Restoring a 1910 Medfield Home: Historic Carpentry Repairs That Protect Original Character
Older homes have a way of letting you know when they need attention. A soft spot in the window trim. A shingle that has curled or split over the front door. Paint that keeps peeling no matter how many times it gets touched up.
More often than not, the cause is water working its way into the wood. That was the case on a recent project right here in Medfield, on a home with more than a century of history behind it.
A Home Worth Preserving
Built in 1910 and once owned by Granville C. Mitchell, this historic Medfield home still has many of its original architectural details. Those details are a big part of what makes a home like this special, and they deserve to be repaired with care rather than simply torn out and replaced with something that doesn’t fit.
Our homeowners wanted the exterior protected without losing the character that has defined the house for generations.
The Repairs Our Carpenters Completed
Our experienced carpentry crew handled several exterior repairs on this project:
- Replacing rotted wooden window casements. Damaged wood was removed and replaced with new wood casements that match the home’s original style.
- Re-roofing the projecting roofs over the windows. These small overhangs take a beating from rain and snow and help shed water away from the window openings.
- Re-roofing the projecting roof over the front entrance. The entry overhang was completely re-shingled to match.
All of the re-roofing was done with new cedar shingles, a traditional material that suits the age and style of the home.
Why Historic Homes Need a Different Approach
Working on historic homes requires experience, patience, and careful attention to detail. A house built in 1910 wasn’t built to today’s standard dimensions, so trim, casements, and roof details often have to be custom fitted on site.
Our skilled carpenters take pride in restoring original woodwork and using traditional materials and techniques that complement the home’s existing architecture. The goal is for the repairs to look like they belong there, because they do.
Protecting Wood from New England Weather
Massachusetts winters are hard on exterior wood. Snow sits on window hoods and entry roofs, freeze and thaw cycles open small gaps, and spring rain finds its way into anything that isn’t sealed tight.
Projecting roofs over windows and doors are the first line of defense for the openings below them. When those shingles fail, water reaches the casements and trim, and rot follows. Replacing both together stops the problem at the source. Good water management matters too, which is why we also check that gutters and downspouts are moving water away from the house.
Carpentry and Painting From One Team
One of the benefits of working with Laperle Painting is that our carpenters and painters work side by side. When surprises come up during an exterior painting project in Medfield or a neighboring town, like rotted trim boards or windowsills, our crew can make the repairs without delaying the job.
These improvements will help protect this home from New England weather while preserving the character and craftsmanship that have defined it for more than a century.
Own an Older Home in Medfield or Metro-West?
If your historic home is showing signs of rot, worn shingles, or failing trim, it’s better to catch it early. Take a look at our house painting portfolio, check the towns we serve, and contact us for a free quote. You can also reach us at (508) 359-8988.
Laperle Painting Company Inc. | Medfield, MA | HIC
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