SWS Builders Awarded for Restoration of Darien home

December 19, 2009

The Advocate

SWS Builders of Stamford was honored with the 2008 HOBI award for the Best Antique Home Restoration for its restoration of a historic 1856 Gothic Victorian home in Darien. This is SWS’s second HOBI Award for outstanding residential construction and project management.

The year-long restoration project entailed attention to detail to preserve the authenticity of the Victorian period, including locating resources for unusual windows, moldings and plaster trims. Every aspect of the project had to appear original to the mid-19th century structure, while all mechanicals had to be upgraded for modern living and technology. All 11 rooms in the 7,100 square foot house were affected by the restoration.

Among the obstacles encountered by the SWS team was the discovery of two abandoned brick drywells 9 feet in diameter and 8 feet deep during excavation — right where footings were to go. The house had major rot, and the post and beam construction made snaking wires and running pipes as well as retrofitting two HVAC systems a challenge. Compounding the complexity of the project, the young family of five lived in the home during the entire construction phase.

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Client: SWS Builders