supplying historic restoration millwork

by Matthew Wiley | Jan 30, 2023 | Historic Restoration

Matt Wiley has 20+ years of experrience building historic homes and large scale commercial restoration projects. Matthew’s father taught and trained him in the carpentry and building trades from 12 years old and on. As his father was a general foreman builing residential homes Matt was trained in lumber calculation for project management in his early teens. Time saving job order, and the use of custom made ‘jigs’ to speed repetitive tasks was taught and practiced from Matt’s formative years. Matt moved from the rural hills of western virginia to Richmond’s most historic district – Church Hill before it was popular. Building the late 90’s and early 2000’s in Church Hill Matthew found a severe shortage in historically accurate building materials that caused a project management problem in restoring the row houses of the 19th century. From balusters to windows, historically correct materials where nearly unavailailable and using vinyl windows in a beautiful 3 story six digit home just did not keep the aestetic alive.

And in a beautiful turn of fate Matthew had the opportunity to buy “Beckstoffer’s Millwork” at 1207 N 28th Street in the early 2000’s. At that point the facility was 100 years old and many of the tools and records were still in tact. The formative experience of a lifelong craftsman was now turned to the speciaty that provides a lifetime of challenge and project variety. Throughout the real estate boom and urban return of the 2000’s Matthew ran a shop of 20+ employees supplying everything from basic kitchens to historic retrofits of much of Tobacco Row warehouse conversions. In the full market stop of the financial crisis of 09; Matthew’s operation had to re-size with the rest of the industry and it was the demand for historically accurate building supplies that carried Matthew’s interest, as well as cashflow.

@gepetto.millworks Historic Replication Millwork for Tax Accredited Projects #historictaxcredit #restorstion #historic ♬ original sound - Gepettomillworks

The Tax Reform Act of 1986

Regulations provide a federal income-tax credit for owners of historic buildings that undergo substantial rehabilitations into income-producing uses. A credit equal to 20% of a rehabilitation’s qualified rehabilitation expenditures may be subtracted directly from the owner’s federal income taxes. A program of the National Park Service (NPS), the federal tax credits are administered by the State.

Historic Building Tax Credit Benefits

Helps close the financing gap between the cost of a rehabilitation project and its return on investment
Encourages the preservation of historic buildings
Sustainably reuses the built environment
Increases the value of rehabilitated, historic properties
Returns underutilized structures to the tax rolls
Revitalizes downtowns and neighborhoods and often increases the amount of rental housing within the community

Main Street America Action Instructions

Contact Gepetto for Bid Information

Wooden Window Fabrication Virginia

by Gepetto Millworks | Oct 22, 2016 | Wooden Windows

Virginia Wooden Window Maker

Leaky and inefficient windows, skylights, and glazed doors account for more than 25 percent of the average household’s energy bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. You can cut energy costs by as much as 15 percent by buying windows with double-pane insulated glass, heat-resistant coatings, airtight frames, and/or Energy Star ratings. Naturally, our green inner child aspires to do our fair share in preserving our environment… not to mention our wallets. Saving a bundle on utility costs and receiving a bundle back from Uncle Sam seemed like a delightful no – brainer for many thousands. For them, wasting valuable time and money by putting off needed home improvements was simply no longer an option. Thousands of others, however, remained skeptical and are still putting off the inevitable. Perhaps they just aren’t convinced that their windows really need replacing. Or maybe, they just don’t know which window company to trust or even where to begin. You’ll want to look at our option for using Accoya Acetelated wood to extend the weather beating characteristics of the wood itself.

Historic Wooden Windows Fabricated in VA

Although there are many fine reputable window manufacturers to choose from, homeowners also need to beware of start-up companies or companies who are taking shortcuts. Of course, all companies were start-up companies at one time. Nevertheless, new figures from Insolvency Journal reveal that four companies a day went belly up in the first seven months of 2010, up 22% from the same time in 2009. We’ve seen window companies go out of business, change their names, and reopen. We’ve seen companies like Republic and Kensington declare bankruptcy, potentially leaving customers holding the bag with worthless warranties and un-serviced windows. We’ve seen no fewer than 17 major window manufacturing corporations file for Chapter 11 in the last 3 years. The construction industry is rife with short term pop-up companies who loose money and close. Gepetto has been operating under Matthew Wiley’s guidance supporting his six children for the last 25 years. You can’t be prouder of a company’s commitment to an honest day’s work and family values when you are placing your order for fabricating new wooden windows.

Wooden Windows For Historic Homes

Especially using the highest grade materials using solid wood joinery. 150 or 200 years ago when your historic home was built they held to the highest standards they knew as a matter of pride in their work and their craftsmanship. Sure your windows are worn and maybe worn out, but 100 plus years proves the quality and integrity of that craftsmanship. We have seen warped an worn vinyl windows stuck in their frames within a year or two of placement in the direct Virginia Sun. Wood insulates very well and while it does require yearly maintenance – properly cared for they will last longer than most modern materials.

Aesthetic Wooden Windows Fabricated new

Wood is durable. Wood is stable. Wood is warm. Wood breathes. Wood is beautiful. Wood feels nice. Wood is honest.

Wood windows have that classic and rustic feel to them due to their material. Different shades of wood styled in the antiquated ways similar to old houses help homeowners to replace old windows freely. With wood window replacements, frequent maintenance and adjustment can easily be done by homeowners. Certain window types give off different atmospheres. Wood windows give off a classic vibe that can match any old home without looking out of place. If you are not convinced that your investment will last, take a look at any of the buildings or sites close to you on the National Register of Historic places in Virginia and note all the windows are made of wood.