October 4, 2023

South Shore residents rush for residential renovations

David Gilberto, owner of South Shore-based Finishing Touch Building & Remodeling, said he’s booking jobs months in advance. The…

David Gilberto, owner of South Shore-based Finishing Touch Building & Remodeling, said he’s booking jobs months in advance. The projects keep flowing in and show no signs of slowing down. 

When the world shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction industry ramped up. Construction workers, deemed essential workers in Massachusetts, remained on the job and homeowners took advantage of historically low interest rates to borrow money and invest in home improvement, Gilberto said. 

His clients spent ample hours in their homes when businesses shut down and work was done remotely, and many decided it was the appropriate time to make the changes they’d always imagined.  

“The demand for remodeling has been probably the strongest it’s been in years,” Gilberto said. “Once the pandemic hit, and everybody was home, it just kind of leaped the whole construction industry into fast forward. It’s been, and still is right now, just extremely busy.”

Some South Shore towns have reported a sharp increase in residential renovations, alterations and additions in the last two years, while other towns have remained relatively steady.