MITRE CONTRACTING, INC.

EPA's Lead Safe Practices Rule

Nice article and  feedback concerning the EPA's new lead safe practices rule taking effect on April 22, 2010

Lead Rule Perspective

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.

Kitchen Remodel in Northern Virginia

Fill out our CONTACT FORM for your free quote on your new bathroom or kitchen remodel!

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Office # 703-330-3486              Cell # 703-615-3077

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This page features few pictures of a kitchen remodeling project for a Northern Virginia homeowner.

This kitchen features cherry cabinetry by HAAS, granite counters, ceramic floors and stainless appliances

This project was planned, designed, and performed by R.K.Morris Painting Company. We just had a hand in the re-framing, the installation of the cabinetry, trimwork and mouldings also the appliances and hardware installations.

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Click the pictures to enlarge in a separate window

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BEFORE   ....................................    AFTER

      

   

   

 

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See more kitchen & bath remodel pictures HERE  or HERE

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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

Bathroom Remodel - Renovation

Fill out our CONTACT FORM for your free quote on your new bathroom or kitchen remodel!

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Office # 703-330-3486 Cell # 703-615-3077

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A few pictures of a small bathroom remodeling project we just completed a couple months ago.

This bathroom remodel consisted of gutting the existing bathroom tub and enclosure, commode, vanity & top. We relocated the commode and the plumbing for the old tub to accommodate a larger shower stall.

This bathroom renovation features very nice natural stone in the shower, frameless glass for the enclosure, granite tops and a  maple vanity.

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Click the pictures to enlarge in a separate window

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AFTER DEMO PICTURE... I was a little too slow getting the camera out for this one...

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AFTER PICTURES:

 

 

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See more bathroom remodel pictures HERE  or HERE

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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

New Stair Railings, Newel Posts & Balusters!

Here are a few pictures of a stairway we just finished updating.

This project included replacing  two of the oak treads at the bottom of the stairway that had been notched out around the old newels.

The old railings were replaced with a nice larger 6210 oak rail, boxed oak newel posts with raised panels and 1 3/4" square primed balusters.

Another item in the renovation, was the modification of the scrolls on the sides of the steps. The homeowner wanted them squared off to better match the new style with the square balusters, and then had them painted.

They were also then stained and polyurethaned to match the newly refinished floors.

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Click any of the pictures to enlarge them in a new window

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BEFORE PICTURES:

 

 

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AFTER PICTURES:

 

 

 

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CALL US AT 703-615-3077

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One of the main concerns this homeowner had was that the spacing between the balusters on the old railings were so large their daughter could walk right through them. This is true for a lot of the rail systems constructed up to just a few years ago. As you can see on a couple of the before pictures especially up at the balcony section there were spaces over 6" wide.

Please call us anytime or fill out our contact form if you would like us to give you a free, in home consultation and estimate on updating your old railings. 

Thank You, Roger Beesley

Mitre Contracting, Inc.

Not Your Ordinary Mantel

Fireplace mantels can be more exciting than just your typical run-of-the-mill mantels. Why limit yourself to the ordinary, when you can make a dramatic statement by going the extra step. Take a look at this fireplace addition we built a few years back.

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Usually in this situation most people just install a standard style mantel, which would be squeezed in-between the two windows. I never liked the look of seeing a mantel ledge crowding or even notched into the window casings.

We opted to go with these fluted pilasters instead. The two 1/2 columns at the fireplace are twice the depth of the two outer columns. They serve the purpose of trimming the fireplace surround, casing out the windows and allowing for a mantel shelf, all at the same time. I believe that bringing in and including both the windows in this fireplace millwork detail makes a dramatic statement and definitely adds alot of architectural interest to this master bedroom. We have taken what would have otherwise been, just another fireplace mantel, to something that gets remembered.

The actual mantel shelf is made from a build-up of several stock mouldings, and everything is topped off with a two-piece crown moulding which runs through-out the entire bedroom. This design also includes a recessed compartment for a TV and components over the fireplace. This was installed before flat screen TV's became the norm, and having large recessed cavities for CRT TV's was no longer necessary.

You can see a few more pictures and close-ups of this project in our photo albums, and we also have before & after pictures of this particular job on our Master Bedroom Fireplace - Before & After Page

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A couple more pictures:

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Mitre Contracting, Inc.

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Services We Offer

Finish Carpentry

• Crown Mouldings ...any style or combination
• Chair Rails ...any style or combination
• Baseboards: new or replacement ...any type
• Shoemouldings: luan, oak, pre-finished, etc.
• Window Casings & Sills ...any style or combination
• Interior Doors: Replacement, Re-framing, Resizing and Repairs ...any style
• Railwork & Stairways ...all designs, wood types and styles
• Balustrades, Bannisters, Handrails, Newels, Volutes, Easings
• Wainscot: Beadboard, Panel, Raised Panel, Flat Panel, Wall Panel
• Shadowbox Wainscoting & Mouldings, etc. (paint or stain)
• Columns: Square, Round, Fluted, Paneled, Pilasters, 1/2 Columns, etc.
• Closets: Shelving, Pantry closets, Linens closets, Organizers
• Decorative Wall Panels, single, double, etc., any moulding

Custom Carpentry

• Built-In Bookcases: Offices, Libraries, Closets, Entertainment Centers
• Mantels: Design - Build - Install ... (paint or stain grade)
• Fireplace Surrounds & Mouldings
• Custom Cased Openings: Fluted, Paneled, Arched, Plain
• Entabulatures, Window Cornices & Valances
• Arches, 1/2 Walls, 1/2 Wall Bookcases, Architraves, etc.
• Coffered Ceiling Treatments ...any design (paint or stain grade)
• Ceiling Mouldings, Ceiling  Panels
• Beadboard Ceiling Treatments
• Niche Cabinets, Built-Ins

Home Improvements

• Kitchen Remodeling & Renovation, Cabinet Installations
• Bathroom Remodeling & Renovation
• Finished Basements, Game Rooms, Exercise Rooms, Rec. Rooms, etc.
• Wine Cellars Installed, Complete climate controlled rooms, Closet conversions
• Wet Bars, Coffee Bars, Kitchenettes, Breakfast Bars
• Cedar Lined Closets: tongue & groove, panels, etc.
• Stair Tread & Railing  Replacements, Forged Balusters Upgrades
• Porches: Ceilings, Columns, Rails, Flooring, Lattice, Stairs
• Pergolas & Trellises & Planters
• Sundecks: PT, Trex, Composites, etc.
• Gazebos, Arbors
• Garages: attached, detached, conversions
• Carports: repair, conversion

Handyman Services

• Exterior Doors: Replacement, Storm Doors, French Doors, Sliders, etc.
• Replacement Windows - Vinyl , Wood, etc.
• Door Hardware Installation: (Interior & Exterior)
• Attic Pull Down Stairs Installed
• Hardwood Flooring Installed: (unfinished, pre-finished, laminate)
• Exterior Cornice Work
• Rotted Wood Replacement & Repair
• General Carpentry