Award-Winning Home Renovation Company in Weston
Essex builds, remodels and adds on to homes in Weston and across Greater Boston. We are an award-winning home remodeling contractor based in Wilmington, MA, and for more than 30 years we have guided homeowners from early planning and budgeting through permitting and construction.
No vague promises. No budget surprises three months in. We price your project line by line and show you actual costs against the forecast every week, so you always know where the money and the schedule stand.
Our Services in Weston, MA
We take on three kinds of work in Weston, and we do all three with the same open-book process.
Our Project in Weston: An 1897 Farmhouse on Highland Street, Reimagined
This Weston project started with a circa 1897 Victorian farmhouse and an awkward 1960s addition. The goal was to keep the original house, correct the addition and turn the whole property into one of the most efficient homes of its kind.
Where it started
The original 1897 house was well proportioned and worth keeping. It came with a 1960s-era wing that did not fit the house, a detached vintage garage/barn and a shallow rubble-wall basement.
What we did
- Kept the historic core. The core historic section was preserved where possible. The entry, dining room and kitchen stayed where they were, enlarged and updated in function.
- Corrected the 1960s addition. The expanded first floor now holds the main living spaces plus a new pantry, office and mudroom, and a new primary suite was added as part of the addition.
- Dug down for more space. We deepened the foundation by four feet to make room for a gym, a media and game room, laundry, a wine room, storage and a mechanical room in the basement.
- Added a new garage. A brand-new three-car garage, connected to the house and wired for two EV chargers, with a studio, bedroom and bath above.
- Built it to perform. The house runs on a 10-zone air source heat pump system, with energy recovery ventilation, a heat pump water heater, heat pump clothes dryers and a 14.72 kW solar array.
The result
Today it is a 7,640-square-foot home where traditional millwork and paneling sit alongside contemporary lighting, tile and hardware. It scored a HERS 19 with solar. HERS is the standard home energy rating, where a lower score means a more efficient home. The home is LEED Platinum, ENERGY STAR and DOE Zero Energy Ready certified and EPA Indoor airPLUS qualified. The project has earned three major awards:
- a Gold PRISM Award from the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston for Best High Performance / Energy Efficient Home
- a 2020 DOE Housing Innovation Award
- recognition in the 2020 LEED Homes Awards
Why Weston Homeowners Choose Essex for Home Remodeling
Most general contractors operate with opaque pricing, leaving homeowners guessing about the true state of their budget. We operate differently. Since 1995, Essex has completed more than 500 projects across Greater Boston, and every one runs on the same principles:
- Open-book contracting. You see exactly what we see, with no hidden markups.
- Weekly financial reports. Every week you get actual costs against the budget, so there are no surprises when the project ends.
- Our people, on your site. Essex carpenters and project managers do the bulk of the work and are on site every day.
- A clean, safe job site. Many projects happen while you are still living in the home, so we keep the site organized, safe and free of debris.
That approach has earned us industry recognition, including the award-winning Highland Street project above, and we are proud members of BRAGB, NARI and the National Association of Home Builders.
FAQs
Yes. We build custom homes, remodel homes (including kitchens and bathrooms) and build additions throughout Weston and the surrounding towns.
Most building, remodeling and addition projects need a permit from the Weston Building Department at 11 Town House Road. Depending on the project, the town may also send it to Conservation, the Board of Health, the Historical Commission, the Planning Board or the Zoning Board of Appeals. For additions and new homes, the town asks you to schedule an appointment with the Permit Administrator before you apply. We handle this as part of pre-construction.
It can. Under Weston’s Demolition Delay By-Law, taking down all or part of a building built by 1945 can require Historical Commission review, and the town can delay the demolition by up to 12 months. That can apply to additions that remove part of the original house, so we check this early and build it into the schedule.
We use open-book contracting, so you see every cost. Every week you get a report comparing actual costs to the forecast, so decisions get made with real numbers before small changes turn into big overruns.
Often, yes. Many of our addition and remodeling clients stay in their homes during construction, and we keep the job site organized, safe and clean to limit disruption to your daily life.
Yes. We work alongside your architect and act as your representative in the field. If you do not have one yet, we can introduce you to design partners we work with.
Ready to Talk About Your Weston Home Renovation Project?
Whether you are planning a new home, a remodel or an addition, the first step is a conversation. Tell us about your home and your goals, and we will give you an honest read on scope, budget and schedule.
Call 978-658-6300, Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM, or send us a message online.
Contact Us
Ready to start your remodeling project? Our team is here to answer your questions, discuss your ideas, and provide the guidance you need to move forward with confidence. Whether you’re in the early planning stages or ready to schedule a consultation, we’re just a phone call away.
John and Walter, We are so happy! Can’t begin to tell you what a pleasure it has been to work with Essex, you and all your crew, all wonderful people. Any time you would like a rave review just say the word.
We couldn’t be happier with the work! We can certainly attest to your flexibility, ‘can do’ approach, and innovative solutions. Thanks again for a great job that was on time, on budget and exceeded expectations!
Walter and John unfailingly put in the time and effort needed to ensure that I understand my options and can choose those that meet my needs best. Essex staff are true professionals, from their craftsmanship to their project management and communication with me as a client. I will not hesitate to use them for home improvements in the future.
Never in all my years of home remodeling projects have I experienced the work ethic your group displayed. From your timeliness, quality of workmanship, and right down to the end of the day clean up. Everything by Essex was top notch and I am pleasantly surprised by how the team came together to get the job done.
Thanks for everything Walter. It is a pleasure to work with a true professional like you – you are a dying breed, I am afraid.
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed having them work here. I know it’s a weird thing to say, but they are all perfectly delightful, so professional, talented and knowledgeable gentlemen.
Walter, I felt a great need to let you know what a great group of guys you have hired.
Walter. You and your team are the best!!
You took good care of me! I liked working with you and the crew a great deal, and even two years later still get compliments on the excellent quality of the workmanship.
Thank you for the phenomenal job. The patience, attention and professionalism that you displayed made what we thought would be a stressful and uncertain experience seamless and stress-free. You returned our calls, showed up on time, and you completed the project on schedule.
Walter and John have led their company in highly successful projects with Torrey Architecture. Our firms have collaborated to provide design-build capabilities to realize our clients’ dreams to transform their homes. I recommend Essex as a capable and trustworthy builder who is a pleasure to work with.