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The Project

The Martin property is a Franklinton gut remodel — a distressed house purchased by an out-of-state investor that had been partially worked on by a previous contractor before they arrived. That's usually where the real problems start. A low-bid contractor had put in 2x4 framed drop ceilings, interior partition walls on both floors, and an LVL beam with no solid connection to the foundation. All of it had to come out before the real work could begin.

Once the bad work was removed, what remained was a house that had been hiding serious structural problems underneath it. Termite-damaged floor joists, a deteriorated sill plate, a buried chimney that had been cut off below the roofline and concealed, and a section of rubble foundation that needed to be rebuilt. The investor had a clear vision for the finished product — a clean, modern 3-bed 2-bath with an open concept first floor and high-end finishes throughout. Getting there required solving every structural problem first and building from the ground up.

The finished house is exactly what the owner envisioned: white shaker kitchen with quartz counters and custom tile, two beautifully finished bathrooms, recessed lighting throughout, and an open first floor that feels nothing like the wreck it started as.

Before

The first visit revealed a house in genuine distress. The previous contractor had made a mess of things — framing work that looked like progress but violated code, an LVL beam sitting unsupported, and plumbing rough-in run without proper planning. Underneath all that was the original structure: first-floor plaster and lath, exposed brick interior walls, and floor joists that hadn't been touched in decades — some of which had been destroyed by termites. The roof had a hole in it when iSpec arrived. Step one was patching the roof. Step two was pulling everything out.

During

The structural work came first and it was extensive. Six second-floor floor joists were sistered. The supporting walls were lifted with a hydraulic jack and shored temporarily while replacement work was done one wall at a time. The LVL beam was properly reset with solid connections to the foundation. Sill plate was replaced where termite damage had eaten through it, and a section of the rubble foundation was rebuilt. A hidden chimney — cut off below the roofline and concealed by the previous contractor — was located and removed.

With the structure solid, the rebuild began: non-bearing partition walls framed, blocking installed, new subfloor laid throughout, and all plumbing, electrical, and HVAC replaced from scratch. New rough-in was planned around the final layout — the open concept first floor, two bathrooms, three bedrooms. All rough inspections passed. Walls and ceilings were closed in and finish work began.

After

The owner had a specific vision and iSpec delivered it exactly. The kitchen features white shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless appliances, open shelving with raw wood brackets, globe pendant lighting, and a custom tile back splash — white horizontal subway field with a Carrara marble and gold accent mosaic behind the range. The range hood is a standout detail. The first floor living area has a fireplace with a white marble surround, a dark accent wall with a mounted TV, recessed lighting, and a ceiling fan — clean, crisp, and modern.

Both bathrooms are fully tiled and finished to a high standard. The second floor bath has vertical subway tile with a black geometric accent column, a built-in niche, vessel sinks on a floating double vanity with black hardware, and a marble-look porcelain floor tile. The first floor bath has vertical subway with a marble and gold accent inset, a vessel sink vanity, and globe sconce lighting. The front porch was also rebuilt with a fresh painted finish, new railing, and new steps — a proper arrival for a completely transformed house.

Dream. Build. Inspire.