work. A set of passing boats will have your work looking like an Escher drawing Everything must be measured and remeasured to achieve square, level and plumb.
Portland Urban Living
This type of house is unique to Portland where density to preserve farmland and nature outside the city is highly valued. Yes, they look a bit odd, but they do grow on you! Inside are three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a powder, a laundry room. Outside is a fenced yard with enough room to play but not so much that you can’t get away for the weekend.
The Multnomah Villager
Designed to "fit the neighborhood", we borrowed architectural cues from traditional bungalows to adorn a modern, space-efficient, 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath floor plan. Maximizing usable space, minimizing cost by adapting to site constraints is our forte. With a 40' deep garage (4-car garage), this space can also be a traditional 2 car garage with a large shop.
The Pomona Cafe & Pomona Rouge
The Pomona Cafe in SW Portland is four bedrooms, three and a half baths and 2600 square feet overall. Below the main house of 1921 square feet is a one bedroom, one bath apartment of 650 square foot ADU (auxilliary dwelling unit) to help a younger buyer with the mortgage or as an aging in place strategy for an older client.
The Baird
This gardener's paradise is located in the charming Multnomah Village Neighborhood in southwest Portland. For this client, we removed the oil contaminated dirt and 675 gallon oil tank from the crawlspace under their house. (Think of this as removing a buried Subaru Outback from under the house.) Additionally, a new paint job brought this home back to life and allowed it harmoniously blend with the rest of the neighborhood.
The Hayhurst
The Hayhurst duplex in SW Portland was finished in 2010. It has a 1600 square foot single family on the left and a separate apartment with private entrance and garage on the right (an ADU). The Main Living Quarters has three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms with its own large privately fenced back yard.
The Pomona Triplex
This recently remodeled Triplex wasn't always in such outstanding shape! Suffering from decades of neglect, it needed new roof, new siding, upgrades to wiring and plumbing, replacement of exterior stairs, new walkways, paving the driveway, replacement of retaining walls and simple cosmetic upgrades. The ROI (Return On Investment) of increased rents divided by the improvement costs pays the owners a handsome 16% annual return. Smart owners!
6621 Southeast 91st Ave, Portland
New windows, new roof, new kitchen, new bathroom, new supply and waste plumbing, new sewer lateral, new water main, new fence, new doors and knobs, refinished wood floors, pest and dry rot repair, pressure washing, new interior and exterior paint. The renovation was extensive, but worth the wait!