Cabinets, Countertop and Tilework by Ashley Bouchard
This was once the unfinished basement of a 1920’s house, and of course, water infiltration was one of the major concerns. Along with a proper curtain drain, I came up with a unique method of framing to eliminate contact between concrete and wood, and allow constant air flow to combat condensation. Even though very little square footage was used for the exterior walls, I was able to create a very tight R-20 thermal barrier even before the existing concrete. The pictures show the wall of the living room before insulation, and then progress through to show the countertop installation and completed project. While adding an additional 850 SF of living space, I also removed all knob and tube wiring and upgraded the heating system from an old forced air oil furnace to a high-efficiency Buderus propane boiler and a combination of hydronic baseboard and radiant floor heating.
