The layout of this kitchen was completely changed to make it more functional.  The table was moved to the family room where we removed a wall that separated the family room from the formal living room.  This created one large living and dining space which gave the homeowners the opportunity to add more cabinet and counter space in their kitchen.  New cream cabinets, which had an antique glaze, were installed along with new hardwood floors.  Granite counters and backsplashes were also installed along with undercabinet lighting.  All of the plumbing was updated and new recessed lighting was installed in the ceiling

Updated the front and rear entryway by removing the old walkways and railings.  We installed a new bluestone front walk and a bluestone patio at the rear entry.  We installed a hidden fastener composite rail system at both entryways along with a new column wrapped in pvc.  The front and rear stairs were faced with a red brick and new bluestone treads were installed.

Judy

Wethersfield, CT

We showed the plans to three or four contractors who took a cursory look at the house and came back with a lump sum price in a day or two.

I had heard of Gove Restoration from a friend.  We met with Adam Gove on site.  He asked a number of questions, took notes and told us he would come back to us in a week.  To my surprise, he showed us a detailed estimate sheet that included material quantities, hourly labor required for each task and prices for all material and labor.

Based on Adam Gove’s friendly, professional manner and detailed knowledge of the project we hired Gove Restoration and were very happy we did!

They developed a schedule that met our needs, contacted our architect to clarify several important matters and started the project on time.  During construction Adam, his brother Matt, his father and all their subcontractors (plumbing, electrical and HVAC) were very professional, friendly and efficient.  Each night the material was stored properly and the house was left as neat and clean as possible.  The quality and workmanship of all aspects of construction was excellent.

The end result was a beautiful functional renovation that was finished on time and within budget.  We’ve received many compliments about the project.

We are thankful that we selected Gove Restoration and we give them our unqualified highest recommendation.

 Bonnie & Jim Rice

In typical Gove fashion, they arrived every day on time and cleaned up at the end of the day.  Everyone is pleasant and easy to work with.  I’m actually looking forward to hosting the holidays this year in my new dining room!  Thank you Gove Restoration! 

Michelle DiMartino

Matt, Don and Adam were very professional and so pleasant to work with.  They are all really great guys!  Any questions I had they were sure to answer.  And the team they brought in was also fantastic.  I was so happy with the effort and hard work they put in to doing the job right for us.  I called them my Rock Stars!  We have more work to do on the house in the future and we will be sure to call Gove Restoration back again.  I would highly recommend them to anyone!

Will & Wendy Everett

Very Satisfied Customer

Denise Lachance

There is an alternative to replacing trim boards, clapboards, or any wood surfaces that have these minor rot issues.  We have been using a two-part, paintable epoxy product that enables us to repair damaged wood for a number of years. After the application, we sand the epoxy down to the contour of the wood we are repairing and once the sanding is complete, the epoxy can be primed and painted.  For many years, the trusty body repair patch, Bondo, used by auto repair shops, was also used by carpenters to repair much more minor damage (gouges, scratches, very minor rot).  Unfortunately, it did not have the life that this new epoxy product has and was unable to correct slightly larger rot or crack issues.

We were recently contacted by a homeowner who had a resident woodpecker that was wreaking havoc on some of the wood corner boards on his home.  The homeowner wanted us to remove the boards and replace them with new material.  Upon our inspection of the damage, we noticed that the holes created by the woodpecker did not go through the entire board.  In addition, the damage was not very extensive and in no way was the structure of the house being affected by rain getting into the damaged areas.  We presented the homeowner with the epoxy alternative and showed him the cost savings and he was thrilled.

Using this two part epoxy product has saved homeowners the expense of removing large sections of wood just to replace specific boards.  This product can be used on everything from window sills to decorative wood columns and has been used on This Old House.  During the Webb House exterior restoration project, we were able to save many original trim boards by using this product enabling us to preserve the history and look of the historic building. We were even able to fix some minor problem areas on the museum’s front entry columns. 

If you are interested in learning more about the product and other applications, please contact us at 860-529-9583 or email us at contact@goverestoration.com

This house was scraped with carbide scrapers.  Some carpentry was completed where rot had occurred.  It was then primed with an oil based primer and top coated with latex paint.

