Our Recommended Contractors, Boston, MA

I’ve been working with most of the subcontractors who help me out on jobs I cannot do myself. I have worked with them for at least ten years or more.

My electrician, Robert Fairchild, from Fairchild and Sanchez in Cambridge (617-876-2422), is a history major who took up the electrical trade over twenty years ago. We’ve done lots of projects together, and we’re good friends.

My mason, Jack Aniceto, has established a substantial reputation for himself over the years restoring the beautiful facades of many buildings in the historic area of Boston’s Back Bay. Visit Commonwealth Avenue any day and you are likely to find one of his trucks working somewhere nearby. He just built a beautiful fieldstone fireplace for a client on Beacon Hill.

My plasterers, John & Jim Fay (617-436-1105), are famous in the Boston area for being able to make casts of Victorian details and reproduce them from scratch. His workmanship is always impeccable.

When I find someone I like to work with, I stay with them, because I know they will do a great job for my clients.

Sometimes a client needs replacement windows particularly suited to the requirements of the historical commission in their neighborhood. In many townhouses in the South End of Boston, for example, the front windows are bowed, and require curved glass, sash and trim.

When we need windows like these, and other, more conventional styles, we call
JB Sash and Door Company, in Chelsea, MA at 617-884- 8940. They can manufacture windows in any style, with any type of glass, and they deliver an excellent product
and a very reasonable price. They have a great showroom, and a competent
sales team which really goes the extra mile in making sure my clients get
exactly what they need.

"Sometimes we need some custom stained or etched glass for our entry doors. Joe Pompei is great at this, and we've done some nice projects with his company. "

Here's one of our favorite crown moldings, The Anderson & McQuaid Company. This company is a great resource for all kinds of decorative trim, and its all available in oak, cherry, birch, mahogany, maple, and of course, since it paints the best, poplar. They also do custom milling if you are trying to match something irreplaceable. AndersonMcQuaid

Metropolitan Cabinet, Norwood and Watertown. A huge showroom, with large selection of stock and semi custom cabinetry. Bring a sketch of your kitchen and talk to Sandy, Phil or Joan.

Another great resource is the Jon Andersen Design Service. I've worked with Jon on a number of projects and have a great deal of respect for his taste, his experience, and his sence of humor. He's unusually good at construction details, because he understands how things are built.

Another architect that I have really enjoyed working with over the last few years is Matt Carlton of Matt Carlton Design. Among the projects we have worked on together is a proposed addition to my own home.

The best company I have found when looking for someone to provide and install stone counters of any variety is Planet Granite (866-703-8677). Their workmanship is impeccable and they provide a level of service which is second to none.