By JR Reis, Owner & President · Last updated July 2026
23+ Years in Business · 1,000+ Projects Completed · HomeAdvisor Top Rated (100+ 5-Star Reviews) · Free Estimates & Inspections · Financing Available
Cambridge’s housing stock is part of what makes it such a distinctive place to live — Victorian and Colonial-era homes, classic triple-deckers, and historic single-families throughout neighborhoods like Cambridgeport, Mid-Cambridge, West Cambridge, and North Cambridge. It’s also part of what makes renovation here more complicated than in a newer suburb: older framing, aging systems, and in many neighborhoods, review requirements from the Cambridge Historical Commission before exterior changes can move forward.
We’ve worked on this kind of older New England housing stock for 23+ years. We’re based about 25 miles south in Hingham, and we bring the same licensed, lead-safe certified team to Cambridge that we bring everywhere else in our service area — with the added experience of knowing what older Cambridge homes typically need.
Every service below is available across our full service area — same crew, same standards, regardless of which town you’re in.
We design and install kitchens for Cambridge's compact urban layouts and larger single-family homes alike, working around older plumbing and electrical systems common in the city's pre-war housing. We include professional design with every renovation.
We handle full bathroom rebuilds and tub-to-shower conversions, updating plumbing that's often original to the home's construction while managing tile, fixtures, and finish work as one project.
We design additions that work within Cambridge's tighter urban lot sizes, matching triple-decker and Victorian architectural details so the addition doesn't read as an obvious modern insert.
We build ADUs and garage conversions suited to Cambridge's dense residential lots, navigating the city's zoning requirements as part of the design process.
We refinish tubs and tile at a fraction of remodel cost, a good fit for Cambridge's older bathrooms where the original fixtures remain structurally sound.
We design decks that fit Cambridge's tighter urban yards, working within the setback and clearance constraints common in the city's older neighborhoods.
We repair and replace siding matched to Cambridge's Victorian and Colonial-era architecture, preserving character on triple-deckers and single-families alike.
We install energy-efficient windows and doors, sizing installations to match historic openings — especially relevant given how much heat older Cambridge homes lose through original glazing.
Our US Pro Method delivers a factory-finish cabinet transformation in under 10 days, a practical option for Cambridge's smaller kitchens where a full renovation isn't necessary.
We follow our full 13-step roofing process on every home and back the work with a 12-year warranty on workmanship and materials.
We apply full surface prep before painting, following lead-safe practices required on Cambridge's significant stock of pre-1978 housing.
We paint interiors with full prep and a complimentary color consultation, taking extra care around original plaster and trim common in Cambridge's older homes.
We coat garage and basement floors with durable epoxy systems, useful in Cambridge's older homes where basements often double as storage or utility space.
We provide 24/7 emergency response for water damage and certified mold remediation, addressing the moisture issues that come up often in Cambridge's older housing stock.
We assess your property and provide a clear, written estimate.
For remodels and additions, we finalize layout, materials, and flag any Cambridge-specific permitting or historic district considerations early.
We handle applications with Cambridge’s Inspectional Services Department, including historic district review where applicable.
Our crew completes the work to code, with regular updates throughout.
We review finished work together and leave the site clean.
It depends on your neighborhood and the scope of work. Many parts of Cambridge fall under historic district or conservation district review, particularly for exterior changes. We can help identify whether your project needs this review as part of your initial consultation.
Typically $10,000 to $80,000 or more, depending on project size, materials, and structural changes involved. Cambridge’s older housing stock can sometimes add cost if original systems need updating as part of the project — we’ll give you a realistic number after seeing your home.
Most projects take 2 to 8 weeks, though larger renovations or structural work in older homes may take longer, especially if historic review is required.
Yes — professional renovations that improve functionality and update aging systems tend to perform particularly well in a market where buyers pay a premium for move-in-ready homes.
Look for a Massachusetts-licensed contractor with experience in older housing stock specifically, transparent written estimates, and verified local reviews — historic homes often need judgment calls that a newer-construction-only contractor won’t have context for.
Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and living spaces are the most common projects — often paired with updates to outdated electrical or plumbing systems typical of the city’s older housing stock.
Whether it’s a straightforward update or a project that needs historic district coordination, we’ll give you an honest read on scope, permitting, and cost before anything begins.
Get Your Free Estimate or call (617) 922-6305 to get started.