We remodeled this formal dining room in this late 1800′s home.  This home was an old school house that was turned into a home.  The entire room was gutted with the exception of the douglas fir flooring.  The built-in corner cabinet was carefully removed.  New ceiling joists were sistered to the existing joists to strengthen the floor that was above this dining room.  A new wall was built in front of the existing wall with the two windows and new energy efficient windows were installed in place of the old windows.  New insulation and sheetrock were installed along with decorative moulding on the ceiling.  Custom trim was milled from oak and installed around the windows.  The old oak moulding was stripped and reinstalled throughout the room.

Built kitchen extension and 2 story garage attached to the house (built in the 1800s) by a mudroom with a slate floor.  A brick shelf was installed to replicate the existing brick foundation.  The style of the additions replicated the existing structure.  Custom built ins were installed in the mudroom and kitchen extension along with a custom island.

We added a dormer to this cape in Black Point Beach.  We took an existing closet at the top of the stairs and expanded it into the adjoining bedrooms.  We installed marble tiles and a black granite threshold along with a white vanity and linen cabinet.  A shower stall was also installed along with new lighting.  A larger closet was installed in one of the bedrooms and eave access panels were cut into the eave walls.  The newel post at the foot of the stairs was stripped and refinished.  On the main level, knotty pine paneling was primed with a stain blocking primer and was painted giving it a nice updated feel.  The old dining cabinetry was removed and new cabinetry was installed along with granite counters and a composite beadboard backsplash.  The main level hardwood floors were refinished once renovations were complete.

This house was powerwashed and scraped with carbide scrapers.  The shutters were scraped, primed and painted.  The entire house was primed and painted.  Some carpentry was completed on the garage where rotted boards needed replacement.

Removed the old vinyl kitchen and bathroom floors.  Installed a new plywood subfloor.  Installed Nafco vinyl plank imitaton oak flooring in both the kitchen and bathroom.  Custom oak thresholds were made to blend into the rest of the floors and new three piece baseboard trim was installed in both rooms.

The old clapboards were removed from the front of this 1700′s house.  The sheathing was cut so insulation could be blown into the wall cavities.  New sheathing was installed on top of the existing sheathing to provide better insulation and a better finish along the corner boards and window trim.  New spruce clapboards were installed on the front face of this house.  The new material was then primed and painted.

This family room had wood paneling on the walls, carpet, and a popcorn textured ceiling.  The paneling was removed and replaced with sheetrock and the ceiling texture was scraped off.  New recessed lights were installed and the ceiling was painted with no texture.  An engineered oak floor was installed on the concrete slab, decorative crown moulding was installed along the ceiling edge, and solid wood six panel doors were installed.  All of the stained trim was painted with a bonding primer and latex finish paint.  The bathroom was gutted and new tile was installed on the floor.  A new vanity and medicine chest were installed along with a natural stone vanity top.  New paint was applied in both the family room and the bathroom.

This house has aluminum siding and trim wrapping.  We washed the house to remove the chalking from the aluminum siding.  We then top coated the house with latex paint and a special bonding agent.  The house went from all white to light tan with dark tan trim and red window trim.

Moisture content is one of the largest factors that we encounter, especially when working on older homes.  One of our best tools is a moisture meter.  This helps us check the moisture content of wood materials to determine if paint can be applied.  All of our employees have been trained to use the meter and are able to check various test spots to ensure that the paint can be applied.  If you have cedar clapboards or shingles on your house, you may notice that the paint may bubble, flake, or peel.  This often happens around windows or doors, but can happen anywhere on the surface.  If water can penetrate through the siding through cracks, gaps in caulking, or even by holes made by carpenter bees, it can travel down the backside of the material and become trapped.  As the sun makes its way across the different sides of your house, it heats the wood and subsequently draws the moisture out from the backside causing the paint to bubble or flake.  Just last summer, we were asked to remove the remaining aluminum siding from a house built in the 30’s.  The homeowner had already removed half of the siding on the house and wanted us to complete the other half.  The siding covered beautiful, wide cedar clapboards and detailed decorative trim.  It was no wonder that the homeowners wanted to uncover the treasure they had.  Upon painting one side of their house, the homeowners found that after about a year, the paint they had applied had started to peel off in large pieces.  On the opposite side of the house, we had noticed that after painting the clapboards by using the appropriate steps (preparation, priming, and finish coat), small bubbles had started to develop in certain areas.  The moisture that had penetrated behind the siding and behind the cedar had started to work its way out during the hot summer days.  The bubbles were addressed and we continued on with the job.

