Interior specialty trades in Massachusetts are 80% of what you actually see and touch in a renovation — yet most contractors treat them as afterthoughts. Hardwood floor sanding swirl marks, tile cut-in to baseboards that's wavy, paint roller marks on flat ceilings — these are visible every day for the next 20 years. Boston housing predates 1978 in most of the urban core, which means EPA RRP lead-safe procedures on every wall sand, baseboard prep, or finish-carpentry disturbance. We hold the Schluter-certified installer credential for waterproof tile assemblies, EPA RRP for lead-safe painting, and bring detail-oriented finish carpenters with 10+ years on tools.
Why Interior Finish Work Is Different
- Pre-1978 housing means lead. Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and most older MA towns have lead paint. EPA RRP-certified containment is required for any sanding, scraping, or cutting that disturbs painted surfaces. Generic handymen aren't certified.
- Tile in wet areas needs Schluter. Massachusetts bathrooms freeze-thaw seasonally even with heat. Without proper waterproofing (Schluter Kerdi membrane, Ditra uncoupling), tile fails within 5–10 years. We're Schluter-certified.
- Hardwood in MA needs proper acclimation. Wide humidity swings (15% RH winter to 70% RH summer) cup and gap hardwood that wasn't properly acclimated and sanded. Dustless sanding equipment + 14-day acclimation make the difference.
- Interior paint cut-in is judged daily. A line that's 1/8" wavy at the ceiling reads as cheap forever. We don't subcontract — our painter does the cut-in by hand.
The 3 Pillar Specialty Services
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Flooring Installation
Red oak, white oak, hickory, maple hardwood. Engineered hardwood. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP). Porcelain and ceramic tile, natural stone. 14-day Massachusetts humidity acclimation on solid hardwood — non-negotiable.
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Hardwood Refinishing
Sanding, staining, finishing of existing hardwood. Dustless sanding equipment (vacuum-attached belt sanders, edgers). Water-based polyurethane (low VOC, fast dry) or oil-based (richer color, longer cure). Typical 1,000 sq ft: 3–4 days.
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Tile Installation
Backsplash, bathroom walls, shower surrounds, floors. Porcelain, ceramic, glass mosaic, natural stone (marble, travertine, slate). Schluter Kerdi waterproof membrane for showers, Ditra uncoupling for floors. Diamond saw cuts.
Renovating Multiple Rooms?
Bundle flooring + tile + paint as one finish package. Same crew, sequenced properly so each trade doesn't damage the other's work.
All 6 Specialty & Interior Services
Flooring & Tile
Flooring Installation
hardwood, LVP, tile, carpet
Flooring Installation QuoteHardwood Floor Refinishing
dustless sanding
Hardwood Floor Refinishing QuoteTile Installation
Schluter wet-area certified
Tile Installation QuotePainting & Finish
Interior Painting
Sherwin-Williams, Ben Moore
Interior Painting QuoteRepair & Volume
Handyman Services
small repairs, 2-hour minimum
Handyman Services QuoteJunk Removal
construction debris, appliances, bulk
Junk Removal QuoteMassachusetts Specialty Cost Reality
| Service | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hardwood floor installation (per sq ft) | $8 – $18 | Solid red oak basic to wide-plank white oak |
| Hardwood floor refinish (per sq ft) | $3.50 – $6 | Dustless sanding, water-based poly |
| Engineered hardwood install (per sq ft) | $7 – $14 | Glue-down or floating |
| Luxury vinyl plank (per sq ft) | $5 – $10 | Click-lock, waterproof |
| Tile floor (per sq ft) | $11 – $22 | Including Ditra uncoupling membrane |
| Tile shower (full install) | $3,500 – $8,500 | Schluter Kerdi waterproofing |
| Backsplash (10 ft kitchen) | $800 – $1,800 | Subway tile to glass mosaic |
| Interior painting (per room avg) | $450 – $900 | Walls + ceiling + trim, 2-coat |
| Whole-home interior paint (2,500 sq ft) | $5,500 – $12,000 | All rooms, prep included |
| Handyman (per hour) | $95 – $145 | 2-hour minimum, no trip charge |
| Junk removal (per truckload) | $300 – $700 | Construction debris, appliances |
The Brands & Materials We Use
- Bona water-based hardwood finishes
- Bruce / Mohawk hardwood flooring
- Coretec luxury vinyl plank
- Daltile / Marazzi porcelain tile
- Schluter Kerdi + Ditra waterproofing systems
- Mapei / Laticrete tile mortars + grouts
- Sherwin-Williams Emerald, Cashmere interior
- Benjamin Moore Aura, Regal Select
- Lagler / Bona dustless sanding equipment
Cross-Trade Coordination
- Specialty + kitchen / bathroom remodel. Tile, paint, and flooring are the final 30% of any kitchen/bath. We sequence after plumbing rough-in, electrical, drywall — but before fixtures.
- Hardwood refinishing + interior painting. Always paint walls before refinishing floors — drips and roller spatter can't be sanded out cleanly. We sequence properly.
- Junk removal + whole-home renovation. Construction debris, demo waste, removed cabinetry — bundled with the project so the homeowner doesn't book separately.
- Handyman + electrical + plumbing. Handyman covers small repairs not requiring a license. For licensed-only work (electrical, plumbing, gas), we route to the appropriate trade.
Our Specialty Warranty
- Manufacturer warranty
- Bona finish (10-year), Bruce / Mohawk hardwood (lifetime structural), Schluter (lifetime), Sherwin-Williams Emerald (lifetime). Registered on your behalf.
- Pro Build workmanship guarantee
- 5 years on installation labor — flooring, tile, paint cut-in, finish. Return at no cost for any defect.
- Tile waterproofing guarantee
- Schluter Kerdi shower assemblies waterproof 10 years. If a leak originates from the assembly, we re-tile at no charge.
- EPA RRP compliance
- Lead-safe certified containment on every pre-1978 home. No exceptions.