diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/AssemblyExtensions.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/AssemblyExtensions.cs
similarity index 95%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/AssemblyExtensions.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/AssemblyExtensions.cs
index 7bc0d79b22..0d0115ce20 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/AssemblyExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/AssemblyExtensions.cs
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 using System;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.IO;
-using System.Linq;
 using System.Reflection;
 
 namespace Umbraco.Core
 {
-    internal static class AssemblyExtensions
+    public static class AssemblyExtensions
     {
         /// <summary>
         /// Returns the file used to load the assembly
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/DataTableExtensions.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/DataTableExtensions.cs
similarity index 97%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/DataTableExtensions.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/DataTableExtensions.cs
index a0539ee114..1c547b9d44 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/DataTableExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/DataTableExtensions.cs
@@ -1,23 +1,15 @@
 using System;
-using System.Collections;
-using System.Collections.Concurrent;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Data;
 using System.Linq;
-using System.Text;
-using System.Threading;
 
 namespace Umbraco.Core
 {
-
-
     /// <summary>
     /// Static and extension methods for the DataTable object
     /// </summary>
     internal static class DataTableExtensions
     {
-
-
         /// <summary>
         /// Creates a DataTable with the specified alias and columns and uses a callback to populate the headers.
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/DateTimeExtensions.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/DateTimeExtensions.cs
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/DateTimeExtensions.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/DateTimeExtensions.cs
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/DecimalExtensions.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/DecimalExtensions.cs
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/DecimalExtensions.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/DecimalExtensions.cs
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/DisposableTimer.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/DisposableTimer.cs
similarity index 98%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/DisposableTimer.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/DisposableTimer.cs
index ed98e5cfab..d854813b7d 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/DisposableTimer.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/DisposableTimer.cs
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core.Logging
 
             if ((Stopwatch.ElapsedMilliseconds >= _thresholdMilliseconds || _failed)
                 && _loggerType != null && _logger != null
-                && (_endMessage.IsNullOrWhiteSpace() == false || _failed))
+                && (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(_endMessage) == false || _failed))
             {
                 if (_failed)
                 {
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/ILogger.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/ILogger.cs
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/ILogger.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/ILogger.cs
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/IProfiler.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/IProfiler.cs
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/IProfiler.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/IProfiler.cs
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/IProfilingLogger.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/IProfilingLogger.cs
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/IProfilingLogger.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/IProfilingLogger.cs
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/LogLevel.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/LogLevel.cs
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/LogLevel.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/LogLevel.cs
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/LoggerExtensions.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/LoggerExtensions.cs
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/LoggerExtensions.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/LoggerExtensions.cs
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/ProfilerExtensions.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/ProfilerExtensions.cs
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/ProfilerExtensions.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/ProfilerExtensions.cs
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/ProfilingLogger.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/ProfilingLogger.cs
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/Logging/ProfilingLogger.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Logging/ProfilingLogger.cs
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/RuntimeLevel.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/RuntimeLevel.cs
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/RuntimeLevel.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/RuntimeLevel.cs
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/RuntimeLevelReason.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/RuntimeLevelReason.cs
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/RuntimeLevelReason.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/RuntimeLevelReason.cs
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Settable.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Settable.cs
similarity index 100%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/Settable.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/Settable.cs
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/ThreadExtensions.cs b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/ThreadExtensions.cs
similarity index 98%
rename from src/Umbraco.Core/ThreadExtensions.cs
rename to src/Umbraco.Abstractions/ThreadExtensions.cs
index 68f6959e91..3c9001ac48 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/ThreadExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Abstractions/ThreadExtensions.cs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ using System.Threading;
 