Another factor we encounter is improperly applied paint.  If the previous finish coat or primer was applied improperly (in the rain, high humidity, finish coat on bare wood), it is possible that the life of the paint will decrease dramatically.  One of our best practices is to make sure that the wood is properly prepared prior to applying primer.  We make sure that the loose paint is removed from the wood by scraping with carbide scrapers and putty knives.  A lot of time is spent on removing the old paint and preparing the substrate for a fresh coat.  Even with this attention to detail, if the previous coat was improperly applied, the finish coat life may decrease.  It is very important when you contract with a painting company, that you feel comfortable with the painting process and how the company approaches painting the house.  Two years ago, we were contracted to paint a house in a nearby town.  After applying a penetrating oil based primer, we were finding that some of the paint was bubbling.  After speaking with the homeowner, we found out that the previous contractor had painted the house during several rainy and damp days.  This moisture had become trapped in the clapboards and when our oil based penetrating primer was applied, it was forcing the moisture to the surface.  The surface of these clapboards had been tested for moisture content, but our meter could not detect the moisture that was toward the backside of the clapboards.  Unfortunately for the homeowner, this meant that we had to alter our initial painting plan and spend a great deal of time applying the primer, drawing the moisture out, scraping the bubbles down to the bare wood, and reapplying the primer.  This extra time was necessary in making sure that our finish coat would not bubble, blister, or flake.

Substrate condition is another factor that will determine how long a paint job will last on your house.  If you have clapboards or shingles that are rotted or have been sanded or scraped down in thickness, you may need to replace those pieces before the paint is applied.  One of the best parts of our company is that we have the ability to take the paint job from start to finish, including all of the carpentry.  We were contracted in the Spring of 2010 to complete a complete exterior restoration of the Webb House, which is a national historic landmark, on Main Street in Wethersfield.  Approximately 1200 – 1400 square feet of siding was in need of replacement.  We were able to replace the necessary clapboards and continue on with the painting portion of the project.

As more and more layers of paint are applied to a house, it becomes increasingly likely that the paint will peel or flake in the future.  We are finding that one way to provide a good paint job is to chemically remove the paint layers that are built up on the siding material.  This was the case at the Webb House and we were able to expose the raw wood of the clapboards.  After removing the several paint layers, the house was washed, primed, and painted with two finish coats.  By removing the excessive amount of paint on the house, we were essentially able to start with a clean slate.  In doing this, the paint will last much longer than if applied over several layers of existing paint.

On a painting side note, it is a common misconception that it is not possible to paint both vinyl and aluminum siding. If you have either of these on your home and are looking to change the color, you don’t need to go through the steps of re-siding.  It is possible to paint the siding on your home.  In fact, the paint job lasts for a long period of time!

In order to prepare the siding on your home for paint adhesion, we will take several steps to ensure that the bonding of the paint will be as strong as if we were painting wood. The method we use has proven to last long, look fantastic, and be cost effective.

This restoration project was quite extensive and was carried out from March 2010 through June 2010.  Some of the work completed included removing paint from the existing clapboards and replacing clapboards that were beyond repair with vertical grain clapboards.  In addition to the clapboard restoration, we also restored the shutters which were removed from the house and we applied new paint to the entire house.

The paint job looks great and we are very happy with the new kitchen window and front storm door.  Everything, including all of the carpentry work, flowed together seamlessly.  I still am amazed at how diligently your crew worked day in and day out through all of that heat.  They were a fine group of young men.  We especially appreciated how nicely they cleaned up at the end of each workday. I could go on complimenting the job you did, but you get the picture.  We are very happy costumers.

Thank you again!

With best regards,

Claire Merkle

We built a 650 square foot addition on this 1950s ranch house.  A large eating area and master bedroom suite were the main focus of this addition.  The master suite included a walk-in closet and full bathroom.  The detached garage was connected to the house through a lower open mudroom which was sectioned off from the living space by half-walls.  The kitchen was remodeled and a coffee bar with prep sink was added.  Ceramic tile was installed on the floor of the kitchen and matching tile was installed in the lower entry area.  Decorative moulding was installed on the dining area walls along with a chair rail and a decorative column extends up to the ceiling from a half-wall in the dining area.  Durable vertical strand bamboo flooring was installed throughout the addition with the exception of the bathroom which has ceramic tile.  Recessed lights were installed throughout the addition for adequate lighting.  Custom trim was installed in the bedroom on one wall to simulate a board and batten wall.  A shower stall was installed in the master bathroom.  Glass tiles were installed in the stall and a rain shower head was installed in the ceiling of the stall.  A solatube skylight was installed in the bathroom to project natural light into this interior room.  A bead board vanity with a marble top was installed along with chrome plumbing fixtures.   A covered entryway, supported by a decorative structural column, was incorporated into this project and a natural tongue and groove douglas fir bead board ceiling was installed.  Recessed lights were also installed in the entryway ceiling.  A paver walkway was installed along with two sets of stairs made from matching pavers.  New siding and roofing was installed on the entire house along with a new carriage style garage door.

