Karns Home Improvement for Every Age of House

Two kinds of Karns houses

Drive around Karns and you will see both sides of northwest Knox County: houses that have stood for several decades on larger lots, and newer subdivisions built more recently. Both make good homes. They just tend to need different things.

If your house has some years on it

Established homes usually have solid framing and generous yards, but their kitchens and bathrooms were designed for a different era. Common patterns we see:

• Closed-off kitchens. A wall between the kitchen and dining or family room makes the house feel smaller. Opening it up is one of the most requested changes, and it starts with finding out whether that wall is structural.
• Original bathrooms. Small tile, low vanities and tub-shower combos that have been caulked one too many times. A remodel can replace them with a walk-in shower, a taller vanity and better ventilation.
• Layered flooring. It is not unusual to find carpet over vinyl over the original hardwood. Sometimes that hardwood can be refinished; sometimes it is too damaged and new flooring makes more sense.
• Tired walls and ceilings. Cracks at corners and patches from past repairs show through paint. Skim coating or replacing sections of drywall gives a clean surface.

Before any of this begins, selective demolition has to happen cleanly. Our demolition services take out only what needs to go and haul the debris away, protecting the rooms you are still living in.

If your house is newer

Newer Karns homes usually need less fixing and more personalizing: replacing builder-grade carpet, adding trim, upgrading a plain bathroom or finishing a bonus room. Our Hardin Valley page goes into more detail on builder-grade upgrades, since that area is full of similar houses.

Making use of a bigger yard

Lots in the older parts of Karns are often roomier than what newer neighborhoods offer, which opens the door to outdoor projects. A deck off the kitchen, a pergola over a patio or a fence to keep dogs in the backyard are common requests. On older properties we also check existing decks closely, since a frame built decades ago may not meet the standards a replacement would have to. Our deck building page explains the options.

The kitchen question

Whatever the age of the house, the kitchen is the room people most want to change and the one with the most ways to approach it. Here is how we usually frame the choice:

1. Refresh. Paint or refinish cabinets, change hardware, add a new backsplash. Least disruption.
2. Update. Keep the layout but replace cabinets, counters and flooring. The kitchen is out of service for a while.
3. Reconfigure. Move walls, appliances or plumbing. The biggest change, with the biggest budget and the most planning.

Our kitchen and bathroom remodeling covers all three, and the written estimate spells out what each option includes so you can compare them side by side.

Getting paint right in mixed-light rooms

Older homes often have smaller windows and darker rooms; newer homes may have walls of glass. Either way, color looks different on your wall than in the store. Our painting team handles prep, which matters most here: filling, sanding and priming patched areas so they do not flash through the finish coat.

Nearby

Karns sits between Hardin Valley and Powell, with Oak Ridge a little farther out along the highway. We work throughout Knox County and into Anderson County, including Oak Ridge. If your project is on your mind, get in touch and tell us about it.