HOME

First Carpentry & Painting

7114 Manor Oaks, Dallas, TX 75248

(972) 705-9901, Mobile: (972) 849-1751

e-mail: lee@firstcarpentry.com

Quality Work! Your Satisfaction Guaranteed!

Home

Thank you for your visiting at firstcarpentry.com. If you have any questions for your project, please call me or send me an e-mail with brief information and/or some pictures for your project. I can answer most of your questions including a rough estimate over the phone or mail. Your e-mail will be answered in the evening on the same day in most of cases after I work. During daytime I am at the job site, so please call my cell at 972-849-1751. To send me e-mail, please copy my e-mail address, lee@firstcarpentry.com and use your own e-mail.

Note: Please feel free to contact me without any obligation. After I send you an estimate by e-mail, I don't contact you until you reply. This website does not contain any harmful virus & spyware and it's ISP is AT&T.

My name is M.H. Lee. Please call me Lee (I am Korean). Since 1986, I have been working as a professional carpenter in Dallas, TX.

The jobs I do: Most of Carpentry & Painting, Repair & Remodeling, Interior & Exterior Trim, Windows & Doors, Decks, Railing, Siding, Built-In Cabinetry, Etc.

I will show up on time as promised unless I inform you in advance.
I will not skip any working days until I finish your project without prior notice.
I will follow all of basic procedure with my best knowledge and manufacturer's instruction.
I use top quality material, i.e., straight lumber, quality paint, caulk/over 35 years, etc., unless otherwise stated.
If you don't have a specific idea for your project, I will perform with my best knowledge.
Please understand that repair/remodeling cost more and take longer than new construction.
I usually work from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. In case of 1 or 2 days job, if I am allowed to extend hours, I would like to work until I finish instead of coming back on next day.
I try to work more hours to shorten the number of working days. Construction is messy and bothers all of your family.
I will protect your property from dust and scratches on floor as much as possible.
I will keep job site as clean as possible.
I am very well equipped with quality tools.
I am a professional carpenter with common sense. If you are not satisfied with my personality and/or job performance, please let me know. I will correct it immediately.
I used to be a mechanical engineer for Dong-Ah Engineering & Construction in Seoul, Korea. Dong-Ah is one of world leading construction companies, which has built US$ 8 billion in the Middle East.
Terms of Payment: 50% down and 50% upon completion or as agreed.
I don't take any inside pictures of the occupied homes for the protection of my clients.

Current Job: Replace Front Door, Siding & Framing (Royal Ln & Greenville Area): Top Pictures

Job started: 3/22/10 (Monday), Scheduled finish: 4/09/10 (3 weeks). This job is being delayed due to the job of concrete re-finish of front steps. This job is finished completely on 4/14/10.
Scope of works: Replace whole front (in & out), 8' x 26'H, siding, drywall, framing, doors & finish (in & out)
The weight of new front door is about 520 lbs, special order made, walnut, 42"w x 96'h x 2-1/4"t & side, factory pre-finished (Standard front door is 36"w x 80"h x 1-3/4"t.)
In order to install a very heavy, tall & wide front door, first I had to build very strong framing. All 2x6 studs & 2x12 header were fastened all together with 5" rag screws (3 studs at each side) and leveled & plumbed almost perfectly. This kind of jobs should be done in one time because adjustment or fine tuning of heavy door is very difficult. In general, most of painting grade or unfinished doors are fairly easy to install because I don't need to worry about scratches too much during the installation. During this door installation, we (3 carpenters) could not wear the tool belt and we wrapped our pants belt buckles with thick rags to prevent them from any scratches. If the surface is once scratched accidently, it is almost impossible to fix until whole door set is refinished. This door jambs were pre-finished with stain. So to secure the jambs into the house frame, 4 of 1/2" dia. x 5/16" deep holes on each side jamb were to be made on outside jamb to place 3" screws because there are no invisible spots to secure the jamb in the frame. There is some space at door hinge side to hide screws, where is behind weather strip, but none at fixed side lite. Also the space behind weather strip at door side is not enough to withstand the weight of door. These holes will be plugged with the same walnut. All of holes are equally spaced on both jambs.
A door set was delivered on 4/09 (Friday) morning, 8:30 and installed successfully around 5:00pm.
Built solid framing (3'H) above the door for anchoring the large size of metal awning (11' x 5'). So awning company can use any surface for anchoring the heavy and large awning.
From Monday (4/12/10), siding, trim & painting will start. Then I will place some more pictures.
The cost of this job is about $9,500 without a door set.

Outdoor Upstairs Deck Railing (Royal Ln & Greenville Area): 2nd Group Pictures

Job started: 2/15/10 (Monday), Scheduled finish: 2/27/10 (2 weeks)
This job is finished as scheduled on 2/26/10. Sometime in April, I will paint this rail and then I will place some more pictures.
It is about $8,000.00.
Basic concept: Matching house siding (Cedar siding, rustic looking, painting same color of house, not much fancy)
Strongest posts as much as possible from the given situation, half lap joints with glue & screws instead of miter for stronger jointing between boards
All posts were bolted into the house frame ledger board (2x12) with glue, not into roof decking. See one of pictures inside garage.
Material: Pressure treated lumber with cement trim board (Hardie) for wrapping 4x4 posts. I tried to use Trex Decking railing material (composite) instead of pressure treated, but unfortunately, I don't have a confidence about painting whether composite material takes paint well or not. PVC takes paint very well, but composite may not. They are supposed to be used "As Is" pre-finished. It needs to be painted same as house color.
I will place more pictures as job goes.
On 4/16/10, all painting was completed (last picture in the group).
I am doing this job with one of the best carpenters (Philip) from England who I've met for more than my 20 years carpentry (See one of pictures of this project.). He is a fine furniture wood working carpenter and he has an associate degree of carpentry from England. He is a very valuable asset for our community and not an ordinary carpenter we can find around us. I wish every body likes his hardworking and talent. He has very good common sense and personality. Now he is working for me, but sooner or later, he will be a carpentry contractor in Dallas like me.

Bay Window Trim & Siding Replacement

Pictures of this job are at the top of page.
It was 2 days job.
Removed all of cedar trim and siding (rot).
Replaced w/Hardie cement trim and siding.
Painting (Home owner provided paint.)
Total Material & Labor: $1,280.00

Exterior Siding Replacement, White Rock Lake area, Dallas, TX

Started on 2/19/08 and to be finished by 2/29/08.
Job is being delayed because more damage in framing was found. It should be completed by 3/07/08.
This job (carpentry only) was completed on 3/08/09.
Old siding (composite material), sheathing & framing was damaged by termite & water.
New siding: Cement Fiberboard
Some pictures are on the right in this page and in the "Project".