- C. Mellen

Rebuilt entire front entryway.  The original entryway was demolished and new framing was constructed.  New windows were installed along with new siding.  All composite trimboards and Fypon decorative mouldings were used.  These mouldings included egg and dart, two different dentil mouldings, fluted columns, a tongue and groove ceiling, and crown moulding.  A new entry door with sidelights was also installed along with new brass lantern lights.  In addition to the entryway, a composite landing and railing system was installed.  The entryway was then painted.

Removed  existing decking material and deck frame.  We dug new footings to accomodate a larger deck layout and a new structural frame was built out of pressure treated material.  TimberTech composite decking was used along with a TimberTech Radiance Rail railing system.  A recessed staircase was installed into the deck and matching composite lattice was installed along the base.

Painted this 18th century colonial.  The house was scraped, primed, and painted.

Philip & Toni Kostek

Newington, Connecticut

As the project proceeded, I was able to help out with the removal of old clapboards and other small jobs to help keep the price of the project down.  May I also add that during the time the project was ongoing, the temperature never got above comfortable, there was freezing rain, snow and bitter wind.  But they were here everyday.  Working inside when the weather did not allow them outside.  We have three dogs (Joey is Don’s favorite).  The Goves would stop periodically and toss a ball.  Most contractors could care less.

I have painted the house and it has given me the opportunity to see up close the quality of the work.  Keep in mind the house was built in the 1850s.  It is not level or square and has many hidden features.  The clapboards were pre-drilled, hand nailed, and primed even on the cut ends.

I invite anyone to drive by and see the quality and workmanship Gove Restoration put into this project.  We would recommend them to anyone and in fact have.

Ed & Jacqueline Smith

This kitchen was completely gutted.  The wall in-between the dining room and kitchen was removed and a half wall with a breakfast bar was built to create an open concept feel.  A new red oak floor was installed in the kitchen area to match the rest of the floors throughout the house.  New recessed lighting was installed throughout the kitchen and new cabinetry with glass doors were installed.  A porcelain farm sink was installed along with granite counter tops.  Under cabinet lighting was installed to accent the white subway tile backsplash.

Remodeled kitchen in a late 1800’s home.  The entire kitchen was gutted and new recessed lights were installed along with new sheetrock and electrical outlets and switches.  The douglas fir floor was saved and protected throughout the process.  New hickory cabinets were installed along with granite counters, a natural stone backsplash, and a breakfast peninsula.  Composite beadboard wainscoting was installed and new trim was installed to match the existing trim throughout the rest of the house.

I found their work extremely satisfactory and pleasing.  The Goves are very professional and their work is of extremely high quality.

Herb Lawton

The workers of Gove Restoration are gentlemen, pleasant, neat, and careful.  We wholeheartedly recomment Gove Restoration.

Faith and Jean O’Keefe

There were surprises, but the Goves kept us apprised of the additional work needed, and never got discouraged even though our house is VERY unlevel.  They were meticulous and are quality craftsmen.  My husband, who is a perfectionist, was also very pleased with their work.

The best part of the experience was the constant communication and questions to ensure we got a perfect end product.  We were never left in the dark and they always showed up each day on time.  Oh yes, and they always cleaned up at the end of each day which is very much appreciated.  The end result is my dream kitchen.  I love every part of it.  I will definitely engage Gove Restoration in future projects.

Michelle DiMartino

The bathroom renovation was a complete gut job, taking out all existing fixtures and stripping the walls and floor to the studs.  We had them do extensive tile work, as well as, install wainscoting, a new tub, toilet, vanity and fixtures.  They oversaw the work of their sub-contracted trades and made sure that all projects were done on time. One of the things we particularly like about using the Goves is that they respect and treat our house as if it were their own.  They get to work on time every day and clean up after themselves at the end of every day.

