East Kingston is a small, rural town of about 2,400 people and 10 square miles. It was set off from Kingston in 1738 and grew up around the saw and grist mill at Trickling Falls on the Powwow River. It has farms, older homes, and a modest number of newer houses on large lots. Dom’s Workshop, Inc is a residential general contractor based in Plaistow, NH, serving Rockingham County. We remodel kitchens and bathrooms, finish basements, and build additions, garages, and new homes for East Kingston homeowners, with one point of contact for every job.
Call (978) 775-8642 Request an estimate
The houses of East Kingston
Farmhouses and older homes
East Kingston was a farming town. Ice was cut from the Powwow River in winter, and the New England Brick Company was once a major employer. Many older farmhouses and capes survive along the main roads. These houses usually have stone foundations, timber or early balloon framing, small rooms, and barns or sheds that could be put to new use. We approach them carefully. We find out what the structure needs before we design new kitchens, baths, or additions.
Newer homes on large lots
Newer homes in town tend to be colonials and capes on lots of an acre or more. Most rely on a private well and septic. These houses are good candidates for finished basements, larger kitchens, primary suites, and attached garages.
The Powwow and Great Brook watersheds
The southern half of East Kingston drains to the Powwow River and the northern half to Great Brook and the Exeter River. Some lots have wetlands or brooks that limit where you can build. We check that early so a design isn’t drawn for a spot that can’t be used.
Services for East Kingston homeowners
- Kitchen remodeling: from farmhouse kitchens to full remodels in newer homes.
- Bathroom remodeling: primary baths, family baths, and accessible showers.
- Basement finishing: where the foundation and moisture allow.
- Room additions: family rooms, bedroom suites, and in-law space.
- Garage remodeling: barn and garage conversions, workshops, and mudrooms.
- New home construction: custom homes on rural lots.
- Whole-home remodeling.
For budgets, see the home remodel cost guide and the room addition cost guide.
Bringing an old farmhouse up to date
If you own one of East Kingston’s older homes, these are the questions we work through with you:
- What’s the structure doing? We check the sills, joists, and roof framing, especially where earlier additions meet the original house.
- What can stay? Wide-board floors, beams, and original trim are often worth keeping and working around.
- Where do the mechanicals go? Old houses rarely have good chases for ductwork or plumbing, so we plan routes that don’t damage the rooms you care about.
- How do we make it efficient? Insulation and air sealing in old walls take care to avoid moisture problems.
- What about the barn? An attached or nearby barn can become a garage, a workshop, or finished living space, depending on its condition.
Newer homes, practical upgrades
In East Kingston’s newer houses, projects are usually about making the house work better for the family. Common ones:
- A mudroom at the garage entry with cubbies, hooks, and a bench, which you’ll appreciate in mud season.
- A kitchen with an island, more storage, and better lighting.
- A primary bath with a walk-in shower and double vanity in place of a corner tub.
- A finished basement with a family room, gym, or guest room.
- A detached or attached garage with a workshop. On a large lot, there’s often room for it.
We’ll help you put these in order so the most important project comes first.
Permits and planning in East Kingston
East Kingston has its own building inspector, and most structural, mechanical, and addition work needs a permit. We can take care of permits for you. With private septic, adding bedrooms usually means a septic review. With wells, new additions and garages have to keep their distance from the wellhead.
Read How a Remodel Works with Dom’s Workshop for the full process.
Why East Kingston homeowners call us
You’ll have one accountable contact, a written scope before work begins, and a contractor based in Rockingham County who works in the small towns around Plaistow. See reviews from past clients on our reviews page.
Neighboring towns
East Kingston borders Exeter to the northeast, Kensington to the east, South Hampton to the south, Newton to the southwest, and Kingston to the west. See Areas We Serve.
East Kingston remodeling FAQ
Do you remodel antique farmhouses?
Yes. We start with a structural assessment and plan around the original features you want to keep.
Can you turn our barn into a garage or living space?
Often, yes. It depends on the barn’s structure and foundation. We assess it on site.
We’re on a well and septic. Does that affect an addition?
It can. A bedroom addition usually requires a septic review, and any new structure has to meet well setbacks. We check both early.
Do you take care of permits?
We can take care of permits for you.
How do I get started?
Call (978) 775-8642 or request an estimate.
Plan your East Kingston remodel
Dom’s Workshop, Inc, based in Plaistow, NH, serving Rockingham County, NH
(978) 775-8642 · Dom@doms-workshop.com