By Doug Hanna Building construction is a dangerous business. At a time when many jobs have moved from factory floors to cubicles, and from farms to malls, construction remains something that must be done on-site, by actual people. Those people, the people who work on your homes, face potential dangers every day. Electrical hazards fall, and injuries from tools make up the majority of injuries … [Read more...] about Job Site Dangers in the Construction Business
Disoriented & Double Hung Window
Our carpenters’ ingenuity is constantly being challenged to produce real-world construction solutions that charm, function, and endure, but typically this ingenuity is hidden in the work. They are satisfied with that, as impeccable workmanship is their constant and ultimate aim. Generally, if the carpenter is seen in the work, then a mistake was made! A disorienting sideways double-hung window … [Read more...] about Disoriented & Double Hung Window
Aging in Place: Renovations for Senior Living
By Doug Hanna More and more, people of my generation and older hear the phrase "aging-in-place." It could be taken to mean standing still until you shuffle off this mortal coil, and indeed, standing still would no doubt hasten the process. But aging-in-place is the current term used to describe methods that allow people to remain in their homes as long as possible, as they grow old. This is a … [Read more...] about Aging in Place: Renovations for Senior Living
Building Renovation Staircase
Stairs are perhaps the most exacting of tasks required of the carpenter. Usually, framing specialists execute the structural frame, but for this demanding project, the finished carpenter insisted on building it himself. There were issues, such as code requirements for a continuous handrail, and accommodations made for a salvaged, original Victorian newel post. The master carpenter knew exactly … [Read more...] about Building Renovation Staircase
The Radiance of Radiant Heating
By Doug Hanna Radiant heating heats objects like the furniture, the drapes, the dog, and you. We are big fans of radiant heat and have been installing both kinds, forced hot water, and electric since it became popular about 15-20 years ago. In whole house renovations, the walls and ceilings are exposed so the opportunity for installing radiant heating is easier and therefore less … [Read more...] about The Radiance of Radiant Heating
Historic Building Documentation by Carpenters
By Doug Hanna Sometime in the mid-1990s, S+H Construction was hired to perform a renovation on an old, but quite grand, wood-frame building on Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge. The structure was originally built as a single-family residence but had been purchased by Lesley College, and at that time served as the administration building. Part of the project involved restoring and improving the … [Read more...] about Historic Building Documentation by Carpenters
Less Can Be More With Minimalist Design
Clean, uncluttered minimalist design is a modern look, appealing for what it leaves out, such as installation of the door, floor, and window trim. Certainly, there will be savings with such a design since the carpenters get to skip this step and go home early? Actually, the reverse is likely to be true. To understand why one needs to understand the function of trim on windows and doors. … [Read more...] about Less Can Be More With Minimalist Design
The Old Is New – Walnut Library
The interior of this elaborate Victorian in Harvard Square had been gutted in the early ’60s. The new owners had a vision to create a room, a paneled library, which would feel as if it had been entirely original to the building itself. Their designers procured a couple of period architectural objects which provided focal points for the design of the room. One was an antique, Dutch-produced … [Read more...] about The Old Is New – Walnut Library
Why Use a General Contractor
Live and learn. That still holds true for us at S + H Construction, even though we’ve been in this business for almost 35 years. Some of what we learn falls under the category of “you can’t make this up,” while other things are just old realizations that get reinforced with each passing year. We’ve noticed that the learning process is also true for a new generation of homeowners who, just as with … [Read more...] about Why Use a General Contractor
Outdoor Deck Durability Construction Tips
