How to Find Reliable Contractors for Your Historic Property
A historic home is a piece of architectural heritage that requires specialist care during renovations. Using a contractor without experience in antiques home renovation and repair can lead to irreversible mistakes. To preserve your property's value and architectural integrity, it's vital to know exactly how to find an expert contractor to complete historical renovations.
General Contractor vs. Historic Specialist
General contractors are skilled at modern construction, but historic home renovation operates on a different set of rules, materials and methods. The risks you run when hiring a general contractor for this type of work include:
Permanent damage to irreplaceable historic materials such as plaster, millwork and windows.
Compliance failures with local historical societies, district commissions or the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) guidelines.
Loss of the property's unique character, diminishing its historic and financial value.
What to Look for When Hiring a Historic Renovation Contractor
When you're looking for an experienced historic restoration contractor, the following actionable checklist will help you separate the qualified from the unqualified:
Proven historic portfolio: Ask to see their portfolio of specific historic projects, not only modern remodels. Look for before and after examples of projects that are similar in age and style to your own.
Deep knowledge of historic standards: Confirm that your contractor follows the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and ask how they apply them. These guidelines set the benchmark for quality historic renovations.
Mastery of traditional materials and methods: Ask about their experience with period-appropriate materials such as old-growth wood and lime-based plaster, and techniques such as sash window restoration and masonry repair.
Relationships with preservation authorities: Find out if they have experience navigating and collaborating with local historic district commissions.
How to Find Qualified Historic Restoration Contractors
Now you know how to choose a historic renovation contractor, it's time to find one. Contact your local Historic District Commission and preservation-focused architects, as they often provide lists of trusted professionals whose work meets rigorous local standards. These experts can steer you away from generalists and toward builders they've personally vetted. Additionally, your SHPO is an excellent resource for identifying firms familiar with state-level regulations, ensuring your project runs smoothly from the start.
Beyond official referrals, seek tangible proof of specialized expertise. Look for firms that have earned formal recognition from industry authorities, such as a PRISM Award from the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston, which highlights superior craftsmanship on complex projects. This level of third-party validation is a clear indicator that you are engaging with a true specialist.
Tell Us About Your Historic Renovation Project
If you're looking for a highly qualified historical renovation specialist, you've found one in ReModern Builders. We see ourselves as stewards of architectural history and are proud to provide the services needed to preserve the beauty of the past. We have won multiple awards for our projects and have all the necessary experience, knowledge and relationships with preservation authorities needed to execute your vision flawlessly.
Contact us today to tell us more about your project.