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Home Renovation Contractor in Westwood, MA
Stay in Westwood and add the room you need.
From Islington to the town center, we plan second stories, additions, kitchens and finished basements for Westwood houses.
Westwood houses
Most Westwood houses were built in 1960 or later.
Westwood’s median house was built in 1968, and about 40% were built before 1960. To add room to a house that age, the usual options are a second story, an addition off the back or side, or a finished basement.
We look at the structure and the lot with you, then plan the one that fits the house and your budget. If you’re weighing two of them, we’ll walk through both with the designer.
review covers what was built before 1911
General Bylaw 250A, westwood.ma.us; US Census, ACS 2019 to 2023
Permits and local review
Westwood’s demolition review stops at 1911.
Outside that bylaw, the Historical Commission is advisory. Westwood also stays on the Stretch Energy Code; it hasn’t adopted the Specialized Opt‑in Code that Needham, Wellesley and Newton use.
- Demolition reviewGeneral Bylaw 250A gives the Historical Commission review over demolition of structures built before 1911.
- Historical CommissionOutside that bylaw, the Westwood Historical Commission is advisory.
- Energy codeStretch Energy Code, effective January 1, 2013. Westwood has not adopted the Specialized Opt‑in Code.
- Lead-safe workWork that disturbs paint in a home built before 1978 has to be done by a Lead-Safe Renovation Contractor licensed by the Department of Labor Standards.
- Contractor registrationOn most owner-occupied 1 to 4 family homes, the contractor has to be registered in the state’s Home Improvement Contractor program, with a licensed construction supervisor or registered design professional overseeing the work.
Sources: westwood.ma.us (Historical Commission); westwoodlibrary.org; mbta.com (Franklin/Foxboro Line); mass.gov (energy code adoption by municipality, as of June 4, 2026; lead-safe renovation; construction supervisor licensing; Home Improvement Contractor program); US Census Bureau, ACS 2019 to 2023 five-year estimates.
A second story on a cape
A full second story on a cape adds room without giving up the yard.
First we find out whether the existing walls and foundation can carry a second floor. The design starts from that answer.
If they can’t, a primary suite over the garage or a wing off the back can add a floor’s worth of room instead. Either way, the stairs, the roof and the heating and cooling all go into the plan.
Do you work in Islington and around the town center?
Yes, anywhere in Westwood. Islington has its own stop on the Franklin/Foxboro commuter rail line and a branch of the public library at 273 Washington Street.
Does Westwood’s demolition bylaw apply to my house?
Only if the structure was built before 1911. General Bylaw 250A gives the Historical Commission review over demolishing those; for anything newer, the Commission’s role is advisory. At least 60% of Westwood houses were built in 1960 or later.
Can you finish a basement in Westwood?
Yes. We start with water: grading, gutters and drainage. Then come the framing, the building and electrical permits, plumbing if there’s a bathroom, and inspections before the walls close. A basement bedroom needs an egress window.
Can we add a suite over the garage?
If the garage foundation and walls can carry a second floor, yes. We check them the same way we’d check the house for a second story.
Which energy code applies in Westwood?
The Stretch Energy Code, in effect since January 1, 2013. As of June 2026 Westwood hadn’t adopted the Specialized Opt‑in Code, so an addition here is designed to the Stretch Code.
How do I check a contractor’s licences?
Massachusetts has two lookups, run by two different state offices. A construction supervisor licence can be checked on the License Verification Site run by the Office of Public Safety and Inspections, and a home improvement contractor registration on the MA Contractor Hub. Holding one doesn’t mean holding the other. We go through both with you when we vet the contractor.
Around Westwood
About 9 miles from our base in Stoughton.
In Westwood: a second story, or a primary suite over the garage.
Start your project
Can your house take a second story?
We look at the walls and the foundation with you before anyone draws a plan.
(774) 296-4034Already have a bid for a Westwood job? Stephen reads it for $99 before you sign. The $99 bid review