Repairs and carpentry we handle
We do repairs and carpentry for southern New Hampshire homes, from a rotted sill to a door that will not close. We do carpentry and general contracting, and we coordinate licensed electricians and plumbers when a repair needs them. No job is too small to do right.
The repairs and carpentry we list on our services page are:
- Interior and exterior trim
- Door installation and repair
- Drywall repair
- Rot and water damage repair
- Window sash restoration
- General carpentry
Board and framing replacement on decks and porches, and exterior trim on siding and window jobs, are on the same list. See siding, windows and doors and decks and porches.
How to tell if it is rot
If a screwdriver or an awl sinks into the wood easily, or the wood crumbles or feels spongy, it is probably rot. Early signs are peeling paint, dark staining, and swelling at corners and sills.
Check the places that stay wet, such as window sills, door thresholds and the bottom of trim boards. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory describes probing with an awl or knife as a way to find decay near the surface. It also warns that water-softened wood can feel soft without being decayed, so a second look helps (USDA Forest Service, detecting decay in wood).
If your house was built before 1978, do not scrape or sand painted trim to test it. See the older homes section below.
Where rot starts on New Hampshire homes
Rot is a water problem, so a good repair has to find the water. Wood stays sound when it stays dry, and rot starts where it does not.
The usual sources around here are:
- Failed caulk or flashing around windows and doors
- Wood that touches soil or decking
- Splash-back from the ground or water running off the roof
- Window and door sills that hold water
- Porch and deck ledger areas
- Freeze and thaw cycles that open joints, so water gets in over the winter
If the water comes from a plumbing leak, we coordinate a licensed plumber. We do not do plumbing ourselves.
Repair or replace the trim?
Sometimes a small rotted section can be cut out and replaced. Sometimes the whole board, sill or casing has to come off. The right answer depends on the piece, and we look at it in person before we say.
| What we look at | Points toward a section repair | Points toward replacing the whole piece |
|---|---|---|
| How far the rot runs | A small, contained spot | Rot along most of the board |
| Where it reached | The trim only | The sheathing or the framing behind it |
| The profile | A common profile that is easy to find | An old profile that is hard to match |
| The job of the board | Decorative trim | A sill or board that carries load or sheds water |
When rot reaches framing, decks and windows
A trim fix can turn into a bigger repair when rot has gone behind the board. A window sill can lead to framing. A rotted porch board can lead to the joists under it.
For decks and porches, we replace boards and framing. That work is on our list under decks and porches. For windows, doors and exterior trim, see siding, windows and doors. If the question is whether a window is worth saving, read our post on whether to repair or replace your windows.
Older New Hampshire homes: what to expect behind the trim
Older houses can hide old trim profiles, plaster and lath, and many layers of paint. Tell us how old your house is when you call.
Paint on a house built before 1978 may contain lead. The EPA explains the risk and where lead is found on its lead page. If your house was built before 1978, we test for lead, and if it turns up we work with regulated contractors as needed.
Permits and coordinated trades
Most simple trim repairs do not need a permit, but permit rules are set town by town and structural work can need one. Check your town's building office or ask us.
Stratham lists interior trim among the routine repairs that need no permit (Stratham building department). Bedford lists structural changes and repairs as work that needs one, and notes that permits are not only for structural work (Bedford, work requiring a permit). Epping posts its permit forms and instructions on its building permits page. If your repair needs a permit, we or one of our subcontractors can pull it.
What we need to see to give you a quote
Photos help. Send a few of the damaged area, close up and from a few feet back, and tell us where it is and what feels soft. Mention how old the house is.
Then we set up a free consultation and give you an itemized written quote.
Carpentry and repairs by town
We work across southern New Hampshire. These pages cover individual towns:
If your town is not listed, call us.
Repairs often come up on bigger jobs too. See kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling and basement finishing. To fix trim before the cold sets in, read what to fix before winter. For hiring advice, see the questions to ask before hiring a contractor. More about us is on our About page.
Repairs and carpentry FAQ
How do I know if trim is rotted?
Press a screwdriver or awl into the wood. If it sinks in easily, crumbles or feels spongy, it is probably rot. Dark staining, peeling paint and swelling at corners and sills are early signs. Rot usually comes from water, so look for the source too.
Can rotted wood be repaired instead of replaced?
Sometimes a small section can be cut out and replaced, and sometimes the whole board, sill or casing has to be replaced. It depends on how far the rot runs and whether it reached the framing.
Do I need a permit to replace trim or deck boards?
Usually not for simple trim, but it is set town by town and structural work can need one. Check your town's building office or ask us. If your repair needs a permit, we or one of our subcontractors can pull it.
What if the rot comes from a plumbing leak?
We find where the water is coming from. If a repair needs plumbing or electrical work, we coordinate those trades. We do not do that work ourselves.
Is old trim paint a lead risk?
It can be in homes built before 1978. We test for lead on older homes, and if it turns up we work with regulated contractors as needed.
How do I get an estimate for repairs?
Call (603) 665-0447 or send the form with photos if you have them. Free consultation and an itemized written quote.
Get a free estimate
Call (603) 665-0447 or send the estimate form. The consultation is free, and the quote is itemized and in writing.