Home repair in Boston, MA

Boston homes at a glance

Median year built

1947

Built before 1960

58%

Built since 2000

18%

Owner-occupied

36%

Median home value

$731,700

Main heat

Gas, 56%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates

What Boston’s housing means for repairs

Boston's housing is dense and old. Boston's median year built is 1947, about 58% predate 1960 and only 12% are single-family detached. Triple-deckers fill Dorchester, Roslindale and East Boston, brick rowhouses line Back Bay and the South End, and newer condos make up most of the 18% built since 2000.

Old multi-family houses share roofs, porches and basements, so one failed gutter or rotted porch post affects several units. Many still have galvanized pipes, plaster walls and lead paint under newer coats. About 56% of homes heat with gas, 32% with electricity and 7% with oil, so you still see oil tanks and old boilers in basements.

Weather that wears on Boston homes

Boston winters bring long cold stretches, heavy snow and nor'easters, often with strong coastal wind. Snow on roofs melts from attic heat and refreezes at the eaves, forming ice dams that push water under shingles and into top-floor ceilings. Freeze-thaw cycles crack brick steps, mortar and concrete.

Salt air near the harbor wears down paint, metal railings and fasteners in neighborhoods such as South Boston, Charlestown and East Boston. Low areas near the water see coastal flooding during big storms and high tides. Summers are humid, which keeps porches and wood trim damp and speeds up rot where paint has failed.

Common repairs in Boston

• Ice dam and roof leaks

  Top-floor ceilings in triple-deckers stain each winter when ice dams form at the eaves.

• Porch and stair repair

  Stacked wooden porches on triple-deckers rot at column bases and stair treads.

• Exterior trim and siding

  Old wood clapboard and trim, sometimes over lead paint or asbestos shingles, need careful repair.

• Bathroom leak into the ceiling below

  A tired tub or toilet seal on one floor shows up as a stain on the floor below.

• Old fixtures and ceiling fans

  Original light fixtures and added ceiling fans often sit on boxes not rated for the load.

What these repairs cost

The middle half of Runhome repair estimates nationwide for each kind of job. Your price depends on the scope of the work.

Fix guides for Boston homeowners

• Roof leaks in one spot and stains the ceiling below

  Ice dams make a single stained spot near an exterior wall a classic Boston winter repair.

• Porch support column is crumbling at the base

  Triple-decker porches sit on columns whose bases rot or crumble after decades of snow and salt.

• Painted wood is rotten and crumbles when you press it

  Boston's old clapboard and trim rot wherever paint fails, which is common on north-facing walls.

• Bathtub is separating from the wall

  In stacked Boston units a gap at the tub edge often ends as a ceiling stain one floor down.

• Bricks on the porch steps are loose, missing or crumbling

  Freeze-thaw and road salt loosen brick steps on Boston rowhouses and brownstones.

Seasonal checklist

Late fall

Clean gutters after the leaves drop so meltwater has somewhere to go once snow arrives.

Winter

Rake snow off the lower edge of the roof after big storms to cut down on ice dams.

Spring

Check porch posts, stair treads and railings for soft wood once the snow melts.

Summer

Scrape and repaint peeling clapboard and trim during dry summer weeks.

Common questions

How do I stop ice dams on my Boston house?

Ice dams form when attic heat melts snow that refreezes at the cold eaves. Raking snow off the roof edge helps short term. Air sealing and insulating the attic, plus good ventilation, fix the cause.

Who repairs a shared porch on a Boston triple-decker?

In a condo building the porch is usually common property, so the association arranges and splits the repair. If you own the whole building, it is on you. Either way, rotted columns and stair stringers are a safety issue to fix before winter.

Does old siding on my Boston house contain lead or asbestos?

Houses built before 1978 may have lead paint, and some older homes have asbestos cement shingles. Massachusetts has strict lead rules for contractors working on older homes. Tell any contractor the age of the house so they can test and plan the work.

What changes the cost of fixing a ceiling stain in Boston?

The source of the water, how much plaster or drywall is damaged and whether the ceiling has to be opened to dry the framing. Plaster ceilings take more labor to patch than drywall.

Neighborhoods served

• Dorchester
• Jamaica Plain
• South Boston
• Roslindale
• West Roxbury
• Charlestown
• Back Bay
• East Boston

Other Massachusetts cities

• Home repair in Springfield
• Home repair in Worcester