B+A Greater Boston

Returning to the Boston area, Walter quickly found work as a carpenter with the north shore building firm Classic Restorations. In 1990, with a recession on the horizon, Walter left his carpentry job and enrolled in a two-year vocational program at the North Bennet Street School. In 1995, a mere six years after graduating from Columbia, Walter was eager to strike out on his own. With two trusted schoolmates at his side, he founded Essex Restoration. Twenty-five years later, with a roster of hundreds of gratified customers, Essex employs 12 full-time staff members, each with a broad range of skills. Though the team hails from diverse educational backgrounds, several employees share certifications from the North Bennet Street School's Preservation Carpentry program. "There are so many facets to a restoration project," explains Walter. "To have the same team be able to take it from start to finish is gratifying for the team for sure, but there's more consistency, more ownership. The guys putting the finish on are the same ones who originally constructed the frame." The entire team likewise shares a commitment to extraordinary customer service and quality workmanship. That workmanship and love of craft is always on display in Essex's own millwork shop. Though large window and door orders are still outsourced, operation of its own shop provides the company a freedom of experimentation and flexibility of schedule, unavailable elsewhere. "We have the greatest team, the greatest group of people," exclaims Walter. "We have fun." There, the skilled craftsmen construct built-ins, bookcases, windows, doors, duplicated historic mouldings and casings. Simply put, "It makes our projects go better." This too is the rationale he provides for the frequent collaboration with architectural firms. When first starting out in the business, clients hoping to defray costs would inquire about the need for an architect. "We don't really need an architect, do we?" Eager to please initially, Walter assumed the role, but "soon realized that the job would go faster, cost less, and be executed with greater design technique" were an architect involved from inception. I am writing to tell you how pleased I am with Essex Restoration and your team. Never in all my years of various home remodeling projects, have I experienced the quality of work ethic that your group displayed. From their timeliness, to their accommodating my needs, their quality of workmanship and right down to the end of the day cleanup. Everything done by Essex was top notch, and I am pleasantly surprised by how the team came together to get the job done. I would like to extend a special thank you to Eric Ashwell and Chris Haynes. It is because of their attention to detail and quality of work that I am thankful I hired Essex. —HEIDI, ANDOVER PHOTOGRAPHY: GREG PREMRU BOSTON.BUILDERARCHITECT.COM Builder+Architect GREATER BOSTON, CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS | 1 3

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