Hardwood Stair Rail Installation

In addition to kitchen remodeling and cabinet installation, Signature WoodCrafters has also been the number one manufacturer and installer of hardwood stair rails for some of the Mid-Atlantic’s top home builders. Stair rails are often an eye-catching component for any home. So whether good or bad, the design of your handrail will be noticed.

Why Choose Us For Your Stair Railing Project?

It’s no mystery that stair rails can show wear and tear over time, and for this reason, we use only the finest, 100% solid hardwoods including oak, cherry, maple, or walnut. If you are replacing your stair railing, replace it with the finest and longest-lasting materials available. We always use solid hardwoods when doing a kitchen remodeling project or cabinet installation, as well. 

"More than just a kitchen remodeling and cabinet installation company."    

We became the number one stair rail manufacturer and installer by paying attention to the details. Our balusters (spindles) and handrails are finished to bring out the woods most beautiful qualities leaving you with custom piece that you can be proud of.

In addition to the fine craftsmanship that we provide with kitchen remodeling jobs and cabinet installations, our 25 years of experience has also made us experts at stair railing installation. Irregular angles, curved or spiral staircases, nothing is too difficult for our team of highly-trained professionals. If our competitors have had problems installing a stair rail in the past, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We will get the job done.

Signature WoodCrafters works with our customers directly. From the consultation, manufacturing, construction and installation, our customers always deal with one company and eliminate middleman prices in the process. We are here to serve you and provide you with the best possible product at a great price. Contact Signature WoodCrafters for your next home renovation project!

Kitchen Renovation - Your Post-Easter Assessment

Last week I wrote about the cabinet refacing and kitchen cabinet installation process. Over the Easter holiday, I challenged those who were thinking about doing a little kitchen renovation to pay attention to how their kitchen was being used and how easy it was to get around, find what you need, and entertain guests all at the same time. It’s overwhelming, I know!

Hopefully you had the chance to do just that. Assess your likes and dislikes of your kitchen and come up with a few new ideas. The cabinet refacing process, as I briefly talked about last week, can be done quickly and completely gives your kitchen a high-end, custom-built look for a fraction of the price of a complete installation. Kitchen cabinet refacing is much different than a regular installation as it replaces the doors and veneer tape around the framing only. It looks brand new and can be installed in just a few short days.

But for those who have had the time to look around your kitchen and decided that you are absolutely ready for an entire kitchen renovation, we can help you there, too. The kitchen renovation process is fully customizable. Are you looking to add more space to your kitchen, increase the cooking area, install additional cabinets, or add an island? The possibilities are seemingly endless as you can see, but in the end, a kitchen renovation can be as big or small as you like.

Our project managers are there to walk you through each step of the process and to help you figure out exactly what you want and need for your new space. They will listen to your concerns and create a design and plan that will give your kitchen an entirely new look and feel. Something you can truly be proud of.

Contact Signature WoodCrafters today and begin your kitchen renovation process today!

Kitchen Cabinet Refacing and ReCrafting

When people think about kitchen cabinet refacing or even cabinet renovation, they visualize a long drawn out process, tons of contractors running around and making noise, and just total chaos. With Signature Kitchens, that couldn’t be any further from the truth.

We want your kitchen cabinet refacing to run as smoothly as possible from start to finish, and the best part is, the cabinet renovation process only takes a few days.

When we talk about our kitchen cabinet refacing process, you may hear us use the word “recrafting.” Our cabinet renovation process involves determining exactly what you want for your new cabinet refacing, then we use the design to custom build your 100% hardwood cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Instead of using the veneer cabinet covers that you have probably seen before, we reface your cabinets and your cabinet frames with solid hardwood, which gives your kitchen a custom-built look without the cost, or headaches of a typical cabinet renovation project.

The best part of all is that our recrafting service does not cost more than traditional kitchen cabinet refacing projects. Since all of our material is built and designed in our own facility in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, we are able to cut out the middle man and make your kitchen cabinet refacing project a worry free experience.

If you are looking to bring new life into your kitchen, but don’t have the big budget, or the time to have contractors running in and out of your home for the next month, kitchen cabinet recrafting is the perfect solution for you. Now is the perfect time to give your kitchen a facelift with the custom built look and feel that you have always wanted. Call Signature Kitchens today to make your dream kitchen a reality!

Kitchen Design Ideas

When you look around your kitchen, its cabinets and counter top, and finally decide that it is time to undergo a kitchen renovation, you are left with the daunting task of coming up with an entirely new design. Kitchen design ideas are seemingly endless and sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming as you begin to seriously decide on your kitchen renovation plans.

Where to Get Kitchen Design Ideas

If you are one of the lucky few who have a vision and a plan for your kitchen before you even begin the kitchen renovation project, count yourself lucky. Most people need to find inspiration for their kitchen design ideas. After all, kitchens are often thought of as the focal point in the home and people tend to congregate there during parties and social gatherings.

