Hidden Kitchen Systems: AV and Communications
Telephones, Audio Video, Cable and Internet in Your Kitchen
In our information-driven environment kitchens are becoming a central point for many new communication and entertainment systems. You should plan on installing lines for additional phones, cable TV, Internet access and audio and video. A television is a common kitchen appliance these days and you’ll want to […]
Hidden Kitchen Systems: Chimneys and Architecturally Significant Elements
Chimneys
In older homes it is not unusual to run into a brick or block chimney during a kitchen demolition. Often these chimneys are no longer used or may be a part of the venting system for a furnace and hot water heater. If they still function as a chimney they cannot be removed without providing […]
Hidden Kitchen Systems: Security and Safety
Security Systems, Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Security systems involve yet another set of wires in your home and these systems include motion detectors, electric eyes, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and a central system that calls the police in the event of an emergency. Even with today’s wireless systems you’ll need access to phone […]
Hidden Kitchen Systems: Propane and Natural Gas
Gas as a fuel is the preferred choice of many cooks for its open clean flame and instant heating ability. If you choose gas powered appliances, either propane or natural gas, depending on your location, you’ll need to have black iron threaded gas pipes run into each appliance’s location. Like all piping these pipes are […]
Read More..>>Hidden Kitchen Systems: Plumbing, Waste and Water Purification
Plumbing Supply Lines
Plumbing lines also come in two types, supply and waste. They are very different in many ways. Supply lines bring hot and cold water into your kitchen from the hot water heater and main water supply line. They are pressurized by water pressure provided by the water authority or, if you use spring […]
Hidden Kitchen Systems: Electrical and Lighting
The electrical wiring system of a house has two main functions. It supplies outlets to provide power to a wide variety of appliances and it powers and controls lighting built into the structure of the house. A house’s wiring is divided into a number circuits which start at a breaker box connected to the municipal […]
Read More..>>Hidden Kitchen Systems: Structural Integrity
A house and any other building is an engineered structure designed to handle stress loads and great weights. Foundation, wall, floor and roof framing and sheathing all work together to provide a structurally sound and weatherproof skeleton and envelope for your home. Properly designed and constructed homes are very solid and offer the secure knowledge […]
Read More..>>The Hidden Kitchen: Understanding the Systems in your Kitchen Before You Remodel
You are finally ready to start construction on your new kitchen. The first worker comes in and begins to demolish a wall to enlarge the space you’ve planned for your dream kitchen. Down comes plaster and lath and when the dust settles you have a problem. There in the middle of your now skeletal wall […]
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