Service Area · Dennis, MA
Whole home remodeling for the north side of Dennis, where sea captains’ homes line Route 6A and most exterior changes go through the Old King’s Highway committee first.
Dennis village has a different rhythm from the south shore. Route 6A, the Old King’s Highway, runs past the 1927 Cape Playhouse, 19th century sea captains’ homes and houses built in nearly every decade since. Renovating here means respecting that character while making the house comfortable, efficient and easy to live in.
As a Cape Cod remodeler with more than 30 years in the trade, we plan a whole house renovation in Dennis with the historic review built in from the first sketch. Interior layouts, kitchens, baths and systems can change dramatically. Exterior changes are planned so they will pass review, which keeps the project from stalling halfway through.
Whole home renovations for historic and newer homes on the north side of Dennis.
Kitchen remodels that modernize older Dennis homes while keeping their period character.
We have completed more than 1,000 projects over three decades, and many of them involved older Cape houses with history behind every wall. Our in-house carpentry crew handles trim, millwork and custom cabinetry, which matters when new work has to match old. We are licensed and insured.
We also treat historic review as part of the job, not an obstacle. Our whole home remodeling service covers approvals, permits and construction with one team.
The Old King’s Highway Regional Historic District was established in 1973 and covers the land north of Route 6, so the village of Dennis sits inside it. The town’s committee reviews almost any exterior change through a Certificate of Appropriateness or Exemption: paint color, windows and doors, roofing and siding, trim, additions, even solar panels.
Work inside the house generally falls outside that review, which is why many Dennis owners put their biggest changes on the interior. We prepare the exterior application early so the approval runs alongside design rather than delaying construction.
Our process starts with a careful look at the existing structure, because older homes along Whig Street and Route 6A often hide sill damage, undersized framing or past repairs that need attention first. Next comes design, then the committee application for any exterior work, then permits.
Construction follows a fixed order, from structure through systems to finishes. It is the same disciplined sequence we use on historic houses in South Dennis, adjusted for the extra approval step the north side requires.
From Dennis, our work reaches across Route 6 into South Dennis, home to a historic district of its own along Main Street, and down to Dennis Port, where our shop is.
West along Route 6A, Yarmouth shares the Old King’s Highway district, including the sea captains’ homes on Captains’ Mile, so the approval process there will feel familiar.
Typical projects here include reworking the interior of a sea captain’s house for modern family life, updating a mid-century home near Scargo Lake, or bringing a bay-side cottage close to Mayflower Beach up to year-round standards. The Josiah Dennis Manse Museum on Whig Street is a reminder of how long some of these homes have been standing.
Whatever the age, the goal is a full home remodel that feels like it belongs to the house.
Tell us about the house, what you love about it and what needs to change. We’ll walk through it with you, flag any exterior work that needs Old King’s Highway approval and lay out a realistic sequence. Contact us to arrange a visit.
begin
Every project begins with a conversation. Share a few details and we’ll be in touch within one business day to schedule your in-home consultation.
370 Upper County Rd Bay #1, Dennis Port, MA 02660, United States
Inside the Old King’s Highway district, which covers everything north of Route 6, almost any exterior change needs approval from the Dennis committee. That includes paint color, windows, doors, roofing and siding materials, trim, fences, additions and solar panels. Some like-for-like maintenance can qualify for an exemption instead. We prepare the paperwork with you and plan the schedule around the review.
Yes. The usual approach is to keep the exterior and the defining interior details, such as trim, stairs and fireplaces, while rebuilding the systems and reworking rooms that no longer function. Our carpenters can match period trim and build custom cabinetry that suits the house. Owners of similar homes on Captains’ Mile in Yarmouth take the same approach.
It can. Under Title 5, an expansion in use that requires a building permit can trigger a septic inspection, and the Board of Health signs off before the building permit is issued. Adding bedrooms is the main driver, because septic design flow is based on bedroom count. We raise this early so it never becomes a surprise at permit time.
It depends on the scope. If the work is phased and the kitchen and one bathroom stay usable, many owners stay put. When the project involves structural work or every system at once, a short move is usually easier and faster. Second homes in Dennis are often renovated while empty, which simplifies everything. We’ll tell you honestly which option fits your project.
In writing, before the work changes. Older houses sometimes reveal problems once walls are open, and owners sometimes change their minds. Either way, the change, its effect on cost and its effect on the schedule are agreed in writing first. A Massachusetts home improvement contract spells out the scope, so changes deserve the same clarity. We handle it the same way on our South Dennis projects.
At a minimum: start and completion dates, a detailed description of the work and materials, the total price, a payment schedule, signatures from both sides and a clause about who obtains the building permit. Work should not start until the contract is signed and you have a copy. If you see blank spaces, do not sign until they are filled in.
