The operative word in the term “gut renovation” is the first one … because it certainly takes guts to rip an entire house down to the framework and start over.

But that is just what Mike and Jessica Bolduc decided to do when Mike’s parents passed away, leaving him the family home that had extended back three generations.

“I grew up in that house,” said Mike. “My grandfather built the house in 1941 and after my parents got married, a second-floor apartment was added for our family to live in.”

“I had such a wonderful childhood here,” he added. “This place always had an open-door policy and it’s where everyone came to get together.”

Finding themselves the owners of two homes, the Lewiston-area family had a choice to make. Their options were to sell the parent’s two-family home; not sell their home and become landlords; sell both homes, and buy a new one; or sell their current house and move into the family home.

Mike wanted to move into his family home.

“There are just so many memories here,” he said. “Memories that I just couldn’t bring anywhere else. And I kept remembering my dad telling me if I ever sell this, I was crazy!”

Jessica wasn’t quite so sure she wanted to go through all the stress and aggravation of fixing up the family house; she had wanted something newer. So, as with any couple, compromise was made.

“Maddox, our son was only 18 months old and I was pregnant with Finn,” she explained. “I knew how much Mike hated the thought of selling this house, but I didn’t want to become a landlord and I didn’t want to just fix up the house. Having a total gutting and starting almost like a new house was our compromise.”

They discussed the numerous advantages to starting from scratch.

“We were able to repair any structural deficiencies, insulate effectively and update the plumbing and electrical system,” explained Mike. “It was also easier to relocate walls, doors and windows.”

My dad had also put in a pool that is gorgeous and after his passing, this house was still the place to hang out.”

“And most of all,” Jessica added, “making it our home with our designs.”

Other than the studs and roof framing, it was like building a new home. Even the upstairs floor joists were replaced.

“We started about a year ago,” said Jessica. “We met with Dan Poussard, our contractor, and he came and measured the outside walls. And once we had the measurements, then came the designing of the interior walls.”

Most all of the construction went smooth.

“Jessica helped with designing the inside detail and she did an awesome job. Dan started in the spring tearing down walls and then as soon as it warmed up, he did the exterior of the house: windows, doors and siding. We even added on a huge family room with a fireplace. He did a great job of coordinating deliveries with Hammond Lumber, and the other subcontractors like the electrician and plumber,” said Mike.

Everything was new: sheetrock, cabinets, countertops, windows and doors.

“Making decisions was probably the hardest part,” laughed Jessica. “It was so much fun at first, like the cabinets and doors, but it got tough when it came to the smaller things like knobs and light switches. But it was fun, too, sometimes, like when Mike surprised me with the installation of a laundry shoot and a half-moon window over the tub.”

Just recently moving in, the house came out stunning, looking like a new home inside and out.

“We are so grateful to have inherited this house,” said Mike. “I was fortunate to have parents and grandparents who made wise decisions allowing us to have a home we would otherwise never have. Even at two years old and nine months, the boys somehow feel it too. They started sleeping right thought the night as soon as we came here.”

Now that the boys are the fourth generation to move in, will it be carried on?

“We certainly hope so,” Mike said. “I wish the same childhood for them as I had in this house. And I hope when the time comes, one of them will continue and add more generations.”

“My dad was right,” he added. “I would have been crazy to sell this house — this home.”