Award-Winning Home Renovation Company in Cambridge
Essex builds, remodels and adds on to homes in Cambridge 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 Cambridge MA
We take on three kinds of work in Cambridge, and we do all three with the same open-book process.
Our Home Remodeling Project in Cambridge: A Modern Glass Home
This modern Cambridge home is roughly 4,000 square feet, with walls of glass that connect its living spaces to the trees and gardens around it. It is one of our showcase projects, and it shows what our team can do on a contemporary home.
Outside, floor-to-ceiling windows and large sliding glass doors sit between gray horizontal siding, deep roof overhangs and wood-lined soffits. Upper-level decks with cable railings and built-in planters look over a stone patio with an outdoor fireplace and a stone-clad grill counter, and stone steps with a metal handrail climb a planted hillside through the landscaped gardens.
Inside, wood-lined ceilings run over open living spaces, and an open staircase with glass railings connects the floors. A bedroom and a home gym open straight out to the garden through sliding glass doors. The house also has a study with built-in bookshelves, a laundry room with built-in cabinets and a dining area beside a blue fireplace wall.
Why Cambridge 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 a Gold PRISM Award from the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston for Best High Performance / Energy Efficient Home, 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 Cambridge and the surrounding towns.
Most building, remodeling and addition projects need a permit from the city’s Inspectional Services Department at 831 Massachusetts Avenue. We handle permitting as part of pre-construction, so you are not left to sort it out on your own.
It can. Cambridge’s demolition delay ordinance covers all buildings over 50 years old, city-wide. If you plan to demolish all or a substantial part of an older building, the Cambridge Historical Commission reviews it first, and if the Commission finds the building significant and preferably preserved, it cannot be demolished for twelve months from the hearing. Homes in the city’s historic and neighborhood conservation districts, such as Old Cambridge, Mid Cambridge and Avon Hill, may also need Commission approval for exterior changes. 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 and your neighbors.
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 Cambridge 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.