Is there a contractor who builds "historic" homes? (Pittsburgh: appointed, appliances)

[aw_now_what]

Originally Posted by NYCTelevisionWriter

I'm in the initial stages of planning to build a house in the Pittsburgh area and I was wondering how difficult it might be to find a local contractor who can build an historic home literally from the ground up.

What I'm looking to build is a relatively large house built from the original 1915 floor plan to nearly exact historic specs including:

-- solid masonry construction (am open to ICF construction)
-- solid plaster walls
-- steam heating system
-- solid hardwood floors throughout (no subfloors)
-- custom windows and doors
-- custom woodwork (including 12-foot beamed ceilings throughout the first floor)
-- custom (handmade) kitchen cabinetry
-- built-in oak cabinetry in the dining room

I realize this is quite a tall order, but if anyone knows of any contractors in the Pittsburgh area who do this kind of work, I'd love their contact information.

Again, I'm not looking to build tomorrow, I'm just putting out my initial feelers to gauge how big of a project this will be.

Thanks!

Methinks the original poster is simply bragging that he can spend $3 million to build a house.

[caroline2]

The high end reproduction homes in Fox Chapel are done by Pete Perkins, although his wheelhouse tends to be more Colonial.

Pete Perkins Inc.

One of them is up for sale, so you can get far more detail here than you can from his gallery:

222 Chatham Ln, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 is For Sale - Zillow

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by theta_sigma

Really? I don't think that home looks 1915-historic at all.

I agree. I grew up in a 1918 house. The house in that link looks like standard-issue McMansion to me.

[gg]

Originally Posted by caroline2

The high end reproduction homes in Fox Chapel are done by Pete Perkins, although his wheelhouse tends to be more Colonial.

Pete Perkins Inc.

One of them is up for sale, so you can get far more detail here than you can from his gallery:

222 Chatham Ln, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 is For Sale - Zillow

Never heard of him, but maybe he is good? Don't know. Out of the many custom builders I have encountered I really feel John R Miller is the guy.

[NYCTelevisionWriter]

Originally Posted by theta_sigma

Really? I don't think that home looks 1915-historic at all.

Uh --- not at all.

Originally Posted by aw_now_what

Methinks the original poster is simply bragging that he can spend $3 million to build a house.

That was not my intention.

I was hoping the collective wisdom of this board could save me a few steps in putting me in touch with the right people.

Originally Posted by Goodjules

I would find an older home in decent shape in the neighborhood where you want to live and renovate to suit your needs.

I've been trying to do just that, but finding the type of home I want in the neighborhoods I want tailored to what I need is about as easy as herding cats.

Much simpler to just build it the way I want. But the way I want is 1915.

Hence the post.

For the record, I'm looking to build something on the order of these:

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by NYCTelevisionWriter

For the record, I'm looking to build something on the order of these:

that would be a cool project, i would not take it on, but the builder who does will have fun with it. you maybe better off finding a builder to take it to finished plaster and then find a very good finish carpenter to handle the trimout. most builders would not want to be slowed down by all the custom work.

what area were you looking to build?

[NYCTelevisionWriter]

Sewickley Heights or Edgeworth. Still doing a property search.

[airwave09]

Originally Posted by NYCTelevisionWriter

Sewickley Heights or Edgeworth. Still doing a property search.

I know both of those areas well... strange that you can't find what you are looking for there. A large percentage of the built environment is from that time period 1900-1920. Are the ones you found just not for sale?

Also, I would extend your search into Sewickley Borough and Osborne to give you more options.

[guy2073]

you maybe better off buying a house that is close to what you want and adding in features. either way it sounds cool.

[captainmidnight]

Good luck, OP. Sounds like a great project. I love the examples you posted. $5000 for that design you posted..wow!