Reading, PA is the county seat of Berks County and Pennsylvania’s fourth largest city, with a downtown full of rowhomes and twins that go back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Neighborhoods like Centre Park and the Queen Anne Historic District are lined with Victorian-era brick and stucco homes, many of them mid-restoration as owners bring these blocks back to life one property at a time. The GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, built inside the old Willson Goggle Factory downtown, is a good example of what that revitalization looks like when it is done right. Amazing Builders sees the same thing on a smaller scale, one rowhome exterior and one remodeled kitchen at a time.
We are based about 22 miles away in Myerstown, and our crews make the drive out to Reading and the rest of Berks County on a regular basis. Reading is home to roughly 95,000 people, making it the fourth largest city in Pennsylvania and the county seat of Berks County, so we are not talking about a handful of blocks. Long-time residents will also tell you Reading has been called the Pretzel Capital of the World for generations, thanks to the local bakeries that once supplied a huge share of the country’s pretzels. That kind of long, layered history is exactly what you feel when you walk through neighborhoods like Centre Park. If your home is anywhere in the city or the surrounding boroughs, we would like to help with the next stage of its story.
What We See Most in Reading Homes
Reading’s housing stock is older than what we see in most of our other service areas. Rowhomes and twins built between roughly 1880 and 1920 make up a large share of the city, especially around Centre Park, Callowhill, and the Queen Anne Historic District. Because these homes share walls and sit close to the sidewalk, the exterior takes the most weather damage and the most wear over the decades. That is why exterior work, more than any single interior project, is usually the first call we get from a Reading homeowner.
Original wood trim, cornices, and window surrounds on these rowhomes were built before vinyl siding was standard, and a lot of it has been patched, painted over, or partially replaced over the years. Paint fails faster on old masonry and old wood than it does on newer construction, and narrow lots mean our crews are often working in tight side yards or shared alleys instead of wide open driveways. We plan for that instead of showing up with the same approach we would use on a new-build colonial out past the city limits.
Weather is part of it too. Berks County gets humid summers and cold, wet winters, and that freeze-thaw cycle is hard on old mortar joints, wood siding, and any exterior paint film that was not applied correctly the first time. A rowhome exterior that gets neglected for a decade usually needs more than a fresh coat of paint by the time we get the call, which is why we would rather catch problems early with a straightforward inspection.
- ✓ Exterior painting with lead-safe prep. Common on rowhome exteriors built well before 1978.
- ✓ Siding and trim repair. Matching cornice lines and window trim instead of just covering them up.
- ✓ Window and door replacement. Fitting new units into old, out-of-square rowhome openings.
- ✓ Porch, stoop, and fence work. Small footprint projects that make a big difference on a narrow city lot.
Inside, we also see plenty of narrow galley kitchens, original plaster walls, and bathrooms that have not been touched in decades, all common in a rowhome built a century ago. We handle both sides of the house, not just the outside, but in Reading specifically, exterior work tends to come first.
What exterior work typically costs. Every rowhome is different, and the numbers below are typical ranges, not a quote for your home. Our guides on exterior painting costs and siding replacement costs walk through real numbers so you have a sense of the range before we walk your property. A free estimate gets you the actual figure for your home.
A hundred year old rowhome deserves a contractor who understands what changed the last time someone touched it, and what still hasn’t.
Full Remodeling and Painting Services in Reading, PA
Exterior work is what we see most in Reading, but we offer the same complete lineup here that we offer everywhere else we work. Here is the full list:
| Service | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Painting | Interior and exterior, including lead-safe prep on older homes |
| Exterior Upgrades | Siding, trim, cornice repair, and curb appeal projects |
| Windows & Doors | Replacement units fitted for older, out-of-square openings |
| Kitchen Remodeling | Full gut jobs and narrow rowhome-style layouts |
| Bathroom Renovation | Walk-in shower conversions and full layout changes |
| Basement Finishing | Waterproofing and finished living space for older foundations |
| Flooring & Tile | Hardwood, LVP, and tile installed level over old subfloors |
See the full services page for more detail on any of these, or browse finished work in our project gallery before you reach out.
Licensed, Insured, and HICPA Registered
Pennsylvania requires home improvement contractors doing more than $5,000 in work a year to register under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA). Amazing Builders is registered, licensed, and insured, and you can check that for us or any contractor through the state’s public search tool before you sign anything. Read our full breakdown of what HICPA registration means for PA homeowners if you want the details.
Getting to Reading From Our Myerstown Shop
To be upfront, Amazing Builders is not headquartered in Reading itself. Our shop is in Myerstown, about 22 miles west on US-422, usually a 30 to 40 minute drive depending on traffic once you get into the city. We make that trip often for Berks County projects, and we are glad to start with a phone call or photos if a full home visit is not the right first step for your project.
Questions Reading Homeowners Ask Us
Can you match the original trim on an older Reading rowhome?
Usually, yes. A lot of Reading’s rowhomes still have their original cornice brackets, window surrounds, or porch trim under layers of old paint. We look at what is actually there before we recommend replacing it. Matching an existing trim profile is often more affordable than you would expect, and it keeps the character of the block intact, which matters a lot in areas like Centre Park.
Do you follow lead-safe rules when painting a home built before 1978?
Yes. Most of Reading’s rowhome stock predates 1978, which means old paint layers likely contain lead. We follow lead-safe work practices any time we disturb old paint on an exterior or interior surface. The EPA’s lead-safe renovation guidance explains why that containment and cleanup process matters, and we are happy to walk you through it before work starts.
Is narrow alley or street access a problem for exterior work on a rowhome?
Not usually, but it does change how we plan the job. Rowhome blocks in Reading often mean no driveway, a narrow side yard, or a shared alley for rear access, and sometimes a small crew working by hand where a full size ladder truck would not fit. We scope equipment, staging, and material delivery around that ahead of time instead of finding out on the first day, which keeps the project moving and keeps your neighbors happy too.
Do I need a permit to redo my rowhome’s exterior in the city of Reading?
Some exterior projects need a permit through the city, and it depends on the scope of the work. Siding replacement, structural porch repair, and some window replacements are the kind of jobs that typically need one. We handle that conversation as part of the estimate so you are not left figuring out city requirements on your own.
No pressure, no gimmicks. A free estimate means we walk your Reading property, tell you honestly what we see, and give you real numbers in writing. What you do with that is up to you.
Whether your project is a full rowhome exterior restoration or a kitchen that has not changed since the 1990s, we would like to hear about it. Read more about who we are on our About page, then reach out when you are ready to talk.