I hired Sky, owner of Kenton Woodworks, to do a very large remodel of my 1912 Craftsman home. I was an experienced property owner, and as a principal broker Realtor for many years, having worked with or witnessed dozens of contractors.
Sky is at the top of my list for his numerous carpentry skills, his varied and long experience, his working relationships with subcontractors, and especially for his honesty & straight-forward manner.
I highly recommend Sky for your remodel or building needs.
Working with professionals
For architects, designers
and agents.
The builder on the other end of your drawings, your listing or your inspection report. Permitted, insured, and licensed on both sides of the river.
Church re-roof, Mt Tabor Presbyterian
In one page
What you need to know
before you refer us.
We build. Outside custom woodwork we don't do CAD or design work, so we are glad to work alongside your designer, architect or engineer rather than around them. Drawings in, building out. Built to the drawing.
Building codes, permits, inspections: what happens when, who you talk to, whether it is being done correctly. Knowing how to deal with the city is a big reason people hire a general contractor, and it is the part of your client's project that we take off your desk. Behind us is a network of trades that took over a decade to put together: drainage, asphalt, foundation repair, waterproofing, roofing and gutters, refrigeration, panel swap-outs.
His numerous carpentry skills, his varied and long experience, his working relationships with subcontractors, and especially his honesty & straight-forward manner.Steve Bennett, principal broker, in his Google review
Building science,
where it matters.
There are a lot of new products and techniques that lead to longer lasting, higher quality homes, and they come at a premium. Most projects are a compromise with the budget, so you spend the money where it matters; sometimes one new thing gets you 80% of the way there. We care how a building performs and what it does to the environment.
Licensed, bonded, insured
The register,
in one place.
Both states want the licence number on every page, and your client wants to check it. Every number here is on a public register, with the place to look it up.
Oregon CCB 230699
Residential General Contractor, active. Search 230699 at the CCB →
Lead-Based Paint Renovation licence
Required for paid work that disturbs paint in homes built before 1978 (the EPA's RRP rule). CCB lead-safe search →
$25,000 bond
The surety bond the CCB requires of a residential general contractor, on file with the CCB.
$1,000,000 liability insurance
General liability, on file with the CCB. Certificates on request.
Washington L&I KENTOWL766Q1
Registered in Washington for Clark County work. Verify at L&I →
Over twenty years of building
Kenton Woodwork is six years old. The experience behind it is more than twenty years of building.
Who we work with
Three kinds
of referral.
For architects and designers.
We build what is on the page and say so early when something on the page will not build. The Telegraph Mastering studio was built with Northward Acoustics; the Mt Tabor Presbyterian re-roof and a twenty-foot cathedral ceiling are on the hard stuff. Permitting and plan revision are part of the job.
For agents and brokers.
Your buyer has an inspection report and a list of questions. For $160 we'll go through the report and give you the low-down. For a pre-1978 house, we hold the Lead-Based Paint Renovation licence the work will need. Our best review is from a principal broker who had worked with dozens of contractors.
For owners' reps and property managers.
Remodels, ADUs and new homes, and an honest answer about when we can start. We say so either way.
How to reach us.
The form below, with your firm in the first line. We usually reply within a couple of days. No phone number is published; it is the robocalls, not you.
A direct line for professionals
Architects, designers and agents can write to us directly:
Or use the form. Put your firm and your role in the first line and tell us about the project.
Google reviews
A principal broker,
in his own words.
Steve had worked with or witnessed dozens of contractors before this 1912 Craftsman remodel. This is his Google review, unedited.
Straight answers
Questions.
Do I need an architect, engineer or designer?
Are you getting the project permitted? We recommend doing things the right way rather than taking shortcuts, and larger projects often require these professionals. Outside of custom woodwork we don't do CAD or design work, but we're glad to work alongside your designer or architect.
I'm buying a house. Will you read my inspection report?
Yes. For $160 we'll go through the inspection report and give you the low-down.
Our house was built before 1978. Does that change anything?
Houses from before 1978 can have lead-based paint under the newer coats. The federal rule (the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule) says anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces in those homes has to be certified, and in Oregon that is a licence from the CCB. Kenton Woodwork holds the Lead-Based Paint Renovation licence (CCB 230699), so the dusty parts of the job are contained, cleaned up and done the way the rule says. You can check it on the CCB's lead-safe contractor search.
Do you do free estimates?
It depends on the project. The first meet-up is always free. If it's a larger project (over $20k) with a lot of elements, we use a pre-construction contract to cover the time spent exploring your options properly.
Where do you work?
We're based in North Portland, Oregon, and work across the Portland metro. We're also licensed in Washington (L&I KENTOWL766Q1) for projects in Clark County.
Next step
Send us
the drawings.
Or the listing, or the inspection report. Your firm and your role in the first line is plenty.
★★★★★ 5.0 on Google. “Solid talent, top quality, and great communication.” — A T