Services
Full-Scale Renovations
Beyond cosmetic. Down to the studs.
Gut renovations, additions, and whole-home rebuilds across Boston and the surrounding towns.
5.0 ★★★★★ 14 Google reviewsGut renovations, structural additions, and whole-home transformations are the core of what we do. Kitchens and baths taken to the studs, walls moved, floors added, and dated houses brought fully current across Boston and the surrounding towns.
More than half of Boston’s housing stock went up before 1940, and almost all of it has been worked on since by someone. That history is where renovations get expensive. Open a wall and you find knob-and-tube wiring, undersized plumbing, framing that was notched for a duct decades ago, or a prior renovation that was never permitted. The drawings rarely tell the whole story.
We plan for that. A full existing-conditions review before demolition catches most of it, and the budget and schedule carry room for what can only be confirmed once the walls are open. Anything we uncover gets priced and approved in writing before we keep going. Nothing turns into a bill you didn’t sign off on.
In the historic districts, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the South End, and Charlestown, the exterior is governed. Windows, masonry, rooflines, and anything visible from the street run through the local commission before work starts, and we build that review into the schedule. We protect what should stay, the original plaster, the trim, the historic envelope, and bring everything else fully up to date.
Built by Cityside
Most of Boston went up before 1940. We bring it current without erasing what makes it worth keeping.
Scope of Work
What a full-scale renovation includes
- Demolition, abatement, and site protection
- Structural modifications and additions
- Full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades
- Framing, insulation, blueboard, and plaster
- Kitchen and bathroom construction
- Flooring, tile, and finish carpentry
- Historic-district and zoning review
- Interior and exterior painting
- Permitting and inspection coordination
- Daily reporting and live budget tracking
How It Works
A clear path from first call to closeout
- 01Scope and budgetWe review existing conditions, define the scope, and build a line-item budget you approve.
- 02Design and permitsWe coordinate design, run any zoning or historic review, and pull the permits.
- 03Construction with daily reportingWe demo, build, and finish, with daily photos and any concealed conditions priced before we proceed.
- 04Punch list and closeoutWe finish the punch list, pass inspections, and walk the completed home with you.
Questions, Answered
Frequently asked
What’s the difference between a renovation and a gut renovation?
A cosmetic renovation updates surfaces. A gut renovation takes the space down to the studs and rebuilds it, including the structural, mechanical, and finish work. We handle gut rehabs, structural additions, and whole-home transformations, not just refreshes.
How long does a whole-home renovation take in Boston?
A full gut renovation in Boston usually runs 6 to 12 months, depending on size, scope, and whether the property needs zoning or historic review. We lock the schedule before demolition starts.
Can you renovate a historic home or brownstone?
Yes. We renovate brownstones and historic-district homes in Beacon Hill, Back Bay, and the South End, and we build the local historic-commission review into the schedule instead of hitting it mid-project.
What happens if you find problems behind the walls?
On an older Boston home, you usually do, whether it’s knob-and-tube wiring, undersized plumbing, water damage, or undocumented prior work. We do an existing-conditions review before demolition to catch what we can, and we carry an allowance for what we can’t see until the walls are open. Anything we find gets priced and approved in writing before we move forward.
Can we live in the house during the renovation?
Sometimes, depending on the scope. When you stay, we phase the work, build temporary dust walls, protect the parts of the home you’re using, and schedule the messiest work around you. On a full gut, most clients move out, and we’ll tell you straight which one your project is.
Will I know what my renovation costs before work starts?
Yes. We lock a detailed scope and budget up front and you approve every dollar. You get daily progress photos and a clear view of where the project stands against budget and schedule the whole way through.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Cityside Construction is a fully licensed and insured Boston general contractor, holding Massachusetts HIC #216577 and CSL #CS-122098.