Kitchen design ideas can come from a number of places. One of the first places I would check out is our kitchen renovation photo gallery. There you will be able to view some great before-and-after photos of our previous work and draw some ideas from there.

Another great place to gather kitchen design ideas is at one of our 3 showrooms. Located in Haymarket, VA, Owings, MD and Elkridge, MD, these showrooms offer a ton of beautiful pieces to help inspire your own kitchen renovation. There you will be able to speak with members of our crew who will be able to point you in the right direction and offer their expertise in kitchen renovation.

Of course there are plenty of websites and magazines you can look at for kitchen design ideas as well, but sometimes for me, having the opportunity to see and touch the actual handcrafted pieces is much more inspirational when it comes to deciding on the perfect kitchen design ideas.

Stop by and visit us today, and we will be happy to show you around so you can begin your kitchen renovation project!

Kitchen Remodel: Herndon, VA

Another View of Galley Kitchen, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

Signature WoodCrafters took a small galley kitchen and transformed it into a beautiful new work of art. We used Century Cabinetry, new granite countertops, and a great backsplash to tie everything together!



Another "before" view...



Kitchen in Process...New Cabinetry installed!



Signature WoodCrafters helped to create some great storage solutions by adding a corner pantry cabinet and above refrigerator cabinets to the existing layout.




Transformed!  New countertops, backsplash, cabinets, and flooring all flow together in a beautiful piece of design work.  Cabinetry has been extended to the ceiling to create more height and storage space in the space.

Stair Remodeling: Woodbridge, VA

Before Stairs, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

One of the areas that most people don't think about the impact of for their homes are their stairs. When a person walks into a foyer or entrance of their house, the stairs are kind of an afterthought, just a method of getting up and down between two floors of a house. However, the impact becomes quite more noticeable when a boring old staircase becomes transformed into a stately piece of furniture....

The difference is amazing! The railing system has been cut back to allow for the installation of a bullnose with a volute. The railing system was changed from a basic post-to-post pre-assembled rail to an over-the-post railing system with a volute and continuous handrail that goes around the bend in the wall and continues up the stairway. The end result is a beautiful, polished look for the entrance foyer.

Kitchen ReCraft/Refacing: Rockville, MD

Kitchen ReCraft: Rockville, MD, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

One of the things that I love about our Recrafting product is the moment of final transformation of a kitchen. When you see a kitchen go from looking drab to unbelievably gorgeous, you feel an acute sense of pride and accomplishment knowing that you have played a small part in bringing beauty into a person's life.

This kitchen that we recently recrafted in Rockville, MD was worked on by our designer Devonne Yankey, who helped the homeowners go from the original 20 yr. old cabinetry to a Franklin Shaker Natural Maple door complete with glass doors and contemporary mullions. The homeowners had already updated the look of their kitchen by installing new granite countertops and were looking for a way to complete the transformation. They contacted us, and well, you can see the final results up above!

Our recrafting product is best suited for homeowners that have already made an investment in their kitchen, be it their countertops or floors. Recrafting allows the installers to not cause any damage or disruption to the countertops or floors because our product is custom-manufactured to fit the existing face frames of the original cabinetry. By not disrupting the countertops or flooring, you get the same custom cabinetry that you would get from a full kitchen replacement, without causing any possible damage to the investment that you have already made.

Costs of ReCrafting

A lot of people have the misconception that Cabinet ReCrafting (Signature's own solid hardwood refacing product line for cabinetry) is cheaper than a cabinet replacement. This assumption is actually pretty false. Recrafting/refacing can actually cost just as much as a full cabinet replacement because the cost of most cabinetry is in the new doors and drawer fronts installed on the existing cabinet frame. There is a great article that talks about refacing and the appropriate costs to have in mind when considering this project. Check out the article on cabinet refacing over at Furniture Reviews by Rissla for more information and expectations on the true costs of refacing!

Kitchen Remodel: Fairfax, VA

Kitchen Remodel: Fairfax, VA, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

Doesn't this look gorgeous? Signature WoodCrafters' Erin Watson completely redesigned this kitchen, adding beautiful details like this corbel on the new kitchen island. Details will be coming soon about an open house to be staged for this kitchen in the fall!

New Beginnings

Signature WoodCrafters recently took on a new intern for the summer, Alicia Beck. Check out Alicia's thoughts about the working world versus college and all that she's learned so far!