The finished bathroom is absolutely beautiful and the quality of the work met all of our expectations.  We will surely use the Goves in the future for additional renovation projects and highly recommend them to anyone considering having work done on their home.  If you are looking for a company that will provide top notch craftsmanship, an eye to detail and respect for your property, then you should not hesitate to call Gove Restoration.

Mark and Carmel French

Wethersfield, CT

Maria and Gwen

Removed two layers of siding, blew in insulation and installed spruce clapboards on the entire house.  All new trim was installed and clapboards were hand-nailed with replica fire clinch nails

Even on the days when the work was messiest, we always came home to a clean and neat home. To the Goves the process is just as important as the product. That’s the definition of true craftsmanship. And that’s why we look forward to doing business with Gove Restoration again. Thank you!

Amy Lawson and Chris Hayes
95 Garden Street

It’s rare to be able to say of contractors that they do what they say they’ll do, come when they say they’ll come, get back to you promptly, present alternative solutions to problems (like a surprise infestation of carpenter ants or rotted clapboards), and consistently do top quality work. We were away on vacation during part of the job and were impressed with how Matt stayed in touch with us by phone or email. His crew even brought in our mail and newspapers, and we felt totally comfortable with them going in and out of the house in our absence. On top of that, they cleaned up at the end of every day so that you wouldn’t even know a painting job was going on.

We’d be glad to recommend them to anyone looking for top quality and great customer service.

Lee and Carol West
Wethersfield, CT

We had a very positive experience with Gove Restoration and recommend them to anyone considering a renovation project for their home.

Char and Dick Peplau
Wethersfield, CT

Our second project with the Goves involved a complete kitchen and sunroom remodeling. This time, there was no decision to be made, we knew we wanted the Goves to work on this project for us. Again, they left no stone unturned in planning and executing the project. The Goves were very considerate of our house while working on the project, cleaning the work area nightly. We were also very pleased with the network of other professionals that the Goves used for electrical, plumbing, granite suppliers, etc., as they were all very responsive to any issues that arose and all also spoke very highly of the work that Gove Restoration did. The end result is exactly, if not better than, what we could have imagined.

During both projects, the Goves provided us with our alternatives and provided advice, but ultimately always left the decision up to us on how we wanted to approach things. Along with the quality of the work, their consideration during the projects and their trustworthiness, we would highly recommend Gove Restoration.

Laurie and Daryl Fetzko
Wethersfield, CT

The Goves did a wonderful job. They were very professional to deal with from the initial stages of choosing materials to the follow-up once the job was completed. During the work, they treated our home as if it was their own. They were very neat with their work and cleaned up all areas at the end of every day. They solved all of the minor issues that came up during the job and kept a close eye on their contracted trades (plumbing and electric). They also kept us both informed of their progress and what work had to be done next.

The results of their work exceeded our expectations. Our family and friends are amazed at the quality of the work and how great the rooms look. We highly recommend Gove Restoration and will not hesitate to use them again in the future.

Mark
Wethersfield, CT

Anonymous
Old Wethersfield, CT

First, I was referred to the Goves by another contractor in town whose backlog would have delayed our job by more than a year. Before contracting with the Goves, I asked to see some of their current and past projects to view their work. In so doing, I recognized their very close attention to detail and their respect for the style and materials of the original structure. A comment by Don Gove, the senior member of the family team said it all to me: “I love these old Hubbard houses.”

Our job consisted of replacing parts of and repairing an attached rear “shed”/bulkhead entrance, back porch and garage, all of which had rotted and become unsightly over the years.

One of the legendary characteristics of so-called “tradesmen” is the notion that they are unaccountable – you never know when they’re going to show up. Or, because they’re working so many jobs at one time, the “boss” isn’t around to inspect his (peoples’) work and get owner feedback as the job progresses. Also, the job tends to get strung out far longer than expected. This was not the case with the Goves. They indicated a start date and as it approached (and the poor weather delayed the start of outdoor work), they anticipated our need for information and kept us apprised of when we could expect the work to start and be completed. Once started, they stayed on the job until it was done. While work progressed, we were consulted on “old house surprises” they encountered and gave us options that were cognizant of the budget we had mutually established, thus sparing us any surprises on the back end.

