Our work has been recognized by preservation publications, architectural journalists, and the homeowners who have trusted us with their most prized possessions. Below is a selection of press coverage and testimonials from those we have had the privilege of working alongside.
"In a region where vinyl replacement windows have claimed thousands of original double-hungs, a handful of restoration specialists are working against the tide — and making a compelling case that original wood windows, properly maintained, outlast anything manufactured today. HIS Carpentry's approach to window restoration is as methodical as it is reverent. Their documentation process alone would put many preservation consultants to shame."
Read Article"What separates the preservation specialist from the general contractor is not just technique — it is philosophy. The craftsmen at HIS Carpentry have articulated that philosophy clearly: do as little as necessary, do it in kind, and document everything. It is a standard that the wider renovation industry would benefit from adopting, particularly as more pre-1900 homes change hands and face the renovator's enthusiasm."
Read Article"The house had been neglected for the better part of two decades. The sills were compromised, several window sashes had been replaced with aluminum units, and the original clapboards were held together more by paint than wood fiber. HIS Carpentry's eighteen-month rehabilitation addressed each of these issues in turn, from sill jack-and-replace to custom sash fabrication that matched the surviving originals to within a thirty-second of an inch."
Read Article"The impulse to preserve the monumental is easy to understand. The discipline to preserve the ordinary — the farmhouse, the cape, the Greek Revival school — is the harder and more important work. Companies like HIS Carpentry, who make their living caring for vernacular New England buildings without fanfare, are doing as much for the region's architectural heritage as any museum or national landmark program."
Read Article"The window restoration specialists we spoke with all make a version of the same argument: an original wood window, properly glazed, weather-stripped, and maintained, outperforms a modern replacement window on every metric that matters for a historic home. HIS Carpentry goes further, noting that in most cases they can restore an original window for less than the cost of a quality replacement — and the original will last another century."
Read Article"We had been told by three contractors that our original windows were beyond saving. HIS Carpentry assessed every single one, repaired twenty-two of the twenty-four sashes, and fabricated custom storms for each opening. The house is warmer than it has ever been and the windows look exactly as they did when the house was built in 1798."
"I am an architect who works almost exclusively with historic properties, and I am very particular about who I recommend to my clients. HIS Carpentry is on a very short list. Their knowledge of period construction, their documentation practices, and the quality of their millwork reproduction work are all exceptional. They understand both the history and the craft."
"Our 1742 saltbox had lost most of its original entryway surround to rot and a previous owner's ill-advised 'update.' HIS Carpentry researched period examples, documented surviving fragments, and fabricated a replacement surround that is indistinguishable from the original. They treated the house with the respect it deserves."
"The sill repair work HIS Carpentry performed on our 1830s Greek Revival was extraordinary. They jacked the structure, sistered the compromised sills using period joinery methods, and finished the work so cleanly that you cannot tell anything was done from the exterior. That is exactly what you want."
"As a historic preservation officer, I have reviewed a great deal of rehabilitation work over the years. HIS Carpentry's projects consistently meet — and frequently exceed — the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. Their written scopes of work are detailed and their execution is meticulous. They are a genuine asset to the preservation community in New England."
"We were nervous about the scope of what needed to be done to our 1868 Italianate. HIS Carpentry walked us through every decision, explained the reasoning behind each recommendation, and never once tried to oversell us on work that wasn't necessary. The porch restoration alone was worth every penny — it looks like 1868 again."
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