Old Town Construction in Baltimore: Residential and Commercial Renovation on Canton's Eastern Edge
Old Town Construction handles residential gut renovations, commercial tenant buildouts, and historical restoration work across Baltimore, with a focus on Canton and Fells Point row houses and mixed-use properties along the waterfront corridor.
What Old Town Construction actually is
Old Town Construction operates as a general contracting firm licensed in Maryland, managing projects that range from single-family kitchen and bathroom overhauls to multi-unit commercial leasehold improvements. The company holds a Class A general contractor license and works with property owners, real estate developers, and commercial tenants on jobs typically valued between $50,000 and $500,000. Most work concentrates in Baltimore neighborhoods where older building stock and renovation demand intersect: Canton, Fells Point, and inner Harbor East. The firm employs a small crew, typically 4 to 6 workers on site at any given time, which means faster decision-making than larger operations but less capacity to run simultaneous jobs.
Services and pricing structure
Old Town Construction quotes jobs on a time-and-materials basis with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) once scope is locked. Initial estimates are free; the firm walks a property and produces a written estimate within 3 to 5 business days. For a modest bathroom renovation in a Canton row house (tile, fixtures, framing), expect estimates in the $8,000 to $15,000 range. A full kitchen gut with cabinet installation and electrical upgrades runs $25,000 to $45,000, depending on finish choices. Commercial tenant improvements cost more; a 2,000-square-foot office space build-out from shell typically falls between $60,000 and $120,000.
The firm charges $55 to $75 per hour for labor on change orders and manages its own small supply network, which can reduce material markup compared to firms buying through wholesale distributors. A deposit of 25 percent is required at contract signing, with payment due in two-week intervals tied to progress milestones. The company carries general liability and workers' compensation insurance and requests it be verified before work begins.
How it compares to other Baltimore general contractors
The general contracting market in Baltimore includes larger firms like Streaker Construction (which manages $1 million-plus commercial projects and often declines jobs under $100,000), mid-sized outfits like Domicile Construction (known for high-end residential work in Roland Park and Canton), and smaller operators handling piecemeal repairs. Old Town Construction sits between the mid-tier and boutique category. Its advantage over Streaker is availability and engagement on smaller projects; its advantage over solo contractors or handymen is the ability to manage permit coordination, trade subcontracting (electrical, HVAC, plumbing), and project schedules across 8 to 12 weeks without workflow gaps. Choose Old Town if you have a defined $50,000-to-$200,000 project and want a responsive, licensed operator. Choose Domicile if you are pursuing luxury finishes and have a larger budget. Choose a handyman if the job is under $5,000 or confined to one trade.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Old Town Construction fits owners renovating a single Canton or Fells Point row house, small commercial tenants leasing space in Baltimore and needing buildout, and landlords managing a two- to four-unit rental property. The company also works well for clients who value direct communication with the owner rather than filtering decisions through a project manager. It does not suit clients pursuing jobs above $500,000, developers building new construction (the firm does renovation only), or anyone requiring the firm to carry specialized licenses for medical office buildouts, restaurant kitchens, or other code-heavy commercial work beyond standard leasehold improvement.
What the first visit involves
Contact Old Town Construction by phone or email to describe the project scope and schedule a walkthrough. The owner or lead estimator tours the property, photographs existing conditions, takes measurements, and discusses finish preferences and timeline. The estimate arrives within 5 business days with a line-item breakdown, material specifications, labor estimates, and a proposed start date. Payment terms and insurance requirements are outlined in the proposal. Once signed, the firm schedules a pre-construction meeting with the homeowner or tenant to review the project schedule, establish site access and parking protocols, and clarify expectations for cleanup and communication during the job.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Old Town Construction operates Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with occasional Saturday work by arrangement. Work crews park on street in the immediate project neighborhood; on congested blocks, the firm coordinates with neighbors or uses a nearby lot. The company is reachable by phone during business hours for emergencies or urgent questions.
Old Town Construction has earned steady work across Canton for over a decade through repeat referrals and documented completion; it understands local permit requirements and the particular constraints of Baltimore row house renovation, which makes the difference between a project that finishes on schedule and one that stalls over code interpretation.
