MITRE CONTRACTING, INC.

Stair Tread and Railing Renovation

In this blog we show a few pictures of a small railing and stair tread replacement project we completed awhile back.

The homeowner had another contractor in to finish the basement, and you can see the final outcome of the stairway they were left with. It's really hard to believe that someone would actually finish a basement and leave anything even close to this type of workmanship behind.

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BEFORE PICTURES:

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AFTER PICTURES:

New oak stair treads & oak landing

New radiused landings with bullnose starter step & volutes

Looking down the stairway at the new oak treads and railings

New foyer oak railings

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This stairway renovation includes custom newel posts made to match the balusters. These were custom fabricated by Mike Hart owner of, IKCO Construction, Inc. in Franconia, VA.

Scope of work: demo existing iron railings, repairing stairway framing, cutting back existing marble flooring in foyer for new oak landers, supplying custom made solid 5/4" oak stair treads oak brackets and oak risers. Also we had Mike Hart, custom make the radius oak lander & risers for the landing. We also installed oak flooring at the landing and an over the post oak rail system. This railing included full volutes, over the post up easings and  "s" fittings. The oak railing is 6010 design, the oak balusters are 5040 design, newel posts custom designed to match balusters. Then we had the whole system and flooring professionally sanded, stained and finished in a golden oak color. There is still a little painting to be done around the inside and outside stair stringers and ogee mouldings.

Please call or email us anytime if you would like us to replace your old creaky stairs and outdated railings. We will come by, discuss your projects, make sugesstions, and provide a free price quote.

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Fill out our CONTACT FORM for your free quote on a new stairway, new stair treads, new railings, or any moulding, cabinetry or remodeling you may need.

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Stairway and Railing Renovation

Boxed Stairs to Open Stairs

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 Small foyer stairway that we remodeled from a boxed stair tread design to an open tread design.

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BEFORE PICTURES

  

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Scope Of Work:

• Modify existing treads to accept new solid 5/4" oak treads and oak risers
• Modify existing stringer to accept new stair treads, risers and brackets
• Add new outside stair stringer and mouldings
• Add oak newel posts and railings... "Over The Post" Design
• Primed 5015 balusters - balusters & newel posts are all bolted into the treads / floor joist
• Stain and polyurethane new oak stair treads, risers, newels and railing

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One side note: Please notice that the stair treads are actual treads... not hardwood flooring! Whoever you choose to have your stairway renovated with, make sure they use the proper methods and materials. I have seen far too many stairways just covered over with harwood flooring, which in the end looks like you have a stairway covered over with hardwood flooring! When we are finished with our stairway improvements and retreads, they look just like new stairs. You should not be able to tell they were ever re-done. We ONLY use real solid 5/4" thick oak treads, and real solid oak risers not plywood verniers (or hardwood flooring).

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     See more Railing and Stairway Remodels on our Before and After Pages:  HERE   under the Balustrades, Bannisters, Stairways, Stair Railings Section  Or look in our Stairways & Balustrades Album

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 If you would like us to quote you a price on renovating your stairway or railings in your home, please don't hesitate to CONTACT US anytime. We will be glad to come out, take measurements, discuss your ideas, offer some of our own, and hopefully work together to improve the quality and value of your  home.

Thank You, Roger Beesley

Please call us at  703-330-3486, or email us here ,

 

Stairway & Railing Replacement in Northern Virginia

Here we feature a few pictures of a recent stairway and stair railing remodeling project. This Vienna, Virginia homeowner chose to go with wrought iron balusters with oak railings and newel posts.

The scope of work included, removing the old railings, replacing the loose broken stair treads with new solid oak 5/4 thick treads. Adding a full bullnose starting step with a volute fitting on the new rails along with new paint grade risers and brackets. Also installing oak newel posts and (over-the-post) style railing system with black wrought iron balusters. Refinishing the existing oak hardwood floors in the hallway and landing areas. Staining, finishing and painting the new railings and stairway topped off the project.

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Here are a couple before pictures: (click to enlarge)

   

Not very good pictures, but as you can see the railings were practically falling down and had been improperly installed to say the least.

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COMPLETED PICTURES

New oak treads & railings, painted risers & brackets, black wrought iron balusters

New bullnose step allowing a nice full volute and going with an over the post style railing, really changed the entire look of the rail system and added to the Foyer 

Newly refinished oak harwood floors to match the new oak railings.  

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Here are a couple pictures of the new remodeled lower level railings

  

These railings were installed on the lower level boxed in type stairs. Notice the left hand railing with the "S" fitting going to the wall handrail, allowing a continuous rail design.

 
 

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One side note: Please notice that the stair treads are actual treads... not hardwood flooring! Whoever you choose to have your stairway renovated with, make sure they use the proper methods and materials. I have seen far too many stairways just covered over with harwood flooring, which in the end looks like you have a stairway covered over with hardwood flooring!

