Guides for New Hampshire homeowners

Why these six

They're the questions people ask before a job, or halfway through one. Two are about rules. New Hampshire has no statewide license for a general contractor (surprise), and Manchester runs its own permits and inspections. Worth knowing before you sign.

One's about lead. Devin's words for the houses around here: "mostly town-houses older 1800-1900s homes." Paint that old can have lead in it, and federal rules kick in the moment someone's paid to sand or scrape it. That changes the job, and the price.

Then winter. Ice dams, roof rakes, the attic. And two about rooms: which floor copes with slush and a damp basement, and when a cracked wall just needs a patch.

What they won't do

They won't give you prices. Nobody can price a floor from a web page, least of all in a house that's had a hundred years to settle. They won't tell you a job doesn't need a permit, either. That's the city's call, and the permits guide gives you their number.

And they don't pretend there's one right answer. LVP in a basement, sure, most of the time. Tile in a mudroom that sees boots and rock salt all winter? Usually. Hardwood by the back door? Depends how much you like refinishing. The floors guide walks through why.

If you read one and it raises a question about your own house, text a photo to Crimson Maple and ask. That's quicker than guessing, and a lot cheaper than finding out halfway through.