Carpenter in Boston, MA

Rough Carpentry

Boston triple-deckers and rowhouses often need structural attention during renovations: sagging joists, walls removed in past remodels without proper support and porches that have pulled away from the building. We install beams, sister joists, frame new layouts in condo renovations and rebuild framing damaged by water. Most structural work in Boston needs a permit from the city's Inspectional Services Department, and we plan for inspections in the schedule.

Single-family homes in West Roxbury and Roslindale more often need dormers, additions and open floor plans, which we frame and coordinate the same careful way. Rowhouse party walls and shared structure also call for careful planning.

• Home Framing & Additions
• Structural Remodeling & Modifications
• Roof & Ceiling Framing
• Sub-Flooring

Finish Carpentry

Older Boston homes often have tall baseboards, deep casings and staircases with turned balusters that are worth saving. We match trim profiles, repair and rebuild stairs and railings, and install crown, wainscoting and panel molding. In condo conversions, new finish carpentry can bring back character that was lost in earlier renovations.

Rowhouses and brownstones often have stair halls, paneled doors and plaster moldings that set the tone for the whole building. When a condo or house is renovated, we install new trim that respects those details, from tall baseboards to built-up casing, so the new rooms do not feel out of place.

• Interior Trim & Molding
• Doors & Window Casing
• Staircases & Railings

Cabinetry & Storage

Space is precious in Boston apartments and condos. We install kitchen and bath cabinets set level on floors that rarely are, and build built-ins, bookshelves, window seats and closet systems that use every inch. Custom storage under stairs and in odd corners is especially useful in triple-decker units.

Triple-decker units often have long, narrow layouts with small closets, and built-in wardrobes, window seats and bookshelves make them more livable. In condos, we coordinate with your building manager on deliveries and elevator use so cabinets and materials arrive without trouble for your neighbors. Every piece is scribed tight to walls that have shifted over a century.

• Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry
• Built-Ins & Bookshelves
• Closets & Storage

Exterior Carpentry

Front and back porches are a defining feature of Boston triple-deckers, and many need repair or rebuilding. We rebuild porch framing, decking, steps and railings, replace rotted trim, soffits and fascia, and build roof decks and backyard fences where allowed. Porches on multi-family homes must meet building and fire codes, which we follow closely.

In West Roxbury, Roslindale and Hyde Park, where single-family homes have more yard, we also build decks, pergolas and fences, and rebuild front steps and porches that have settled or rotted over time. Pressure-treated framing and corrosion-resistant hardware help new porches and decks stand up to Boston winters and salt-laden road spray.

• Deck & Porch Framing
• Backyard Structures

Doors & Windows

We hang interior doors, install entry and back doors with proper flashing and security hardware, reframe openings and repair rotted jambs and sills. In older Boston homes, doors often need to be scribed to fit out-of-square openings.

Back doors on triple-deckers often open onto porches and take a lot of weather. We replace worn doors and frames, repair rot in the threshold and framing below, and install sturdy hardware. Inside, we rehang doors that no longer close because the building has settled, which is common in older Boston homes. Exterior doors are flashed properly so wind-driven rain stays out of the wall framing.

Flooring

Boston homes and condos often have original hardwood under carpet or old vinyl. We install new solid and engineered hardwood, weave in boards where walls have moved, level subfloors in older buildings and match stair treads to new floors. Engineered hardwood works well in condo units and over concrete.

Where several units share a building, we pay attention to sound and to condo association rules about underlayment. When floors in older homes slope or dip, we flatten the subfloor as much as practical before new flooring goes down, so the finished floor looks right. Stair treads can be matched to the new floors too.