Materials and equipment
What goes in, and what we bring to put it there
The tile is the part you see. The membrane behind it, the flatness of the subfloor and the containment at the door are the parts that decide whether you are happy in ten years.
- Material categories
- 5
- Millwork
- Built in our shop
- Flood test
- Every shower
Five categories, one standard
What we install
We are not tied to a single manufacturer. What we are tied to is a specification, and it does not move because a product is on sale.
Cabinetry
We install three tiers of cabinetry and we will tell you honestly which one your kitchen needs. In a house that is out of square, a full-custom box is sometimes the only way to get a clean scribe.
- Semi-custom framedPlywood boxes, soft-close hardware, modified sizes within the manufacturer's system. The default for most kitchens.
- Full-custom insetShop-built to your walls, painted or stained, with a tighter reveal than any catalogue line can hold.
- RefacingNew doors, drawer boxes and hardware on existing plywood boxes, when the layout already works.
- Built-ins and millworkWindow seats, mudroom lockers, bookcases and pantry systems built in our shop on Manchester.
Stone and surfaces
We template after cabinets are installed, never before, and we walk the slab yard with you so you see the actual piece rather than a photograph of a different block.
- Engineered quartzConsistent pattern, no sealing, the most forgiving choice for a working kitchen.
- Granite and quartziteNatural stone with real variation. Quartzite is harder than granite and harder to fabricate, which shows in the price.
- MarbleBeautiful and it will etch. We will say that out loud twice before you choose it, and then we will install it well.
- Porcelain slabThin, extremely hard, and the only practical option for a full-height slab backsplash in some layouts.
Tile and waterproofing
The tile is the part you see. The membrane behind it decides whether the bathroom is still good in twenty years, and that is where our specification is strictest.
- Bonded sheet membraneOur standard shower waterproofing, with sealed corners, curb and niche, flood tested for 24 hours.
- Pre-sloped pansFactory or mud-bed slope to the drain, verified with a level before the membrane goes on.
- Large-format porcelainLaser-set layout and a levelling system, because a 24 by 48 tile shows every fraction of lippage.
- Heated floorsCable or mat systems with a dedicated circuit and a programmable thermostat, installed under the setting bed.
Flooring
Subfloor prep is most of the job. We measure flatness across the full run and moisture test wood and concrete before anything is ordered.
- Site-finished white oakSanded through the full grit sequence, finished in waterborne or oil-modified coats with dust containment.
- Engineered plankWider boards and better dimensional stability over concrete or radiant heat.
- Rigid core vinylThe right answer for basements and laundry rooms. Waterproof, warm underfoot and genuinely durable now.
- RefinishingIf your existing oak has wear layer left, sanding it costs roughly half of replacement and keeps the original boards.
Equipment we bring
The equipment on the truck is not marketing. Dust containment and moisture measurement are the two places where good gear changes the outcome for you, not just for us.
- Negative air and HEPA extractionMachines at every containment opening, and HEPA extractors on every sander and saw indoors.
- Zip wall containmentSealed openings with zippered access, floor protection on the full path from the door to the work area.
- Moisture meters and hygrometersPin and pinless meters on wood, calcium chloride or in-situ probes on slabs, logged before install.
- Laser levels and layout toolsRotary and line lasers on every tile, cabinet and floor layout so nothing is set off a wall that is not straight.
- Job-site shopA cut station in the garage or the drive so trim is cut, sanded and finished on site rather than hauled back and forth.
Written into every proposal
The specifications we do not negotiate
- Shower waterproofing
- Bonded sheet membrane, 24 hour flood test
- Cabinet boxes
- Plywood, never particle board
- Deck hardware
- Stainless or hot-dip galvanized only
- Deck footings
- Poured piers to 30 inch frost depth
- Dust control
- Negative air plus HEPA extraction
- Floor prep
- Flatness and moisture logged before install
Choosing everything
How selections sessions work
- 1Allowance sheet first. You see the budgeted amount and the specific product behind it before you look at anything else.
- 2Three options, never thirty. Priya shortlists at your price point, one step below and one step above, so the decision is real but not paralysing.
- 3Showroom appointments booked. We hold the slot, meet you there and bring the plans, so you are not explaining your kitchen to a stranger.
- 4Signed selections schedule. Everything chosen, priced and locked before demolition, which is the only way a fixed price stays fixed.
- 5Elena orders and tracks it. Lead times land on your schedule in week one. Dye lots and box counts are checked on delivery, not on the wall.
Free estimate
See the samples in person
The sample room on Manchester has cabinet doors, stone offcuts, tile boards and flooring you can actually walk on. Book a session even before you sign anything.
742 projects since 2009 · 3 year workmanship warranty · Licensed, bonded and lead-safe certified (sample figures)