The finished job, which entailed shingling the entire sided area (replacing poor quality and derelict clapboard siding) while tying in perfectly with the adjacent original shingling, surpassed my expectations. The alignment and fit of the shingles was perfect (frankly better than the original!). They also repaired portions of a poorly constructed and somewhat dilapidated garage, plus installed gutters that actually diverted the run-off away from the structure! This may not sound very “sexy,” but their finished work converted a shabby looking house, which we had to look at every day as we sat in the back yard and walked from the garage to the back door, into a very attractive house.

Perhaps most noteworthy about their work was their respect for the fact that we lived there during the project and they were very conscious of not disrupting our lives or the running of a business out of my home, including clean-up after every day’s work.

I am convinced that we got a top quality job that was done with pride. I am certain that I could have found someone to do the work for less money, but I am equally confident that I got my money’s worth in both the pride of ownership as well as the investment value of our property.

Finally, the Gove family (Father Don and sons Adam and Matt are in the business) are just plain nice people, who enjoy working with one another, are incredibly well-mannered and polite and are pleasant to have around.

I highly recommend Gove Restoration LLC to anyone who wants a top quality job and a hassle-free project.

Positively,
Steve Holtz
Old Wethersfield, CT

Betty
Colchester, CT

They took a dingy, 3-season porch and turned it into what has become my favorite room in the house’s long awaited music room. The acoustics are perfect for practicing and the beautiful French doors close tightly to keep our practice in and disturbances out!

While they were here, I casually asked them to take a quick look at what was to be a simple project in an upstairs bathroom. It had turned into what one of my daughter’s friends called “The Haunted Bathroom” complete with sagging floor, rotted wood found behind the tiles, damaged walls. They turned it into an oasis in which I can retreat to at the end of a long day complete with whirlpool tub, dimming lights and decorative tiles to complete the ambiance.

We had hired them to just paint the outside of the house a couple years ago and have been so pleased with their work, reliability and honesty that we keep finding more for them to do. Our house had nothing done to it since originally built in the 40′s so there’s plenty of projects waiting in the wings and we will be calling them again in the future.

Karen
Old Wethersfield, CT

Removed everything down to the studs.  Installed new sheetrock, tub, tile floor and tub surround, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, wood vanity, and granite countertop.  New trim was installed along with PVC bead-board wainscoting.

Removed old clapboards on entire front of the house.  Blew in insulation in all bays.  New sheathing was installed over old sheathing.  Tyvek weather wrapping was installed and taped and new primed spruce clapboards were installed.  Clapboards and trim were painted.

Remodeled bathroom.  Removed walls down to studs.  Installed new sheetrock, tile floor, wood vanity, marble countertop, light fixtures, and painted the room.

Removed old linoleum and oak hardwood flooring.  Installed red oak floor boards and custom made an oak shoe molding.  The floor was finished with three coats of oil polyurethane.

Re-built wooden bulkhead using pressure treated material.  Installed antique hardware, including screws, hinges, and handles.

Removed cedar shingles and installed cedar imitation vinyl siding.  Installed new composit trim with built-in j-channel.  Converted three season porch into a year-round room by re-framing the structure and adding double-hung windows.

Power washed house and used a three-paint color scheme on this three story Victorian Farmhouse.  Continued the intricate paint detail on the porch columns and porch rafters.  Inserted clapboard wedges on the north face of the house to enable better air flow throughout the clapboards.  This was done to prevent the paint from peeling. The garage was power washed to remove mold and mildew and it was finished with a clear sealant.  Gutters were replaced and rotted boards on the porch floor were removed and replaced with matching Douglas Fir flooring

Powerwashed and scraped this eighteenth century colonial.  Primed and painted the clapboards and trim.  Carpenter ants were found and damaged wood was removed and replaced.

Replaced board and batten siding on front of the house and garage with cedar clapboards to match existing siding on the rest of the house. Changed exterior paint from a dark green to tan with white trim and an olive green accent color on all doors.

Restored 19th century front porch to its original Victorian style. Detailed carpentry involved duplicating existing gingerbread patterns, carving new support posts, roof rafters, and support beam. New wooden railings were also crafted to replicate the original railings. We also replaced floor joists, supports, and the porch roof. The ceiling and floor decking was replaced with douglas fir and cedar clapboards were replaced on a rotted side wall. Brick foundation that was falling apart was solidified.

Used jacks and jack posts to raise and support the structure of the back porch, house, and front porch. On the front porch, we laid a douglas fir floor and finished it with a clear polyurethane and we replaced all cedar shingles on the face of the front porch and painted them to match the existing paint on the house. A new front staircase was built with douglas fir bead board sides and this too was finished with a clear polyurethane. In addition, the paint on the front door was removed to showcase the natural oak and new white paint was applied to the existing white porch details.