Over the last century, taste in outdoor structures has evolved from the traditional covered porch to the open outdoor deck. An open deck is obviously subject to the elements in a way that a roofed porch is not, and its expected service is much reduced because of that fact. Victorian roofed porches over a century old are still performing with minimal maintenance while mid-century open decks have … [Read more...] about Outdoor Deck Durability Construction Tips
The Carpenter’s Apprentice
I write to share a story that had us laughing, at first and then got us talking about changes in the building industry, the culture, and in the generations. First the funny part: Recently one of our master carpenters was installing a wood panel and needed to round the edge, so he turned to his young assistant and said "get me a router”. The truck was just down on the street, so he should have … [Read more...] about The Carpenter’s Apprentice
Preliminary Guesstimates
We are often asked to provide preliminary estimates for building and renovation projects, prior to the development of clear and definitive plans and specifications. Estimates are, of course, more accurate, with a fully realized set of construction documents. But we know that preliminary estimates are a good way for architects and owners to get a rough idea of the cost of projects before fully … [Read more...] about Preliminary Guesstimates
A Win for Solar Energy Installations in Massachusetts
By Doug Hanna A recent court decision should help increase the number of solar panels installed in the Commonwealth. Last month, the Massachusetts Superior Court issued a summary judgment that overruled part of a 2009 memorandum to wiring inspectors from the Massachusetts State Board of Electrical Examiners (BSEE). The BSEE memorandum stated that only companies controlled by master electricians … [Read more...] about A Win for Solar Energy Installations in Massachusetts
Pride and the Master Carpenter
By Doug Hanna Recently, the guy who does web marketing for our company, John Corbett, suggested that I write a blog post about the role of pride in producing top-level craftsmen. Having worked at S + H maybe 20 years ago for a year or two, John recalled that every carpenter that he knew at S + H aspired to be the best, and had definite opinions on what constituted quality work. The carpenter’s … [Read more...] about Pride and the Master Carpenter
What to Know About the Cambridge Historical Commission
The Cambridge Historical Commission is the official historic preservation authority for the City of Cambridge. If your property is in a formally designated historic or neighborhood conservation district, no permitted work can proceed without a Certificate from the Commission. Interior changes or existing exterior repairs (restored as original) will usually be approved administratively by … [Read more...] about What to Know About the Cambridge Historical Commission
Cost-Plus vs. Fixed Cost Contracts
By Doug Hanna Recently I attended a three-day retreat with a group of contractors from different areas of the United States. This was an introductory meeting to see if our company would "make the cut" and be voted into this advisory group of contractors. We were indeed voted into the group, and so will attend a couple of meetings a year going forward. We regularly meet with local … [Read more...] about Cost-Plus vs. Fixed Cost Contracts
Glass Slab Walls
These glass slabs make a beautiful wall for a shower stall, one with one of the best views in Cambridge, across the Charles River to the Boston skyline. They were an exacting task to install, as they are massive, half an inch thick, weighing 150 to 200 pounds each, the attachment points fixed and all parts transparent. There was no room for error in this part of the project. The master … [Read more...] about Glass Slab Walls
New Systems – Old Radiators
Existing cast-iron steam radiators can be easily reused in modern heating system upgrades. Sometimes richly detailed, these radiators are often part of the original design fabric, and homeowners want to retain them, just as they would for any original historical element in their home. In addition to their historic beauty, their greater mass enables them to hold and radiate heat for a longer time … [Read more...] about New Systems – Old Radiators
Historic Victorian Porch or Modern Deck – Which Is It?
This historic Victorian porch restoration had us guessing for a while. Every architectural era is defined by the contemporary lifestyle and building technology, but every once in a while we encounter a building that jumps the rail, so to speak, into another era. An example is this surprising Victorian residence in Somerville. Note the modern feel to the 8 foot deep unroofed deck. That can’t be … [Read more...] about Historic Victorian Porch or Modern Deck – Which Is It?
