Patching and Plastering Electrical Work

 There are a lot of electrician jokes circulating and a couple of them involve a carpenter, like what do you call an electrician who tries to work as a carpenter? A bad electrician. In reverse, what do you call a carpenter who tries to work as an electrician? A shocked carpenter. We at Paintworks are fond of the one that goes: Why did the electrician wear two jackets when painting a room in his house? Because the instructions said “for best results, put on two coats.”

Mind you, we maintain a very healthy respect for electricians. We don’t want to mess around with wiring and electrical currents. Our carpenters and painters love building, renovating and painting, restoring walls and ceilings and, yes, tidying up after electricians have neatly rewired something. In this home, we were charged (ha!) with patching and repairing holes after electrical outlets were moved.

The end game in a small project like this one is to make the wall look like it had never been disturbed. With little pieces of drywall, some tape, plaster and paint, plus expert workmanship and experience, the task was accomplished. Not only does the wall look great, but also we mounted the TV set, so these folks don’t need an extra piece of furniture to hold it.   

Color: Benjamin Moore Stone Cutter

Manhattan Wall Patching and Drywall Repair 

In 1909, an inventive guy named Isaac Shero patented a hair straightener composed of two flat irons heated and pressed together, likely with formerly curly hair between them. The electric flat iron was patented in 1882. Flat irons, many forged by blacksmiths, have been heated on stoves and pressed fabric and clothes smooth for centuries. The Flatiron Building, bounded by 5th Ave., Broadway and East 22nd St., has flat iron characteristics for its triangle design. It was completed in 1902, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

The neighborhood anchored by this iconic structure is the Flatiron District, known for trendy everything and the original Shake Shack. Our client here wanted to add paint color before moving in, and asked us to repair a wall where a TV set had been. We cleaned and measured that space, cut drywall to fit, taped it into place and plastered and painted. This wall and all the walls we painted look nice and new for a wonderful welcome to their new nest in the Flatiron District.

FINISHED

IN PROGRESS

BEFORE

Finished with bar counter base, cabinets and new counters

Bar counter prep for smooth plaster, prime and paint

Inwood Kitchen Remodel 

The Hudson and Harlem rivers border much of Inwood, enveloping the neighborhood like arms of a benevolent giant. Parks and river views are abundant at this northern tip of Manhattan, a comfortable 30-35 minute commute back into Midtown. It was in this enchanting setting that we remodeled a kitchen, elevating it from dark to light, old to new, dated to contemporary. Cabinet painting is but one of our many specialties. We replaced the counters and lowered the bar counter for a one-level countertop as well.

The walls and edge under the bar counter needed drywall and all new plaster to render it smooth and ready for soft sage green paint. The cupboards are now creamy white, and the homeowner asked us to remove one cabinet and install floating shelves. We did it. We work diligently and intently, looking from all angles, using leveling tools, anchors, metal framing corners, fresh plaster and the best primer and paints. The end results glowed for being newly rejuvenated.  

Kitchen floating shelves where one cabinet used to be

Kitchen floating shelves in process

Beautiful new counters complete with snack and berry boxes

Where it all began, kind of dark, dated and dingy, huh?

BEFORE

AFTER

Lower Manhattan Drywall Repair

Besides being hot to the taste buds, chili peppers are visually delightful for their bold red color. In fact, Pantone, the world’s foremost authority on color, selected “chili pepper” for its Color of the Year in 2007. Long associated with exotic foods and cultural distinction, this dramatic dark red exudes energy, passion and strength. On one recent fun job where the client ordered up a super cool wall of horizontal stripes in the red, orange and yellow spectrum, we painted the 2nd floor air duct to match the chili pepper stripes.

Electrical and HVAC technicians most often have to go through walls to get their work done. And if had we a dime for every hole-in-the-wall we’ve plastered up, smoothed over, primed and painted, we’d be sipping margaritas under a palm tree somewhere. Projects like this get our own creative juices flowing, and when done, well, we all want to go home and paint something this exciting for ourselves.