Matt Diana Housewright

Matt Diana completed a complete remodel of our master suite including the laundry room, bedroom, closet, study and bathroom. where to begin? The practical: Matt's work was on-time and in budget---a rarity with other contractors with whom I have worked. His communication is timely and he seems to be available at all times and methods (phone, text, email). His team and subs are some of the nicest, hard-working people I have had the pleasure to meet (likes attract likes---Matt is also kind and hard-working). For purposes of craftsmanship, Matt is a find: our 1750 antique home requires a knowledgeable craftsman. Matt "gets" antique homes, respects them and works to keep their character---his attention to detail on dovetailing a vanity drawer or, heck, what nails and appropriate finish to use on a random width floor, is evident throughout. I learned a lot about our home as a result of his knowledgeable eye for period houses. Matt is also practical---he was able to suggest good changes based on the lives we lead (floor finish that was authentic but could withstand 2 Bulldogs). He was also able to provide guidance on areas to balance cost where it made sense. Matt also has a nice way of breaking bad news: we had an unexpected rotting roof (!) and Matt called and calmly notified me AND was ready with solutions---a relief given major changes and additional expense. I highly recommend Matt Diana Housewrights.

We highly recommend Matt Diana Housewright for your home restoration or remodeling. Matt was recommended to us by our architect as one of the leading craftsmen in the area for historic renovations, and we strongly agree! Matt’s skills and craftsmanship are impeccable, not to mention he is extremely efficient. He restored the exterior of our 1790 home in a historically sensitive manner without breaking the bank. He hand-planed and installed new siding, hand-milled and installed new moldings where necessary, replaced two sills, replaced 12 windows, restored wooden gutters, and reset the moldings on our front door. Not only did he help with the historic renovations, but he also helped fix issues on the newer part of our house such as rotting wood, failing roof drainage and downspouts, and relocating a dryer vent. He also seamlessly coordinated electrical work with one of his subcontractors. Matt is courteous and pleasant to work with. He shows up on time and is easy to reach via phone, email or text. He started the job when he said he would and didn’t leave the site until he was done. He is thorough in how he plans out the project with a detailed proposal and estimate, and how he executes the project. There were no major surprises along the way. When there were some unknowns that came up, he was up front and fair in the change orders. I am a civil engineer and with Matt’s background in engineering, I can certainly appreciate his attention to detail! We have received numerous compliments on our newly transformed home, not only from neighbors and strangers passing by, but also by other professionals we worked with such as the painters and landscapers. We are so happy with the work and with Matt that we are hiring him again to help us with some interior work!

We hired Matt Diana to build a new kitchen in our 1850 home. We could not have been more pleased with the quality of the work and with the process. The quality of Matt’s craftsmanship, his attention to detail, and the creative solutions he came up with for a tricky space were all impressive. We appreciated Matt’s willingness to incorporate specific materials we wanted, such as milk paint, and to offer his honest opinions when asked. We are especially pleased with the way in which he managed the flow of the project and the work of the subcontractors. I don't think there was a single day that was wasted or lost because of a snag in the scheduling of subcontractors, which is unusual in construction. Above all, his communication with us was exemplary. We felt at all times that we knew what was happening, in terms of both the logistics and the financial aspects of the project. He seemed to be available by phone or email 24 hours a day—again, a rarity among contractors. Matt and his assistant Erin, were polite, tidy, always on time, and they were pleasure to have working in our house for all those weeks. The final result speaks for itself. The kitchen is exactly what we wanted, and yet somehow it is even better than we ever hoped for. We look forward to the day when our budget allows us to hire Matt for another project!

Matt Diana was engaged to work on our approximately 220 year-old home in Ipswich. The work involved not only significant structural work to posts and beams, but also fine craftsmanship in matters such as constructing a custom raised panel wall with a curved arch. Mr. Diana's work was always of consistent high quality and he provided excellent value in every respect. He has a background in engineering and as so is attuned to the structural needs of a building, but he also had the eyes and skills of a craftsman in replicating certain colonial-era elements that the project needed. He was very pleasant to work with in both the planning and execution of the project, and he always exercised good judgment in the various steps along the way.