Recent work

Projects

The work below is grouped to show two things: the range of projects we are asked to take on, and how often a single project moves through several phases before it is finished. Most of these photographs were taken as the work progressed — demolition, framing, repair, preparation, finish — because that sequence is where the result is actually decided.

Recent work by Atwood Contracting

01

Kitchens and Bathrooms

Two rooms taken all the way through — one refinished around what was worth keeping, one rebuilt from the framing out.

Before Kitchen before remodeling, with dark cabinets and a soffit above the range After The same kitchen after, with painted cabinetry, butcher block counters and open shelving
A kitchen brought forward without gutting it. The original cabinet boxes and strap hinges stayed; the soffit came out, the wall opened up for a new hood, and painted doors, butcher block counters and open shelving finished the room.
Before Dated bathroom with a fiberglass surround and vinyl floor before remodeling After The finished bathroom with a tiled walk-in shower and glass door
A dated bathroom replaced end to end: fiberglass surround out, walls back to the studs, and a fully waterproofed tiled shower with a glass enclosure in its place.
Along the way
Back to the studs. Plumbing and blocking are set before anything is closed in.
Back to the studs. Plumbing and blocking are set before anything is closed in.
A bonded waterproofing membrane behind the tile — the layer that decides whether a shower lasts.
A bonded waterproofing membrane behind the tile — the layer that decides whether a shower lasts.
A floor going down over an uncoupling membrane, leveling clips holding each tile flush.
A floor going down over an uncoupling membrane, leveling clips holding each tile flush.
Thinset combed out to the right notch — the difference between tile that lasts and tile that hollows.
Thinset combed out to the right notch — the difference between tile that lasts and tile that hollows.
A second bath in the same house, finished in large-format porcelain.
A second bath in the same house, finished in large-format porcelain.
02

Interior Remodeling and Restoration

A brick house taken back to its bones and put together again, room by room, over several seasons.

Before Room stripped back to brick and original lath during demolition After The same room finished, with restored trim, plaster and wide-plank floor
Plaster stripped back to the brick and the original lath, then rebuilt: insulation, new plaster surfaces, restored trim and a refinished floor. The room reads as though it was always this way.
Before Original wide-plank floor before sanding, dark and worn through in places After The same room after the floor was sanded back, showing clean wide planks
The original wide-plank floor in the same room, worn through and patched in places, sanded back rather than replaced. Boards were repaired and let in where they had failed.
Along the way
Plaster repair and skim work around original window casings.
Plaster repair and skim work around original window casings.
Another room in the same house, finished and back in service.
Another room in the same house, finished and back in service.
A slate floor laid over an uncoupling membrane in an adjoining space.
A slate floor laid over an uncoupling membrane in an adjoining space.
03

Finish Carpentry and Custom Details

The work that decides whether a project looks new or looks finished.

Before Curved stair framing and treads under construction inside a round structure After The completed curved staircase, finished in cedar with a bent handrail
A curved staircase built inside a round building. Every tread, riser and skirt was cut to the curve on site, and the handrail was laminated and bent to follow it.
Before A salvaged cast iron thumb latch laid on a workbench After The same latch cleaned, finished and installed on a door
Original hardware salvaged from the house, cleaned up, refinished and reinstalled rather than replaced with a reproduction.
Along the way
The bent handrail, fitted and eased by hand.
The bent handrail, fitted and eased by hand.
A carved door hung as part of the same interior.
A carved door hung as part of the same interior.
A staircase in another house, stripped and refinished.
A staircase in another house, stripped and refinished.
04

Painting and Finishing

Exterior and interior finishes. This work is won or lost in the preparation, not the final coat.

During House exterior part way through, with one gable end stripped back to bare siding After The completed exterior in its finished colour
A whole-house exterior, caught mid-project with one elevation stripped back to sound material and the rest already finished. Failed areas were taken back to bare wood and primed before any colour went on.
Before Interior room masked and protected during painting After The same room after painting
Interior work: everything masked and protected first, repairs and caulking done before priming, then finish coats.
Along the way
Paint that has let go down to bare wood on an older clapboard house.
Paint that has let go down to bare wood on an older clapboard house.
The same elevation scraped, protected and ready for primer.
The same elevation scraped, protected and ready for primer.
A finished elevation, reached from a lift rather than ladders.
A finished elevation, reached from a lift rather than ladders.
05

Doors, Windows and Exterior Improvements

New openings, replacement units, decks and balconies — and the rot that usually turns up once something is opened.

Before Garage with the front wall opened up and a new header being framed After The finished garage with new siding, trim and overhead door
A detached garage whose front wall had failed at the base. The wall was rebuilt, a new header set, and the opening finished with new siding, trim and an overhead door.
During A widened opening protected and prepared for a new patio door After The finished patio door and railing seen from inside the room
A wall opened up for a wider patio door. The opening is framed, headed and protected first; the unit, trim and deck railing follow.
Before An original window stripped back to bare wood, with the sash and casing exposed After The same window restored, reglazed and painted
Not every window needs replacing. This one was stripped back to bare wood, the failed sections of sash and casing repaired, then reglazed and repainted — the original unit kept rather than swapped for a modern one.
Along the way
The cause: a post rotted through where it met the slab.
The cause: a post rotted through where it met the slab.
A deck stair and railing that had reached the end of its life.
A deck stair and railing that had reached the end of its life.
The rebuilt stair and railing.
The rebuilt stair and railing.
A tiled balcony over occupied space: waterproofing and drainage first, tile last.
A tiled balcony over occupied space: waterproofing and drainage first, tile last.
06

Repairs, Foundations and Problem-Solving

Some of the most valuable work we do is finding out why something is failing before repairing it.