 namespace Umbraco.Core
 {
-    static class ThreadExtensions
+    public static class ThreadExtensions
     {
         public static void SanitizeThreadCulture(this Thread thread)
         {
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/BindingRedirects.cs b/src/Umbraco.Core/BindingRedirects.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index e698ffa646..0000000000
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/BindingRedirects.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
-using System;
-using System.Reflection;
-using System.Web;
-using Umbraco.Core;
-
-// no binding redirect for now = de-activate
-//[assembly: PreApplicationStartMethod(typeof(BindingRedirects), "Initialize")]
-
-namespace Umbraco.Core
-{
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Manages any assembly binding redirects that cannot be done via config (i.e. unsigned --> signed assemblies)
-    /// </summary>
-    public sealed class BindingRedirects
-    {
-        public static void Initialize()
-        {
-            // this only gets called when an assembly can't be resolved
-            AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += CurrentDomain_AssemblyResolve;
-        }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// This is used to do an assembly binding redirect via code - normally required due to signature changes in assemblies
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="sender"></param>
-        /// <param name="args"></param>
-        /// <returns></returns>
-        private static Assembly CurrentDomain_AssemblyResolve(object sender, ResolveEventArgs args)
-        {
-            // When an assembly can't be resolved. In here we can do magic with the assembly name and try loading another.
-
-            // keep here for reference - we don't use AutoMapper
-            /*
-            //AutoMapper:
-            // this is used for loading a signed assembly of AutoMapper (v. 3.1+) without having to recompile old code.
-            // ensure the assembly is indeed AutoMapper and that the PublicKeyToken is null before trying to Load again
-            // do NOT just replace this with 'return Assembly', as it will cause an infinite loop -> stackoverflow
-            if (args.Name.StartsWith("AutoMapper") && args.Name.EndsWith("PublicKeyToken=null"))
-                return Assembly.Load(args.Name.Replace(", PublicKeyToken=null", ", PublicKeyToken=be96cd2c38ef1005"));
-            */
-
-            return null;
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Umbraco.Core.csproj b/src/Umbraco.Core/Umbraco.Core.csproj
index f02fc7b0bc..2e57d8aa3b 100755
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/Umbraco.Core.csproj
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Core/Umbraco.Core.csproj
@@ -116,10 +116,8 @@
       <DependentUpon>Constants.cs</DependentUpon>
     </Compile>
     -->
-    <Compile Include="AssemblyExtensions.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Cache\AppPolicedCacheDictionary.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Compose\AuditEventsComponent.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="BindingRedirects.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Cache\AppCaches.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Cache\CacheKeys.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Cache\AppCacheExtensions.cs" />
@@ -348,9 +346,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Logging\Viewer\LogMessage.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\Viewer\LogViewerComposer.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\Viewer\LogViewerSourceBase.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Logging\IProfilingLogger.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\LogHttpRequest.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Logging\LogLevel.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\MessageTemplates.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\Serilog\Enrichers\HttpRequestIdEnricher.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\Serilog\Enrichers\HttpRequestNumberEnricher.cs" />
@@ -533,7 +529,6 @@
     <Compile Include="PropertyEditors\ValueListConfiguration.cs" />
     <Compile Include="PropertyEditors\VoidEditor.cs" />
     <Compile Include="ReflectionUtilities-Unused.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="RuntimeLevelReason.cs" />
     <Compile Include="RuntimeOptions.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Runtime\CoreRuntime.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Runtime\CoreInitialComponent.cs" />
@@ -545,9 +540,6 @@
     <Compile Include="Migrations\Expressions\Delete\KeysAndIndexes\DeleteKeysAndIndexesBuilder.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Migrations\IMigrationBuilder.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Migrations\Install\DatabaseBuilder.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="DataTableExtensions.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="DateTimeExtensions.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="DecimalExtensions.cs" />
     <Compile Include="DelegateExtensions.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Deploy\ArtifactBase.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Deploy\ArtifactDependency.cs" />
@@ -575,7 +567,6 @@
     <Compile Include="DictionaryExtensions.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Dictionary\ICultureDictionary.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Dictionary\ICultureDictionaryFactory.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Logging\DisposableTimer.cs" />
     <Compile Include="EmailSender.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Events\CancellableEventArgs.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Events\CancellableObjectEventArgs.cs" />
@@ -648,16 +639,11 @@
     <Compile Include="IRuntimeState.cs" />
     <Compile Include="LambdaExpressionCacheKey.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\DebugDiagnosticsLogger.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Logging\ILogger.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Logging\IProfiler.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\Serilog\SerilogLogger.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Logging\LoggerExtensions.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\LoggingTaskExtension.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\LogProfiler.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\OwinLogger.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\OwinLoggerFactory.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Logging\ProfilerExtensions.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Logging\ProfilingLogger.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Logging\VoidProfiler.cs" />
     <Compile Include="MainDom.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Manifest\ManifestParser.cs" />
@@ -1293,7 +1279,6 @@
     <Compile Include="PropertyEditors\ValueConverters\UploadPropertyConverter.cs" />
     <Compile Include="PropertyEditors\ValueConverters\YesNoValueConverter.cs" />
     <Compile Include="ReflectionUtilities.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="RuntimeLevel.cs" />
     <Compile Include="RuntimeState.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Runtime\CoreInitialComposer.cs" />
     <Compile Include="SafeCallContext.cs" />
@@ -1437,7 +1422,6 @@
     <Compile Include="Services\Implement\TagService.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Services\Implement\UserService.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Services\UserServiceExtensions.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Settable.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Compose\ManifestWatcherComponent.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Compose\RelateOnCopyComponent.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Compose\RelateOnTrashComponent.cs" />
@@ -1471,6 +1455,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Sync\ServerRole.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Sync\SingleServerRegistrar.cs" />
     <Compile Include="ThreadExtensions.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="SystemUtilities.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Collections\TopoGraph.cs" />
     <Compile Include="TypeExtensions.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Udi.cs" />