Serving Chittenden County, Vermont
Not every job needs a full renovation. A door that won't close right, a deck board gone soft underfoot, a kitchen table that's been in the family three generations and finally come loose , that's work too, and we treat it with the same care we give a full build. I'm Tim Chila. I've been fixing things in Vermont homes for over 50 years, and there's no job too small to do properly.
What We Do
Most repair calls start the same way: someone's been living with something broken for months, because it felt too small to bother a contractor about. It isn't. Across Chittenden County, the jobs other crews won't bother with are exactly the ones we're happy to take , and we do them so they stay fixed.
There's a real difference between patching something and repairing it. A sticking door is usually the frame or a worn hinge, not the door itself , so planing the door is the wrong fix, and six months later it sticks again. A soft deck board often means the joist underneath has started to go, and swapping just the board hides the real problem. After 50 years, we know where to actually look.
You get an honest read on what's wrong, a clear price before we start, and work that holds , whether it's your house or a piece of furniture you'd hate to lose. And because we're a licensed contractor , not a handyman working off an app , the repair is done to code, done safely, and backed by someone who's accountable for it. That matters most on the jobs people assume are "simple."
Scope of Work
01
A door that sticks, drops, or won't latch is almost never the door , it's the hinges or a frame that's shifted. We sort the actual cause, rehang and realign, replace worn hardware, and get windows sealing and sliding the way they should.
02
Soft boards, spongy spots, wobbling rails, a post that's started to rot at the base. We replace what's failed, check the structure underneath that caused it, and leave your deck or porch safe to stand on again , which matters a lot more in Vermont weather than people think.
03
A squeak that won't quit, a gap that's opened up, a water-stained board, a section that's lifted. We fix the spot , hardwood, laminate, or tile , and blend the repair in, so you're not forced into redoing a whole floor over one bad patch.
04
Damaged baseboard, casing, crown, or a built-in detail that's chipped or pulled loose. Trim is woodworking, and woodworking is what Tradecraft VT was built on , so the repair matches the existing profile instead of standing out as the "fixed bit."
05
Holes, cracks, popped nails, water stains. We patch, texture, and paint so the repair disappears into the wall , you shouldn't be able to find where the damage was once we're done.
06
Wobbly chairs, loose or cracked joints, a broken leg, a drawer that's stopped sliding, a tabletop that's split. Custom woodworking is Tim's go-to craft , so the same hands that build cabinetry from scratch can put your furniture back together with proper joinery, not glue and a prayer. Fixed to be used again, not just to look mended.
07
Sagging shelves, doors out of alignment, worn hinges, a cabinet or built-in that's pulled away from the wall. We repair and re-fit cabinetry so it sits square, closes clean, and works like it should.
How It Works
Call or send a quick message describing the problem , a photo helps a lot. We'll tell you straight whether it's something we can take on, and we usually can.
We look at the job, give you an honest assessment, and a clear price before any work starts. No minimum job size, no pressure, no vague "we'll see when we get into it."
We do the work carefully and clean up after ourselves. Most repairs are done in a single visit , for anything bigger, you get a realistic timeline up front.
We're not finished until it works the way it should and you're happy with it. Simple as that.
Why Tradecraft VT
We mean it. There's no minimum job size and no eye-roll when you call about one door or one chair. Honestly, some of our best long-term clients started with a job they almost didn't bother phoning about.
Tim has been repairing homes and furniture in Vermont for over five decades. That experience is why we catch the cause behind the symptom , the joist under the soft board, the frame behind the sticking door , instead of just treating what shows.
You're not handing your home or a family heirloom to a stranger off an app. Tradecraft VT holds Vermont Contractor Licence No. 173.0000644, is fully insured, and is based right here in Essex Junction. One person stands behind the work: Tim.
Common Questions
Let's Talk
Whether it's a repair around the house or a piece of furniture you'd hate to lose, give us a call or send the details. We'll get back to you within one business day and tell you honestly what it'll take.
Send My RequestWe'll get back to you within one business day.
Let's talk
If you have a project anywhere in Chittenden County, whether it's in Burlington, Essex Junction, Williston, Winooski, or somewhere in between, give us a call or fill out the form. We'll get back to you within one business day.