Luthi's Painting​ & Refinement ​
Project Pictures
Project Pictures
Duplex Re-Siding
Duplex Re-Siding
There are a number of duplexes that we are in the process of painting right now. They are tedious, as the HOA let them go many years beyond their time due for repaint. This has caused wood-rot on nearly every single unit we have encountered. We do what we can if the owners do not want to replace the wood. They are being transformed one-by-one, and the homeowners have been very happy with the work, especially some of the wood-rot repair customers. Below is one that we completely re-sided with James Hardie planks. The install was a breeze with the Gecko tools! After re-siding, we painted it and then we completely refinished the gutters and downspouts. They were sanded matte, wiped with alcohol, and re-coated multiple times with a self-leveling exterior enamel paint with an additive to help it lay even smoother. We wanted it to look factory, and that combined with the fine-finish low-pressure tip by Graco, it was achieved! The owners were ecstatic.
There are a number of duplexes that we are in the process of painting right now. They are tedious, as the HOA let them go many years beyond their time due for repaint. This has caused wood-rot on nearly every single unit we have encountered. We do what we can if the owners do not want to replace the wood. They are being transformed one-by-one, and the homeowners have been very happy with the work, especially some of the wood-rot repair customers. Below is one that we completely re-sided with James Hardie planks. The install was a breeze with the Gecko tools! After re-siding, we painted it and then we completely refinished the gutters and downspouts. They were sanded matte, wiped with alcohol, and re-coated multiple times with a self-leveling exterior enamel paint with an additive to help it lay even smoother. We wanted it to look factory, and that combined with the fine-finish low-pressure tip by Graco, it was achieved! The owners were ecstatic.
Morning Star
Morning Star
Exterior
The owner of this home on Morning Star has created an incredible welcoming experience with the entry garden at the front of the house, and now we have had the pleasure of extending it to the rear patio. We took the bamboo theme from the front and used these partitions to complete the area to make it a bit more secluded, while not being exclusive. The Toja base mounting plates were very nice, and we left the 4x4's tall so that the owner could accessorize with lighting or anything else in mind, and they were happy about having this option as they were expecting them to be cut to match the bamboo. We upgraded all of the hardware used wherever there was a fastener. The ones supplied with the Toja system were not going to withstand Florida winds, so we used 3.5" weatherproof lag screws wherever we could, shorter stainless screws where necessary, and Tapcon screws that are as long as the concrete is thick. If anything goes anywhere, it's the bamboo slats!
Exterior
The owner of this home on Morning Star has created an incredible welcoming experience with the entry garden at the front of the house, and now we have had the pleasure of extending it to the rear patio. We took the bamboo theme from the front and used these partitions to complete the area to make it a bit more secluded, while not being exclusive. The Toja base mounting plates were very nice, and we left the 4x4's tall so that the owner could accessorize with lighting or anything else in mind, and they were happy about having this option as they were expecting them to be cut to match the bamboo. We upgraded all of the hardware used wherever there was a fastener. The ones supplied with the Toja system were not going to withstand Florida winds, so we used 3.5" weatherproof lag screws wherever we could, shorter stainless screws where necessary, and Tapcon screws that are as long as the concrete is thick. If anything goes anywhere, it's the bamboo slats!
Interior
The owner was certainly tired of the jewel-era green countertops (they had already painted the bright red walls to the color below). They love butcher block, so we are taking three 10 foot slabs and cutting them to fit. The cabinets that are installed are not angling out to where you would expect them to be in this type of corner, so the digital angle finder and metric system greatly improve our accuracy.
The regular countertops are the 1" thick butcher block seen below, but the bar top not seen yet is going to be a beautiful piece of live-edge maple that will be handcrafted by us to fit just right. If you notice the spacer I added in the middle of the long stretch below. With a little brainstorming and building upon ideas to set this extension apart, we are going to stack bamboo flooring in the opposite direction of the butcher block as the extension. The piece shown below that I already cut will be saved and utilized for something else, not wasted!
The butcher block will be coated not with mineral spirits, but with a sealer made specifically for them by Waterlox®. It will seal the top with a beautiful satin finish and be 4 coats durable. The maple bar top will have a finish that has yet to be determined by the owner, but it will more than likely be satin to match.
We have already installed new bathroom lighting and moved the power for them to the appropriate areas as the old lighting fixtures were not centered above the new vanities and mirrors. Hole are patched and they are completed.
More pictures to come as the job progresses!
Interior
The owner was certainly tired of the jewel-era green countertops (they had already painted the bright red walls to the color below). They love butcher block, so we are taking three 10 foot slabs and cutting them to fit. The cabinets that are installed are not angling out to where you would expect them to be in this type of corner, so the digital angle finder and metric system greatly improve our accuracy.