Restored early 19th century porch to original condition. Custom built eight solid pine pillars and added all fluted detailing. Railings on porch roof were built out of five separate trim pieces. New douglas fir tongue and groove flooring was installed along with a douglas fir bead board ceiling. Both were finished with a clear sealant. The staircase consists of solid douglas fir stair treads and the sides of the staircase are also douglas fir bead board. All trim work, including egg and dart trim, was restored to how it was in the early 1800′s. Once the carpentry was completed, the porch and house were painted.

All original walls were removed down to the existing studs. This job consisted of replacing sheetrock, installing new doors, laying tile floors and installing granite countertops in both bathrooms, applying tile to the shower walls, installing bead board on family room and bathroom walls, installing laminate flooring in the family room, electric work including lighting fixtures, detailed trim around windows and doors, and new plumbing and heating fixtures.

Demolition of original bathroom down to studs. Replaced sheetrock and trim. Detailed tile work in shower and on bathroom floor. New sink, countertops, custom marble threshold, shelves, vanity, lighting fixtures, toilet, and bubble jet tub were installed.

Remodeled kitchen by changing the old floor plan. Updated cabinets and added granite countertops, recessed lighting, tile flooring.

Created a master bathroom out of a storage closet located off of the master bedroom. Installed marble flooring, new lighting, and new plumbing fixtures.

Rebuilt basement entryway and shed and matched cedar shingles with existing shingles on house. Custom built doors for entry way to cellar door and under porch storage. This job also included painting the exterior of the house.

Built dining room addition, with partial cathedral ceiling, off rear of house. Connected dining room addition to kitchen and created a half-wall in-between the two rooms. Hardwood floors were installed and stained to match the existing hardwood floors. Molding was installed to match the existing molding of the house.

Power washed house and fence to remove mildew.  Repaired rotted clapboard where necessary.  Painted the house, windows, and picket fence.  Rebuilt the rotted hatchway door to match the coffin doors on the front and side of the house.  Refinished the coffin doors by using a chemical stripper to remove the old lacquer.  Once the original wood was exposed, we sanded the wood and used a brightener to enhance the color of the doors.  The doors were then finished with a clear sealant.  These front coffin doors have been featured by various artists in greeting cards and posters throughout the state.

Changed color on house from brown with yellow trim to tan with white trim. Also laid new roof and replaced cedar shingles on some of the house.

Removed old three season room to build music room attached on to current living room. Rebuilt breezeway ceiling. Completely renovated and remodeled existing second floor bathroom and converted an extra bedroom into a closet for the master bedroom. Installed whirlpool tub, lighting fixtures, and decorative tile and increased the overall size of the bathroom by pushing the bathroom wall into the closet.

Completely remodeled a 1950s style bathroom.  The room was completely gutted and new sheetrock was installed along with a mold and mildew resistant cement board for the floor and shower enclosure.  Composite bead board was installed throughout the bathroom along with new colonial style baseboard, window, and door trim.  A cherry vanity was topped with a granite countertop and a kick-space heating unit was installed in the toe kick of the vanity.  Installed a water jet tub in place of the old cast iron one and a new marble floor was installed along with a matching tile for the shower enclosure.  Corner shelves in the shower enclosure were made out of the matching floor tiles.  All new plumbing and lighting was installed along with a recessed medicine chest.

We pride ourselves in our abilities to assist our clients in planning a job that will exceed their expectations. We take great satisfaction in the work we complete and the constant communication we have with our customers throughout the restoration process.

Gove Restoration LLC will provide you with the finest service and attention to detail, while treating your home like it was our own: with respect, care, pride, and integrity.

Gove Restoration LLC’s Mission

Our mission is to provide superior work while developing and maintaining strong and positive relationships with our clients. We believe that the work we do benefits the homeowner as well as the community.

Adam is also a volunteer youth leader at The First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, CT. He has been involved as a youth group leader since 1997.

In 2006, Matt decided to join his father, Don, and brother, Adam, in the family business.  Prior to his graduation from Providence College, Matt worked as a part-time employee for Don Gove Painting for six years and then two years for Gove Restoration LLC.  During this period, he learned the carpentry and painting trades and grew to love the intricate detail associated with home restoration work.