“Can you create a counter that will replace this plywood over my dishwasher? I want to keep the zinc sink.” Nazareth, PA Homeowner.
Previous owners had removed a portion of a wrap around zinc counter and sink to make room for a dishwasher.
Using a heavy gauge of sheet zinc, I fabricated a new top out of a sheet of zinc and attached to original section with sink.
It will not take long for the zinc patina to match the older original section of the counter. This is the nature of zinc.
A matching end panel was fabricated to hide dishwasher. All finished, the homeowner was glad to no longer have a plywood countertop.
Keeping Key Elements
Fabulous vintage farm sinks can be re-incorporated into a modern kitchen design with a new custom sink base. Beautiful period cabinets handcrafted by artisans decades ago needn’t be abandoned during a remodel. Consider having new elements created to match those elements.
Before removing elements, consider that removing long existing cabinets, walls, or flooring, will quite often create even more work than anticipated as they were installed with cut nails that hold quite well and are a challenge to remove. The resulting plaster and/or trim damage then requires more than expected repair.
Exposed brickwork and exposed rafters are quite popular of late. Although these are key elements of older homes, the plaster that covered them was also a key structural that had a purpose other than being merely aesthetic. Structural integrity and sound transmission between ceilings and walls are important too.
It is also quite often the case that key elements of your home were not added or created with proper structural integrity in mind. Undersized joists, incorrect methods of joining and framing etc, often lay hidden behind an otherwise beautiful facade. Consider making the requisite corrections before re-hiding or exacerbating with your remodel..