When we are finished with our stairway improvements and retreads, they look just like new stairs. You should not be able to tell they were ever re-done. We ONLY use real solid 5/4" thick oak treads, and real solid oak risers not plywood verniers (or hardwood flooring).

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     See more Railing and Stairway Remodels on our Before and After Pages:  HERE   under the Balustrades, Bannisters, Stairways, Stair Railings Section

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If you would like us to quote you a price on renovating your stairway or railings in your home, please don't hesitate to contact us anytime. We will be glad to come out, take measurements, discuss your ideas, offer some of our own, and hopefully work together to improve the quality and value of your  home.

Thank You, Roger Beesley

Please call us at  703-330-3486, or email us here ,

Curved Stairway Renovation

This blog posting features a curved staircase remodel project we just completed in Ashburn, VA.

The original curved staircase had carpeted treads and risers that were made from standard builder grade pine and plywood materials.

The scope of work included removing the existing carpet, removing the old treads and risers and replacing them with custom made solid oak stair treads and solid oak risers and decorative brackets.

The new oak treads, risers and brackets were then hand sanded, stained and finished to match the existing hardwood flooring.

The handrails were not replaced as the original railing were in great shape and looked fine. The bannister was disassembled as needed and rebuilt.

 Note also that the balusters were reinstalled by bolting each one into the new oak treads. Previously they had only been sitting in a drilled out hole and nailed in with brad nails.

BEFORE PICTURES:

 
 
 

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AFTER PICTURES:

 
 

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DURING INSTALLATION PICTURES

 
 

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When upgrading a carpeted stairway to oak, you need to clarify the scope of work with the contractor you choose. There are a lot of flooring companies that simply cover over the existing treads with hardwood flooring and nosings... leaving you with a set of stairs that looks like someone installed hardwood flooring up the stairs! Another thing to consider, is do you want a hardwood flooring company re-installing your handrails?

We install actual custom made solid stair treads... not hardwood flooring. We install solid risers not verniers or hardwood flooring. We have years and years of railing fabrication and installation experience in order to re-install your existing stair railings or brand new updated railings.  Quite a few of our customers update the railings at the same time as the stair-treads. Wrought iron balusters seem to be  in demand these last few years.  Your newly re-treaded stairway should look just exactly like an original stairway... not a renovated one.

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Custom Curved Stair Treads fabricated and installed by Mike Hart of IKCO Construction, Inc. Located in Alexandria, VA

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Please call us anytime 703-330-3486, or email us, and let us provide you with a free in home consultation and free no obligation price quote for your next home improvement project. We service the entire Northern Virginia area and all the surrounding counties.

Thank You, Roger Beesley, Mitre Contracting, Inc.

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Fill out our CONTACT FORM for your free quote on a new mantel, built-in or moulding installation!

Interior Finish Carpentry in Virginia

This posting features a few pictures of some custom interior finsh carpentry trim work we completed awhile back. The home is located in Alexandria, Virginia.

Custom maple cabinetry with granite counters and stainless appliances

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Foyer Staircase with curved treads and railings

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Looking down the curved oak railings. This features 6010 oak rails, 5015 painted balusters and is a "post-to-post" design style bannister

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Fireplace mantel with a matching surround feature. This fireplace surround utilizes standard mouldings to mimic the mantel construction.

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  Another view of the fireplace moldings. The surround iplasters extend to the ceiling and are wrapped in the crown molding that trims out the entire living room.

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  This wainscoting for this powder room is 36" high, features a real tongue and groove pine beadboard capped with a two piece chair rail.

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Here you see a close up of the three piece crown moulding. This is made up from two pieces of a 4" baseboard used as backer with a piece of 4 5/8" crown moulding.

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Please call us anytime 703-330-3486, or email us, and let us provide you with a free in home consultation and free no obligation price quote for your next home improvement project. We service the entire Northern Virginia area and all the surrounding counties.

Thank You, Roger Beesley, Mitre Contracting, Inc.

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Fill out our CONTACT FORM for your free quote on a new mantel, built-in or moulding installation!

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Wrought Iron Railings

Here we show off a nice oak balustrade system that features black wrought iron balusters.

We used an alternating layout, consisting of balusters with double knuckles and balusters with single baskets.

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CALL US @ : 703-330-3486 OR MY CELL @ 703-615-3077

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Please click the pictures to enlarge them in a separate window and also you can hover over the picture for descriptions

 

 

 

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FILL OUT OUR CONTACT FORM HERE

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If you would like us to come out and take a look at your stairs to quote you a price and give you some ideas on how to improve your old railings or stair treads, please don't hesitate to call us or email us anytime. All estimates and consultations are free of charge.

Thank You,

Roger Beesley

Mitre Contracting, Inc.

 

New Oak Stairs

Just a small note to highlight a small project we completed a couple months ago for a homeowner in Northern Virginia

They wanted their stairway going to their lower level to match the rest of the home.  All the stairways in the home had solid oak treads and risers except the sets that led to the garage level.