The regular countertops are the 1" thick butcher block seen below, but the bar top not seen yet is going to be a beautiful piece of live-edge maple that will be handcrafted by us to fit just right. If you notice the spacer I added in the middle of the long stretch below. With a little brainstorming and building upon ideas to set this extension apart, we are going to stack bamboo flooring in the opposite direction of the butcher block as the extension. The piece shown below that I already cut will be saved and utilized for something else, not wasted!
The butcher block will be coated not with mineral spirits, but with a sealer made specifically for them by Waterlox®. It will seal the top with a beautiful satin finish and be 4 coats durable. The maple bar top will have a finish that has yet to be determined by the owner, but it will more than likely be satin to match.
We have already installed new bathroom lighting and moved the power for them to the appropriate areas as the old lighting fixtures were not centered above the new vanities and mirrors. Hole are patched and they are completed.
More pictures to come as the job progresses!
New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach
The owner of the property in New Smyrna was tired of the mildew buildup on the driveway and the iron stains out back, and especially after spending some time doing some beautiful landscaping. There is still plenty of work to be done here, including the roof. Aside from pressure cleaning, there are some more serious issues at hand, like water intrusion from the window sill on the in-law suite, that needs to be addressed. The builders did not slope it to drain water, and it is in fact sloped inward toward the window's caulking. Stay tuned for more!
The owner of the property in New Smyrna was tired of the mildew buildup on the driveway and the iron stains out back, and especially after spending some time doing some beautiful landscaping. There is still plenty of work to be done here, including the roof. Aside from pressure cleaning, there are some more serious issues at hand, like water intrusion from the window sill on the in-law suite, that needs to be addressed. The builders did not slope it to drain water, and it is in fact sloped inward toward the window's caulking. Stay tuned for more!
We tried multiple ways to get rid of the years worth of iron stains, and nothing bought from the store could do it.
We found a special product made by Singerman Laboratories that comes in powder form, and ordered it immediately after doing the research. You mix with warm water and apply it with a paint roller. It is chemically designed to penetrate deep into the concrete pores and lift the iron out. Stay tuned for results!
Rivercrest
Rivercrest
The owners at Rivercrest had invested a lot of time in picking out all of the right components for both of their bathroom remodels, and the finishing touch was, of course, the tile and paint work. They could not have been happier at the end result of our paint. One of the best tilers we've ever seen, East Side Tile & Marble, handled the entire remodel. Hats off to them. I just came in, thanks to them, and coated the walls with our touch. I neglected to take more pictures of the cuts in the guest bathroom shown here, and completely left out taking some of the master bath. Stay tuned for those.
The owners at Rivercrest had invested a lot of time in picking out all of the right components for both of their bathroom remodels, and the finishing touch was, of course, the tile and paint work. They could not have been happier at the end result of our paint. One of the best tilers we've ever seen, East Side Tile & Marble, handled the entire remodel. Hats off to them. I just came in, thanks to them, and coated the walls with our touch. I neglected to take more pictures of the cuts in the guest bathroom shown here, and completely left out taking some of the master bath. Stay tuned for those.
Greenleaf
Greenleaf
We have recently finished the Greenleaf project, and right off the start we saw we would be replacing dry-rotted T1-11 sheets, 1x4's and 6's, and more. We knew the wood rot was there, but we didn't know that it was into some of the framing until we started to get in there and go to work. The client is on a tight budget, but we will make sure it stays dry. We found a lot of problems with the previous work done to the house, problems like interior drywall screws joining the T1-11 sheets to one another. They were rusted and the wood rot started from there and ate its way through for years. A lot of caulk seams have long since failed allowing water to just sit and absorb into all of the wood. The chimney cap was allowing water to come in like a faucet during a rainstorm. The pictures speak a thousand words, and we can't wait to see the end result after fresh coats of paint go on!
We have recently finished the Greenleaf project, and right off the start we saw we would be replacing dry-rotted T1-11 sheets, 1x4's and 6's, and more. We knew the wood rot was there, but we didn't know that it was into some of the framing until we started to get in there and go to work. The client is on a tight budget, but we will make sure it stays dry. We found a lot of problems with the previous work done to the house, problems like interior drywall screws joining the T1-11 sheets to one another. They were rusted and the wood rot started from there and ate its way through for years. A lot of caulk seams have long since failed allowing water to just sit and absorb into all of the wood. The chimney cap was allowing water to come in like a faucet during a rainstorm. The pictures speak a thousand words, and we can't wait to see the end result after fresh coats of paint go on!
Yosemite
Yosemite
At the Yosemite home, we changed the look completely by substituting some of the older siding for HardieShingle® Panels and then giving it a complete re-paint to modernize the look of the home. We made the posts larger and ran 45º trim pieces to customize the look. We also had a new garage door installed to help with the look. For the interior, we removed the old kitchen cabinets and countertops and changed the layout and design to be more suitable. We went with a modern 60/40 sink without a radius, and it needed to be centered at the kitchen window. We wanted to change the dishwasher to the correct side for a right-handed person, so we did that and put the trash cans where the dishwasher used to be. We dded a beautiful yet simple Quartz countertop with a rectangular-pattern backsplash, added under-cabinet lighting, and installed all new appliances. Floors are next! We are still adding to this album on Facebook.
