Overview
In the historic town of Milton, Massachusetts, a 1930s home sat untouched for decades, still wrapped in original wallpaper, filled with aging finishes, and framed by a structure that no longer met modern expectations. When the homeowners brought the property to Tom O’Brien, builder, designer, and founder of Urbn® Development, they had one request: Make it feel at home in the neighborhood.
What followed was a complete transformation, an extensive Level III renovation that effectively rebuilt the house from the first floor framing up. To achieve the project’s dual mandate of historic authenticity and modern resilience, O’Brien turned to CertainTeed, leveraging the manufacturer’s full exterior portfolio to deliver a beautifully detailed home prepared for New England’s demanding climate.
The Challenge: Honor the Past, Build for the Future
Although structurally sound, the home needed complete reimagining. The attic was unfinished, the foundation required upgrades, and nearly every element from roof to envelope had reached the end of its lifespan.
Yet the property sat in a neighborhood rich with Colonial and Colonial Revival architecture. The Milton Historical Commission required that whatever was built not only comply with guidelines but visually belong to the streetscape.
Tom O’Brien’s task: preserve the architectural “language” of the neighborhood while building a home twice the size, far more complex in form, and expected to perform for generations.
Design Approach: Timeless New England Character
O’Brien, acting as both designer and builder, relied heavily on CertainTeed’s broad mix of textures, profiles, and trim solutions to create a historically appropriate exterior with layered detail.
Key design strategies included:
- Traditional proportions and rooflines that mimic surrounding Colonial homes
- Authentic visual details such as boxed trim, layered mouldings, flared eaves, and 6‑over‑1 double‑hung windows
- A refined mix of materials, including cedar‑look shakes, wood‑grain lap siding, and nickel-gap shiplap in the gables
“Even though it’s essentially a new structure, we wanted the house to feel like it had always been on this street,” O’Brien explained. “CertainTeed’s portfolio allowed us to hit the right textures, right profiles, and the right level of detail.”
Build Strategy: Resilience at Every Layer
While the exterior needed to present a historically rooted aesthetic, its performance requirements told a different story. New England weather demanded a robust building envelope and long-term durability, areas where CertainTeed’s exterior systems played a crucial role. Landmark® architectural shingles, RoofRunner® underlayment, and WinterGuard® ice & water barrier delivered a resilient roofing assembly designed to withstand freeze/thaw cycles, heavy snow loads, and year-round moisture exposure. Vycor® Env‑S provided the building envelope continuous air and water protection which was critical for the remodel’s longevity. To achieve a modern classic look, O’Brien selected RISE® siding with wood-grain texture, Cedar Impressions® individual Sawmill Shingles in a natural blend, and paired them with Restoration Millwork® PVC trim. This combination delivered the warmth and character of genuine cedar siding with the color retention, dimensional stability, and low-maintenance performance today’s homeowners expect. The result: a complete exterior system that elevated both resilience and craftsmanship.
Craftsmanship Meets Technology
During demolition, O’Brien uncovered original cedar shingles hidden within the front porch roofline, a nostalgic discovery that sparked a key design direction.
“Finding those original cedar shingles felt like opening a time capsule,” he said. One of the biggest reactions Tom received was to the cedar shingle siding itself. “People assume it’s real cedar and are genuinely surprised when I tell them it’s Cedar Impressions Individual Sawmill Shingles. They usually take a second look. The fact that it captures the texture and depth of natural cedar so closely, while offering long-term color retention and minimal maintenance, really resonates with homeowners. It’s been fun to see that moment of surprise, and it reinforces that we achieved exactly what we set out to do,” O’Brien shared.
To help the homeowners visualize the transformation, O’Brien built full 3D renderings and detailed digital walkthroughs—down to trim profiles, tile selections, and lighting layouts. This design‑build approach minimized surprises, accelerated decision-making, and ensured every aesthetic choice aligned with the historic vision.
Outcome: A Home That Belongs and a System Built to Last
The completed home blends seamlessly into the streetscape, earning enthusiastic approval from neighbors, the Milton Historical Commission, and passersby. Many assume the shingles are natural cedar, one of the project’s most frequent compliments, because the CertainTeed textures and shadow lines are so authentic.
Beyond its beauty, the home is engineered for long-term resilience:
- A high-performance envelope designed for New England climate conditions
- Materials chosen for resistance to fading, rot, and degradation
- A roofing system built for extreme seasonal weather
- A siding and trim package that maintains its aesthetic with minimal upkeep
“Using CertainTeed’s full exterior system allowed us to achieve two things that are often at odds: historic authenticity and modern performance,” O’Brien noted. “Everything was chosen to boost performance and efficiency while keeping the home looking timeless and at home in the neighborhood. This home will stand the test of time, in both how it looks and how it performs.”