Before Rotted window sill and framing exposed after the trim was removed After The same window band with a new sill let in, trimmed and painted
Trim removed from a band of windows revealed a sill and header rotted through behind it. The failed material was cut out, the framing rebuilt, and the wall closed back in and finished.
Before Bank beside a brick house left as broken stone and bare ground After The same area with a dry stone wall, bluestone steps and finished grading
The ground beside the house rebuilt so water leaves the foundation instead of sitting against it — new footings and steps, a dry stone retaining wall, and regrading.
Along the way
A thermal survey used to find what is going on behind a finished surface.
A thermal survey used to find what is going on behind a finished surface.
That elevation once the repair was closed in and painted — nothing left to see.
That elevation once the repair was closed in and painted — nothing left to see.
Excavation down to an original stone foundation before a new footing goes in.
Excavation down to an original stone foundation before a new footing goes in.
New steps and landing being set into the rebuilt bank.
New steps and landing being set into the rebuilt bank.
07

Smaller and Unusual Projects

We are glad to consider the projects other contractors decline as too small, too unusual or too particular. This one was all three.

The finished interior of a converted grain silo, lined in cedar with a curved staircase and a clawfoot tub
A grain silo on a working farm converted into finished living space: insulated and lined in cedar on the curve, with a curved staircase, a bathroom and a poured floor.
Before The grain silo and barn before any work began During A window opening cut into the steel wall of the silo
Where it started. Openings had to be cut through the silo wall itself before anything could be framed inside it.
Along the way
The bathroom, with the handrail carried around the curve of the wall.
The bathroom, with the handrail carried around the curve of the wall.
A carved door hung against the cedar lining.
A carved door hung against the cedar lining.
Fitting the handrail to the curve, one section at a time.
Fitting the handrail to the curve, one section at a time.
References

What our customers say

We’ve had the pleasure of working with Thomas on two major projects in our home over the past eight years — a complete kitchen renovation and, more recently, the creation of a beautiful spa bathroom upstairs in the silo of our converted barn home.

Both were significant projects, and our home is anything but conventional, so each required creativity, problem-solving and an extraordinary level of craftsmanship. Thomas brought all of that and more.

His attention to detail is exceptional. There is a quality and thoughtfulness to his work that you can see and feel in the finished spaces, and years later, we continue to appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of our kitchen every day. Our new bathroom is truly stunning and feels as though it was always meant to be part of this unique old barn.

Just as importantly, Thomas is an absolute pleasure to work with. He is professional, thoughtful, trustworthy and incredibly respectful of the home he is working in. The same is true of the wonderful team of people he works with. When you undertake a project of this size, you spend a lot of time together — and over the course of both renovations, Thomas and his team truly began to feel like family. We genuinely enjoyed having them in our home.

It is rare to find someone who combines this level of skill and artistry with such integrity and care. We couldn’t be happier with the spaces Thomas has created for us, and I recommend him wholeheartedly.

Dianne S., Newfield

Years ago, friends recommended Tom Atwood to fix a few issues in our home. He did such a great job at a low cost, we’ve been calling Tom ever since. He is our go-to for both small and large jobs. He proposes solutions when we first discuss our needs, and solutions to all the issues one finds when working on a previously occupied home, completes the work in a timely manner, and usually comes in under the initial estimate. I highly recommend Atwood Contracting.

Andrew

Tom is an incredible contractor to work with. He has helped with both large and small projects in my house. For the large project, Tom and his team did an amazing job renovating a house we purchased, and he is super responsive whenever there are smaller tasks we need help with. What caught my attention was Tom’s careful attention to detail and thoughtful workmanship. Finally, Tom is wonderful to be around, so it’s an added bonus that he’s a contractor who is fun to chat with!

Nathan

I have known Tom Atwood for about five years, after he was warmly recommended to me by a neighbor who was very satisfied with his services.

Tom is incredibly prompt and responsive, usually completing jobs in the time it would otherwise take me to set up an appointment with other contractors. Tom is a pro: knowledgeable, willing to explain in plain English what he thinks needs to be done and why, and is very open to discussing various possibilities. His work is great — excellent quality, priced fairly and “done right” the first time.

Without exaggeration, I can state that Tom Atwood is my first choice for any skilled construction project, small or large, and I recommend him without hesitation.

Homeowner, Ithaca

I have been calling on Tom for large and small jobs for about two years now and have found him to be responsible, trustworthy, and eminently competent. He shows up when he says he will and has been able to deal successfully with any job I have asked him to do. He is also a very friendly person.

Repeat client, Tompkins County

Have a project like one of these?

Tell us what you are considering and we will talk through the options, the sequence of the work and the budget before anything is committed.

Discuss your project (607) 603-7725