Transitions and New Beginnings:

Happy Friday everyone! My name is Alicia and I began interning with Signature WoodCrafters last month after graduating from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in May. Go Hokies! I just wanted to share a little of my experiences so far while working here. We all have been there. The day approaches when we say to ourselves, “What’s the next step in our lives?” It’s a scary thought after all those years of school, and now it’s time to take that step and join the ranks of the working class and the long joyous rush hour traffic that northern Virginia likes to bring us (anyone else become a fan of books on CD?). I majored in Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management: Housing Option where I was part of an accredited program of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. There I learned many things, from hours and hours dedicated to drafting homes and different kitchen layouts to the new technology that different appliances now have. When I left college, I knew that I wanted to be involved with remodeling and luckily, the wonderful company of Signature Woodcrafters decided they wanted me to join their team. So began my new journey in the world of remodeling.

Knowing different terms is vital within the remodeling business. As you probably know, Signature’s major remodeling areas are kitchens, baths, built-ins and stairs and a vast array of terms comes with those areas. Bullnose, Over-the-Post, Post-to-Post, Loose Parts, and Pre- Assembled are just a few terms that I learned and that’s just stairs! No worries here though. The employees here are extremely helpful and I soon found myself saying “I can do this!” I have even found myself looking in my own home at the stair configuration and kitchen layout and saying to myself what they would be classified as. I learned a lot about the ReCrafting process here and in my opinion it’s a great thing they’re doing. Taking ¼” solid wood instead of just a thin veneer gets the homeowner that great quality that they may be looking for. Also the designers are fantastic. Talking about knowing your stuff, these people are on the top of their game. The best part is seeing the before and after pictures. Amazing! Well that’s just a few of my observations that I wanted to share with everyone. Have a fantastic weekend

So, It's Been a While...

Wow - How does time fly so fast?? I can't believe that the last time I posted anything here was back in March - and it is now firmly the middle of June. Incredible.

But maybe that is what happens when you become really busy! Which is a good thing!

We've had a lot of great successes recently at Signature WoodCrafters - lots of kitchen recrafting, stair recrafting, and railing replacements going on. The staff have been busy with lots of new customers and consumers, which is a welcome respite from the past couple of months.

But all that being said, we'll be getting back to regular posts about our products and services shortly, as well as sharing some of the before and after pictures of our successes! I'm looking forward to communicating with everyone again and hope to provide some useful information to all who have questions about our products and services.

If you have any questions that you would like answers to, please leave a comment!

~Lauren

(Be sure to follow us on Twitter, @sigwood_lauren)

Going Green

Signature WoodCrafters parent company, Signature Companies is a stair and rail manufacturer (as well as cabinet provider) for home builders in the Mid-Atlantic region. We supply stairs and rails for all kinds builders, from the big guys like K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Centex, D.R. Horton, and Winchester Homes to smaller custom home builders.

Signature Companies was recently mentioned in an article post by Sarah Yaussi of Hanley Wood's Big Builder Online publication. Sarah had gone to Hovnanian's Landover Group home that they are building in conjunction with the Department of Energy. This house is a test home for new energy-conscious building products. I can personally attest to Khov's Landover Group's dedication to going green and participating in both the regional and national dialogue in regards to what "Going Green" means in the building industry.

The stair system that Sarah mentions in her article is called the Ultimate Tread, and is actually very similar to our Stair ReCrafting product. You can check out Signature Companies website and click on the Downloads portion of the site to view more about the benefits of using the Ultimate Tread in new construction projects.

In the meanwhile, check out the Big Builder article!! Thanks again to Sarah for mentioning us!

To Remodel or Not Remodel - that is the question

If you click on the Title of this post, it will take you to an informative article on the benefits of remodeling in a slow market. It seems that 70.9 percent of the investment that you make in your kitchen is recouped when it comes time to sell (if you even want to sell after redoing the kitchen). Our Kitchen ReCrafting product line is perfect for a beautiful update, at a low price. The quality that you receive for the money that you spend is bar-none. Take a look at our portfolio page on our website, www.signaturewoodcrafters.com, to see what I mean!

The things you notice...

I notice that every time I learn something new, I usually carry it with me wherever I go. Everything that I see gets filtered through this new knowledge.

The past year, I have learned a ton about the nuances of stairways and railing systems. I never knew that there was so much that goes into a staircase and how complicated a railing system can be. But with the stuff that I have learned in 2008, I now find myself walking into people's homes and automatically analyzing their staircases. Or when I'm watching a movie, I notice a Box Newel Post or an old staircase that they are walking on. So the other day, when I was flipping through Pottery Barn's newest catalog edition, I saw this picture and found it unique because of the stair's configuration.

This particular staircase would be termed as an open stairway in the stairbuilding industry. It is considered open because the actual stair steps are not enclosed by a kneewall, typically called the stringer (the structural supporting diagnol part of the stair). Instead, the stair treads are attached on top of the stringer.