Old Virgin Growth Lumber and Alternatives
By Doug Hanna Having worked on old homes and structures in New England for the last 40 years, we continue to be impressed with the durability of the lumber used before the 20th century. Most of the exterior trim installed in the 17th, 18th, and most of 19th century came from virgin timber. These were trees that had grown close together, undisturbed, sometimes for centuries. The result of this … [Read more...] about Old Virgin Growth Lumber and Alternatives
Ice Dam Season
We are by now all familiar with that ubiquitous modern building style, the “McMansion”, which typically presents a front elevation spiked with gables. In New England, or anywhere where winter brings snow and ice, the issue with converging gable roof valleys is that they present a choke point for snow and ice on the roof, resulting in an ice dam. Such a dam will cause snowmelt to back up through a … [Read more...] about Ice Dam Season
The Benefit of a Good Architect or Designer
By Doug Hanna The residential construction industry is on the rise, which is great news. But lately, we've noticed a tendency of owners trying to build or renovate without good, solid design plans. This is not anything new but seems to be more prevalent these days. Perhaps it's a side effect of the recession, or, as one architect recently said to me "the commoditizing of our industry." I'm not … [Read more...] about The Benefit of a Good Architect or Designer
Cantilevered Deck
This floating, cantilevered deck furnishes a unique and private outdoor urban space in North Cambridge. We have seen the need for increased space in a limited footprint drive some unusual construction solutions, of which this deck is an extreme example. So extreme that it almost didn’t happen as it ran into engineering and zoning issues that nearly caused the owner to abandon the project. The … [Read more...] about Cantilevered Deck
Copper Roofing for a Lifetime
The most durable, trouble-free roof in nearly any application is a standing seamed, double-locked copper roof. Unlike shingle systems, including slate, there is no way for water to enter the eaves area because of ice dams. Unlike single locked (or face nailed) metal systems, there is no way for the metal pans (sheets) to come loose or allow water to penetrate. This means that they can be effective … [Read more...] about Copper Roofing for a Lifetime
Follow the Curve – In Wood
Fabricating curved wood millwork is one of the most demanding tasks the carpenter faces, especially when the bent woodwork is to be exposed to the outside elements. Built-in the late 1990s, the trim on this curved wooden fence did not stand the test of time. Furnishing privacy in a quiet Brattle Street neighborhood, it was rotted, infested with carpenter ants, and coming down on its own, with or … [Read more...] about Follow the Curve – In Wood
Design Collaborations Between Contractor and Architect
One could argue that the best, and most organic design solutions involve input from the bottom up. S+H's skill set allows them to collaborate with architects to conceptualize designs that will not only delight the client but provide functionality. When a long-time client requested a custom-built bulkhead for their home, project manager Walter Mayne took the lead; "I looked at a set of plans … [Read more...] about Design Collaborations Between Contractor and Architect
Channeling the Architect
The name of a well known modernist architect has been coming up for us lately, as we have now worked on a couple of his residential designs. Just how well known is Samuel Glaser? If you live in Greater Boston, you likely know one of his commercial buildings quite well, the 1963 Star Market building, built over the Mass Pike, in Newtonville, possibly the busiest stretch of road in Massachusetts. In … [Read more...] about Channeling the Architect
Contractors Insurance – What Homeowners Should Know
By Doug Hanna Remodeling your home or building a new one is always very exciting. The anticipation of finally having your "dream house" can sometimes overshadow some of the issues that tend to get lost in the shuffle. Yes, it is critical that you use a contractor, architect, and designer that are a good fit for your project. But in the process, it is critical that you make sure your "team" - … [Read more...] about Contractors Insurance – What Homeowners Should Know
Heated Bluestone Driveway
Anybody north of a certain latitude knows to dread the chore of shoveling snow, so the idea of a radiant heated driveway has universal appeal. This bluestone paving makes a beautiful surface, but it is just the business end of a complex snowmelt system that melts the snow as it falls - - or the ice as it forms. This is a great concept, but frankly, expensive to run, as the driveway is a … [Read more...] about Heated Bluestone Driveway
Granite Stone Fireplace