This project required that we remove the existing carpet, modify the old pine stairs by removing the nosings, installing the new 5/4 oak treads, and installing the solid 1/4" thick oak risers. We also installed oak flooring and landers on two landings.

Then we finished all the new oak installations by sanding and finishing them in a natural oak finish

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CLICK THE PICTURES TO ENLARGE THEM IN A NEW WINDOW

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A couple before pictures of the stairway:

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After Pictures:

 

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Fill out the CONTACT FORM for your free estimate

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If you live in the Northern Virginia area or any of the surrounding counties, please contact us anytime if you would like us to come by and discuss the options you have for renovating your stairways and or railings. You can email us or call us at 703-330-3486 anytime.

Thank You, Roger Beesley, Owner, Mitre Contracting, Inc.

Walnut Bannister & Stair Treads

On this posting we feature a small project we just completed in the fall of 2009. This was for a homeowner in Fairfax Station, Virginia. They had had another contractor do some work and the upper stairway we show was part of their work. As you will see the framing of the stairs was practically non-existent, and had to be completely re-framed and trimmed out to accept the new stair treads and mouldings.

These are beautiful solid walnut treads and railings, combined with primed square balusters and boxed newels.

The lower stairway was originally done in oak... these we modified to accept the walnut treads and did the installation of the treads and new railing balustrade system.

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CALL US @ : 703-330-3486 OR MY CELL @ 703-615-3077

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Please click the pictures to enlarge them in a separate window and also you can hover over the picture for descriptions

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BEFORE                                                 AFTER

 

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BEFORE                                              AFTER

   

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BEFORE                                                   AFTER

     

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BEFORE                                                     AFTER

   

BEFORE                                                       AFTER

   

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Please notice we use real solid stair treads on all of our projects. We do not just install hardwood nosings and flooring as a lot of other contractors sometimes do. Also if the project will call for stained risers we only use solid resawn wood... not plywood. This way there is no chance of the floor finisher or anyone damaging or going through the thin veneer of the plywood riser.

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FILL OUT OUR CONTACT FORM HERE

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If you would like us to come out and take a look at your stairs to quote you a price and give you some ideas on how to improve your old railings or stair treads, please don't hesitate to call us or email us anytime. All estimates and consultations are free of charge.

Thank You,

Roger Beesley

Mitre Contracting, Inc.

Wainscoting, Built-Ins and Mouldings!

On this post we feature several pictures of a home improvement renovation we just finished up in Burke,Va. There were a few different phases of the project:

• Built-In Bookcases with mantel feature
• Raised Panel Wainscoting
• New Oak Stair Railings
• Interior door replacements with new 6 panel doors
• Cased Openings
• Ceiling Mouldings in Dining room
• New Interior door lever locksets
• Crown Mouldings

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THE BUILT-INS:

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First let me post a terrible before picture... one of these days I will learn to hold the camera still.

Here is a picture right after the installation of the cabinetry... before the painting and finishing.

The construction is a 3/4" cabinet grade birch plywood casework with 3/4" poplar wood facings with a cabinet beading detail, inset square raised panel doors with concealed euro style hinges, fully adjustable 3/4" birch plywood shelving with a 1 1/2" beaded front edgings, straight valance with a one piece crown through out the room, plain stiles, and a recessed toe kick. On this particular unit we had to modify two HVAC vents into the toe kick, and the electrician had routed all the wiring for the TV and components before the install.
 

Here are a few more close up pictures of some of the details: hover the mouse over the picture for detailed descriptions / information

CLICK THE PICTURES TO SEE THEM FULL SIZE

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THE RAISED PANEL WAINSCOTING & RAILINGS

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The raised panel wainscoting was installed in the dining room, foyer, stairway and upper hallway. It consisted of 1x6 pine, base and rail, 1x4 pine stiles, 3/4" MDF solid raised panels with sticking mouldings, capped with a chair rail.

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DECORATIVE CEILING TRIM IN DINING ROOM

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703-615-3077 ~ 703-330-3486

Please call or email us anytime if you would like to discuss the possibilities of having your home or office dramatically improved by adding cabinetry and mouldings like this. We offer free in-home consultations and estimates.

Thank You, Roger Beesley

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FILL OUT OUR CONTACT FORM HERE

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NOTE:

All painting was performed by R.K.Morris Painting & Remodeling Company.

See there contact info here

Custom Home - Interior Trim Finish Carpentry

This page features some highlights of a new home we just completed the interior finish carpentry in last month.

The balustrade utilized oak boxed newels with square balusters. I liked the way that the newels complimented the door and window casings.

This house also featured a sanitary style casing with plinth blocks and entablatures on all the doors and openings.

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Click any picture to enlarge

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Click Here To Fill Out Our Contact Form

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Please give us a call anytime if you would like us to provide you with a free estimate for any home improvement project you are considering.

Thank You,  Roger Beesley

Mitre Contracting, Inc.