The thing that I found interesting in this photo, is that usually with an open staircase, the railings are attached directly into the stair step/tread, with a loose parts railing system. But in this particular case, only the newel (the supporting post) is attached directly into the tread. The railing is in fact a rake pre-assembled railing system, that runs perpendicular to the rise, or diagnol, of the stringer. A rake pre-assembled railing system means that this railing system was manufactured and then assembled at the plant, versus on site by a rail installer. Pre-Assembled railing systems are easier to install than Loose Parts railing systems, which have to be assembled and installed by an experienced carpenter on site.

This photo of the Pottery Barn stair is interesting because it just isn't very typical. While there are examples of open stairs with old pre-assembled rake iron railing systems (what I term, porch rail), I had never seen an open stair with a pre-assembled wood rake railing system. Unique, to say the least!

First Impressions Are Everything

Everyone knows the saying that first impressions are everything. This is why we take pains to groom ourselves with extra care for first dates, interviews, meeting the significant other's family for the first time. This is also why, when it comes to our home, we make every effort to clean it when expecting company (or apologize when it isn't!).

A first impression that not many people think of though is the first impression a person gets when walking into your home for the first time. Half of HGTV's shows these days are all about this though. "Designed To Sell" and "Get It Sold" both are about the art of how a simple transformation can drastically improve the impression of real estate buyers.

The main staircase often gets overlooked as a potential makeover piece because people don't realize how dramatic the effect can be when it is completely redone. The stair treads, risers, and railing system of a gorgeous house can often look dinky in comparison to the rest of the beauty that is around you. If just the initial newel and fitting are changed, it is incredible the amount of impact you get for your buck. Take a look at these Before and After pictures to see what I am talking about.

This is the starting newel in my parents' house before they had their railing replaced and steps recrafted. They had a standard oak post-to-post starting newel, with a pre-assembled rake rail. The oak had faded over the years due to the exposure from the sun that comes directly into the main foyer.

In this picture you can see how the railing has been changed. The system has been changed to an over-the-post railing system, but keeping the rake pre-assembled railing system design. Looks completely different, eh? Stay tuned for some more pictures later on of how changing your stair and railings can change the look of your home.

New Enhancements to our website

We made a few changes to our Kitchen ReCrafting page on our website, www.signaturewoodcrafters.com. Check it out from this link!

Also, if you still don't quite get what ReCrafting is, think of it as a high-end cabinet refacing or kitchen refacing product - except our product runs laps around our competitors in terms of the quality of our ReCrafting product - for the same price!

The transformations have been pretty incredible and you should check out some of the slide shows on our Sample Projects page on our website. I will post some more later on! Stay tuned!

We'll also be posting more relevant and informational blurbs shortly - and if anyone has any ideas for posts, please pass them on!

Some Helpful Stair Terms

In the stair and rail world, there are some common terms that we identify stairs by. You may think a stair is a stair or a railing is a railing, but there are specific terms for each of these parts. I will update with some more terms later, but to get started, here are a few basics.

BALUSTER - a vertical member which helps support the handrail. Usually referred to in colloquial terms as a "picket", "spindle", or plainly "railings". This is the most visible part of a railing system.

HANDRAIL - the horizontal or "rake" member of a balustrade (read, railing) system. It sits on top of the balusters and is supported by newel posts. It basically is the part of the railing system that you hold on to when climbing a set of stairs. In some Open Stair or Curve Stair ReCrafting jobs, homeowners are fine with their handrail and want us to save it, which we can do.

NEWEL POST - the major support for a balustrade (railing) system. Newels are larger than balusters and are located at the bottom and top of a stairway or at a turn in the handrail. In some cases, for a balcony rail, there are intermediate newels, depending on the length of the handrail. Newels can come in all shapes and forms, from a sturdy Box Newel to a delicate Pintop Model. If you replace your rails, you can choose from a variety of newel systems to enhance the look of your home.

TREAD - the horizontal component of a step upon which one walks. Prefinished, solid, hardwood oak treads are the hallmark product of Signature WoodCrafters Stair ReCrafting process. Unfinished treads can be bought at a Home Depot or Lowes, but the nosing for the tread does not come included and you will have to buy additional wood materials to making that nosing. Our treads come with the nosing already attached, for a simple slide in fit on top of your current stair's substructure.

RISER - the vertical component of a step which, along with the stringers, supports the treads. Commonly comes in a white finish or stained to match your prefinished oak treads. Most people think that they can get away with painting the wood substructure when they take the carpet off and put on a tread from Home Depot. What they fail to realize is not only are they two different types of wood with different grains, but you also change the height of the stairs when you fail to include a riser with your tread. Prefinished treads and risers solve that problem.

Again, just a couple of terms from the stair world. More to come soon!

Watch This Video!

Take a look at this video we made about our Cabinet ReCrafting product.

Curved Stair ReCraft

Check out this Curved Stair ReCraft and Rail Replacement project that we completed in Woodbridge, VA. The original handrail was kept for the project...

Transforming a Renaissance Home Kitchen