At the Yosemite home, we changed the look completely by substituting some of the older siding for HardieShingle® Panels and then giving it a complete re-paint to modernize the look of the home. We made the posts larger and ran 45º trim pieces to customize the look. We also had a new garage door installed to help with the look. For the interior, we removed the old kitchen cabinets and countertops and changed the layout and design to be more suitable. We went with a modern 60/40 sink without a radius, and it needed to be centered at the kitchen window. We wanted to change the dishwasher to the correct side for a right-handed person, so we did that and put the trash cans where the dishwasher used to be. We dded a beautiful yet simple Quartz countertop with a rectangular-pattern backsplash, added under-cabinet lighting, and installed all new appliances. Floors are next! We are still adding to this album on Facebook.
Americus
Americus
At the property on Americus, the exterior was updated with landscaping in the front, had sod put in, changed to black window shutters, pressure-cleaned the entire exterior with touch up paint all around. For the rear, we pressure cleaned the walls, pad, and installed the pergola. The interior was completely re-finished with wall and trim paint with a low VOC and low-odor latex. The old laminate floors were pulled and we installed a darker laminate with superior padding. We changed the flat doors to 6-panels and installed new fans everywhere, even sourced an antique light for the kitchen table. We re-modeled the kitchen with a cabinet and countertop change, and of course the sink and faucet, and all new appliances. We removed the tall seated bar opposing the kitchen sink to make it all one level to allow for a more flowing countertop, and added a nice hand-built trim piece on the corner. Album on Facebook!
At the property on Americus, the exterior was updated with landscaping in the front, had sod put in, changed to black window shutters, pressure-cleaned the entire exterior with touch up paint all around. For the rear, we pressure cleaned the walls, pad, and installed the pergola. The interior was completely re-finished with wall and trim paint with a low VOC and low-odor latex. The old laminate floors were pulled and we installed a darker laminate with superior padding. We changed the flat doors to 6-panels and installed new fans everywhere, even sourced an antique light for the kitchen table. We re-modeled the kitchen with a cabinet and countertop change, and of course the sink and faucet, and all new appliances. We removed the tall seated bar opposing the kitchen sink to make it all one level to allow for a more flowing countertop, and added a nice hand-built trim piece on the corner. Album on Facebook!
Our Equipment
Our Equipment
Hotsy Hot Water Pressure Washer
We obtained a very nice hot water power washer rig that Hotsy of Orlando built earlier this year. It can crank the steam out on the hottest of summer days thanks to the diesel powered burner. The 18 HP Vanguard engine that powers the pump will last a lifetime with proper maintenance. The pump flows nearly 5 GPM @ 3,500 PSI and the buffer tank is 200 Gs with a 35 G chemical tank (for the really dirty jobs). We can run this thing over 250º or cold from the hose. This is guaranteed to get the job done efficiently! The stainless steel hose reels that optioned for the build not only look great, but they will never rust. Also, we will supply this system with the highest flowing electric Soft Wash pump we can find so that we can be more versatile for your project needs.
Hotsy Hot Water Pressure Washer
We obtained a very nice hot water power washer rig that Hotsy of Orlando built earlier this year. It can crank the steam out on the hottest of summer days thanks to the diesel powered burner. The 18 HP Vanguard engine that powers the pump will last a lifetime with proper maintenance. The pump flows nearly 5 GPM @ 3,500 PSI and the buffer tank is 200 Gs with a 35 G chemical tank (for the really dirty jobs). We can run this thing over 250º or cold from the hose. This is guaranteed to get the job done efficiently! The stainless steel hose reels that optioned for the build not only look great, but they will never rust. Also, we will supply this system with the highest flowing electric Soft Wash pump we can find so that we can be more versatile for your project needs.
7'x12' Enclosed Trailer
We needed something better to work out of, so we acquired a 7'x12' single axle trailer to store everything in, as well as to work out of and retrieve materials for the job no matter what the weather is like. We have added a ladder rack to the exterior, but the rest of the upgrades have taken place inside. Fully fit with plenty of LED lights for working out of. The walls have been painted white to help with lighting, and to give a clean look, too. The shelf system is the best part of it all, and was basically the first thing done to the trailer to help the flow of the jobs and working between them.
7'x12' Enclosed Trailer
We needed something better to work out of, so we acquired a 7'x12' single axle trailer to store everything in, as well as to work out of and retrieve materials for the job no matter what the weather is like. We have added a ladder rack to the exterior, but the rest of the upgrades have taken place inside. Fully fit with plenty of LED lights for working out of. The walls have been painted white to help with lighting, and to give a clean look, too. The shelf system is the best part of it all, and was basically the first thing done to the trailer to help the flow of the jobs and working between them.
