"Jonathan Wais is a true craftsman! As someone who is rather picky with the design of my home interior, I was very particular with much of the furniture that went into my new home. After weeks of searching several furniture stores, I was unable to find multiple wood furniture pieces that aligned with both the dimensions and aesthetic that I was looking for. Since I am not particularly crafty myself, I knew that I would not be able to simply refurbish hand-me-down furniture on my own. Instead, I trusted Jonathan to create and build some of these pieces to perfectly match my vision, and he did not disappoint. Jonathan built me custom nightstands and dressers that fit perfectly in the weird nooks and spaces in our bedroom. He was attentive to the unique dimensions that we needed to maximize space and storage. He also thought of components that would make these pieces more functional and user-friendly for us, such as knob options and a soft close feature. Afterwards, he listened to our desires regarding our ideas on furniture colors, and he explained various wood types and stain color options, an area that Iâ m not educated in. Jonathan listens and is cooperative with your vision, while also offering insight on certain features and components that only an expert in carpentry would know. We receive endless compliments on the nightstand and dressers every time we give a house tour, which ultimately leads to an another referral to Jonathan. I trust him with all of my carpentry needs!"
"We are very grateful for Russ?s professionalism and skill. He replaced a post, railings, balusters, and added additional hand rails and kick boards for us. All the dated stuff is gone. He has restored my faith in contractors. He was careful, communicative, friendly, and highly detail-oriented. He is easily the best contractor we have worked with in two states with three houses."
"Matt and his team are consummate professionals with great eyes for detail and precision. With no drawings or pictures from me, Matt understood what I was asking for, drew up a plan, executed the plan and it turned out exactly as I had envisioned. I think it's rare to find an independent businessman with vision, excellent listening skills and high professional standards. Matt and his workers have all of those. I highly recommend his company for any cabinet work."
"This company took on my small job when other companies couldnâ t be bothered. I greatly appreciate that. It was heartening to know that someone is looking out for the little guy."
"Highly satisfied! James completed the job as promised. Worksite was my living room stair and James kept demo materials and dust contained; thoroughly cleaned up afterwards. I appreciated his professional input and went with his suggestion. So happy that I did!"
"Look no further. This is the master framer and deck builder you are looking for. Strong communication skills, he has good contacts in lumber world to get fast deliveries and save some money. His crew is very good too. All new tools from what I noticed. Hired Aleksander for an ADU build in Town of Loomis, CA. He was done with 1000 sq ft plus all the changes that came up due to Engineer and bldg inspector. He even agreed to take on extra work. He also did an addition on the main house! Talk about flexible. Fair price. Fast work. Would hire again. Strongly recommend."
"Throughout our project, their general construction services were consistently professional and reliable. They managed every detail flawlessly, ensuring a smooth and efficient process from start to finish."
"Howardâ s craftsmanship is next to none and we are so pleased with all of the work he did on our home. His attention to detail was exquisite and his 40+ years experience shows. Would definitely recommend!"
"I’ve worked with Mike and his team for years on all kinds of projects, and they’ve always been amazing to work with. The quality of their work is top-notch, they stay on budget, and everything runs smoothly from start to finish. Their design sense is excellent and they always manage to get things done right on time. I can’t recommend them enough, truly a reliable, talented, and easy-to-work-with crew."
"My name is Pedro Aguilar, and I. Recommend Gonzales construction. He do praise in my house which she do. Good job. Very clean, fair price, and honest people. I recommend construction for all your project in Your house. He’s helpful and trusty"
Rustic and modern farmhouse styles are currently the most popular. These include rustic and antique furniture, muted colors, clean lines, eclectic decor, and natural materials. Some other popular farmhouse styles include the following:
Coastal farmhouse: Creates a lighter, airier feel with soft colors and blue palettes, along with gold
Colonial farmhouse: Focuses on real antique furniture and decor
French farmhouse: Leans on French country architecture and design by including marble and lighter-colored metals, like zinc
Industrial farmhouse: Includes thick, chunky furniture and dark metals
Scandinavian farmhouse: Usually includes lighter wood colors and more refined furniture
Yes, you can find ceiling joists using simple tools if a stud finder isn't available.
Using a hammer requires patience and a keen ear. Gently tap the ceiling in a grid pattern, listening for sound changes. A hollow sound indicates space between joists, while a solid, dull thud suggests a joist. Mark the location with a pencil and confirm by tapping from different angles.
Alternatively, you can use a nail, but this method will leave small holes. You'll feel increased resistance when the nail hits a joist. Mark the spot and repeat the process every 16 or 24 inches to map the joist locations. This method is considered less reliable than using a stud finder.
Yes, Corian® and other solid surface countertops can be cut with standard woodworking tools like a circular saw or a jigsaw, but using the correct blade is crucial for the best results.
The recommended blade is a tungsten carbide-tipped blade, often called a solid-surface planer or triple chip grind blade. This type of blade is hard enough to cut through the material effectively. For a jigsaw, a fine-tooth down-cutting blade should be used.
It is important to note that a diamond blade is not necessary. Diamond blades are designed for harder materials like natural stone, concrete, or brick, and Corian is not a natural stone.
Using blades designed for wood is not recommended as they can cause microfractures that weaken the countertop's edges. While a tungsten carbide blade provides a much cleaner cut, the resulting edge will still be rough and must be sanded and smoothed to prevent microfractures from developing over time.
There are two ways you can cut trim for doorways: with a miter saw or a table saw. Mitered joints need a 45-degree angle. If you’re unfamiliar with a miter saw, you might want to consider buying extra trim pieces or choosing butted joints instead. One wrong cut, and you’ll need to power up the saw again with a new piece.
Butted joints—also called shaker style—don’t need a 45-degree angle. Instead, your side pieces attach perpendicularly to the header trim and only require a straight cut.
Before hiring a carpenter, the most important thing is to make sure they are properly qualified and insured for the job. It’s more than reasonable to ask your prospective carpenter for customer references, as well as about their licensing and insurance. You should also consider choosing a carpenter that specializes in your specific project area to ensure high-quality results.
The Newcastle, CA homeowners’ guide to woodworking services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Whether you need to heat your home for the winter or simply enjoy lighting a fire occasionally, it's helpful to know the cost of a cord of wood in your area.
It’s not uncommon to have scrap wood lying around your garden, but there are plenty of creative projects that will help you give those spares a second life.
Learn how to hire a bookshelf building pro with expert tips on finding qualified carpenters, asking the right questions, and getting quality custom shelving.
Sandpaper has a plethora of uses, which is why there are so many options. Learn about the various sandpaper grits to choose the right grit for the project.