Professional Deck Builder in Hudson MA - Built for Older Homes

Hudson was incorporated in 1866 and grew rapidly through the late 1800s as a shoe manufacturing town. That history produced a large share of homes built before 1940 - wood-frame construction with older foundations, original clapboard or patched siding, and structural details that differ from the postwar suburban homes common in surrounding towns. Deck additions on homes this age require closer attention to the ledger attachment, the condition of the house framing near the back door, and whether the foundation can support what is being connected to it. A builder who works primarily on newer construction in other towns may not recognize those differences until they are already an expensive problem.

The seasonal conditions here are a real consideration. Hudson averages around 50 inches of snow per year, and the freeze-thaw cycle from November through March is particularly hard on concrete, wood, and any structure that was not built with that movement in mind. Massachusetts sets the required footing depth at 48 inches for exactly this reason. Wet springs compound that - the clay soil common throughout central Massachusetts drains slowly, and properties in lower-lying parts of Hudson can hold standing water for days after snowmelt or heavy rain. That moisture, combined with the humidity of summer, accelerates rot on wood surfaces that are not properly sealed and ventilated.

Hudson is a self-contained town of around 20,000 people that sits just off Route 495 in central Massachusetts. It was one of the region's shoe manufacturing centers in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and that history left a lasting mark on the housing stock. A substantial share of homes here were built before 1950, making Hudson's residential streets noticeably older than those in surrounding suburban towns. Colonials, Cape Cods, and older Victorian two-families near downtown are the dominant building types, with postwar ranch and split-level homes filling out the outer neighborhoods. The town's revitalized Main Street has become a genuine local destination, with restaurants and local shops drawing people from across the MetroWest region, which has raised attention to home upkeep throughout the area.

Lots vary considerably across town. Streets close to downtown are tight, with homes built close to the road and limited rear yard space. Moving out toward the Route 85 corridor and the edges of town, properties open up with more yard and sometimes wooded backyards that back up to conservation land. The Assabet River runs along part of the town and influences drainage conditions in lower-lying neighborhoods. We work throughout Hudson, and we are also the crew homeowners in nearby Marlborough and Northborough rely on for the same quality of work.