This tightly laid granite fieldstone veneer in Belmont is a tasteful and simple natural finish for a fireplace. The small squared-off stone units lend a low-key, but satisfying, focus to this dining area. The word "focus", in fact, is Latin for fireplace. Note the finished granite lintel spanning the opening, in contrast to the rough split granite fieldstones. … [Read more...] about Granite Stone Fireplace
Home Elevator Design
A home elevator can be a critical part of your plan to remain in your existing home as you age. The issue is that imposing a vertical open shaft through the interior of any existing home is very disruptive, both to the structure and to interior finishes. These issues can be avoided by building the elevator outside the existing footprint of the house, as an exterior addition. As this Brookline … [Read more...] about Home Elevator Design
Stone Walkways Cambridge
HARVARD SQUARE SITE IMPROVEMENTSCambridge, MA Project Participants:Chris Dallmus of Design Associates Landscaping and site work of this Federal Style home near Harvard Square included installing a long aggregate driveway bordered with brick, several walkways, mature trees, a water feature, and a formal garden at the front of the home. This was part of a larger renovation project by S+H … [Read more...] about Stone Walkways Cambridge
How to Choose a Contractor
By Doug Hanna Contrary to the sworn oath of the brotherhood/sisterhood of general contractors, we builders do sometimes try to put ourselves in the shoes of the customer. We understand that it can be daunting for homeowners to start down the road of choosing a contractor. There are many aspects to take into consideration including quality, price, reputation, length of time in business, NSA … [Read more...] about How to Choose a Contractor
New Floor Plan Of The Old House
The appeal of Victorian-era period detail is undeniable, but their floor plans are in conflict with modern tastes which prioritize light and access. We marvel at their lofty ceilings, small room footprints, and locksets on every interior door. It was a different world, clearly - - so down come the walls. We value Victorian-era millwork because it is so lush, generous, and difficult to … [Read more...] about New Floor Plan Of The Old House
Stripping Historic Exterior Trim
Exterior paint layers build up over time, and the accumulation of paint films will eventually fill and obscure original millwork details. An example is this Brattle Street Colonial Revival-style house built-in 1887. Built for Annie Thorp, a daughter of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, it was inspired by her father’s eighteenth-century Georgian house nearby. The “revival” style was exactly that, a late … [Read more...] about Stripping Historic Exterior Trim
Design Flexibility & Renovation of Historic Buildings
Sometimes historic buildings can take their time giving up their secrets. In such a case, it is well to have a flexible project design, one that takes account of the surprises and opportunities that renovation of an older building can furnish. An example is this 1840’s Gothic mansion on Beacon Hill, designed by Richard Upjohn, who designed the main entrances to the Boston Common. Originally a … [Read more...] about Design Flexibility & Renovation of Historic Buildings
Why Not Stucco for Exterior Finish?
The use of stucco as an exterior finish is traditional in Florida and California and is growing slowly in New England, as lumber of a suitable grade and species for exterior finish becomes harder to find. Historically, even in New England, some designers specified stucco as appropriate for the building style they had chosen. Though it is associated with dry or tropical climates, we can see it … [Read more...] about Why Not Stucco for Exterior Finish?
On-Site Millwork Fabrication Skills
Construction of this Craftsman-style home's new grand entry was an example of how on-site millwork fabrication skills can furnish design and production efficiencies, keeping the project on schedule. While a third-party vendor will generally fabricate custom millwork more economically than can be done on-site, in this case, significant on-site fabrication enabled the carpenters to help resolve … [Read more...] about On-Site Millwork Fabrication Skills
Accelerated Construction Schedules
By Doug Hanna One of the most common questions we get from owners, just after how much a project is going to cost, is “how long it will take?". People who have experienced a renovation project before usually have a somewhat realistic idea of the schedule. We often say that were it not for permits and inspections, we might be able to shave months off a particular job. But the fact is that we, … [Read more...] about Accelerated Construction Schedules
Steel Windows – Restore or Replace
Steel windows were a staple feature of the many early 20th centuries Tudor Revival homes built in Newton and Brookline. The narrow flat muntins in steel window sash approximated the leaded glass of the historic Tudor era and, paradoxically, given the space a clean, almost modern feel. What is not to like about this unique and effective window solution? Much has changed since the early 20th … [Read more...] about Steel Windows – Restore or Replace