45 White Oak Road

A Note Before You Look Around

"

We started with a piece of land on White Oak Road in the spring of 2023. The house that was there before had a good life. We bought it, thanked it, took it down, and spent the next two years trying to build something worthy of what replaces it.

This guide is our attempt to hand you the full picture — not just what the house is, but how it was made, why certain decisions were made the way they were, and what you should know to live in it well. A lot of what's in here won't be obvious from walking through the rooms. We built a lot of things that are meant to be invisible — the air barrier, the insulation, the masonry system, the waterproofing — and those invisible things are why this house will perform beautifully for a very long time.

We are builders by trade. We are not known for writing letters. But we are known for caring about the details, and this guide is one more detail.

Welcome to 45 White Oak Road. We hope it takes care of you.

NS Builders · Nick Schiffer & team · 2023–2025 · Wellesley, MA

Where You Are

The Story of Wellesley Farms

Wellesley's founding

The land you're on was originally part of Dedham, purchased from Nipmuc leaders Nehoiden and Maugus in the 1630s. It became Needham in 1711, and the western section — West Needham — remained quiet farmland for nearly two centuries. Men from here fought at Concord in 1775.

Wellesley College arrived in 1875, named for the Hunnewell family estate on Lake Waban. After a long secession campaign — the pivotal town meeting was held at the Needham Poor Farm — the Massachusetts legislature incorporated the independent Town of Wellesley on April 6, 1881.

The Wellesley Farms neighborhood

White Oak Road sits within Wellesley Farms, developed in the 1920s and 1930s under an explicitly anti-suburban design philosophy. Rather than a grid, the developers followed existing topography — rocky outcrops, mature pines, heavy vegetation. Most homes here are architect-designed in traditional New England styles: stone, timber, and shingle. Most are unaltered or only subtly expanded.

The neighborhood sits close to the H.H. Richardson-designed Wellesley Farms train station (1886, National Register of Historic Places), putting it roughly 27 minutes from Boston's South Station by rail. Wellesley pioneered American land-use regulation — passing a Town Building Law in 1914 and a full Zoning Act in 1926. The billboard ban from the 1970s is still in effect.

This specific land

The previous home on the lot dated to the early 1990s — a 3,600 sq ft house that sold for $625,000 in 1993. NS Builders purchased the property in March 2023 for $1,975,000, filed demolition permits in September 2023, and new construction permits in October 2023. The new home was complete in 2025.

Atlascope — overlay historical maps of this address 1897 Stadly Atlas of Wellesley — Leventhal Map Collection NS Builders build series — 28 videos, start to finish

1630s

Land purchased from Nipmuc leaders Nehoiden and Maugus. Part of Dedham.

1711–1713

Becomes Needham. Western farmland remains quiet for 150+ years.

1875

Wellesley College founded. Named for the Hunnewell family estate on Lake Waban.

1881

Town of Wellesley incorporated on April 6. One of the earliest towns to pass comprehensive zoning laws.

1886

H.H. Richardson designs Wellesley Farms train station. Now on the National Register of Historic Places.

1920s–1930s

Wellesley Farms neighborhood developed along topographic lines — anti-grid, architect-designed homes.

1993

Previous home on this lot sells for $625,000.

March 2023

NS Builders / Nick Schiffer purchases the lot for $1,975,000 via 45 White Oak Road LLC.

September–October 2023

Demolition permit RES-23-708 filed. New construction permit RES-23-839 filed ($2.5M stated value).

2025

Home complete. First spec project for NS Builders.

The Home

Designed by Vincent Appel of Of Possible Architecture. Built by NS Builders. See the full build at @NSBuilders on YouTube — 28 videos documenting every system, every detail, start to finish.

Exterior · Wellesley Farms · 2025

Entry Atrium · 25-ft ceiling

Living Room

Kitchen · Gaggenau · Marble island with carved controls

Kitchen Detail · Vermont White Danby marble

9×9 ft Frameless Skylight · 1,300 lbs · 0.19 U-value

Primary Wet Room · Blue Celeste marble

Primary Suite

Living Area · German white oak floors

Dining · Peterson Cover Brick portal beneath skylight

Secondary Bedroom

Secondary Bath · Vermont White Danby marble

Bedroom

Staircase · 25-ft atrium

Rear Exterior · 0.59 acres

Outdoor Grounds

Lower Level

3-Car Garage

Architectural Detail

Street View · White Oak Road

45 White Oak Road · Wellesley Farms

Watch the full build on YouTube — 28 episodes

How This House Was Built

Systems & Equipment

Every system in this house was specified for performance and longevity. Here's what's here and what you need to know about it.

Heating & Cooling

Mitsubishi Hyper-Heat

TypeMulti-split air source heat pump

Cold-weather ratingFull capacity to -5°F (-20°C)

FuelAll-electric · No gas, no oil

FiltersReplace every 3 months

ServiceAnnual professional inspection

Exterior Cladding

Peterson Cover Brick

SystemDry-laid masonry shingles, no mortar

Air space3-inch ventilated gap

FasteningScrewed — each brick removable

Expected lifespan~500 years (per builder)

Also usedInterior dining portal beneath skylight

Windows

EAS (European Architectural Systems)

FrameWhite oak interior / aluminum exterior

GlazingTriple-glazed (select units)

MaintenanceNone for 50+ years on exterior

TypesFixed, sliding, tilt-turn

Skylight

Glazing Vision · Custom

Size9 × 9 feet, frameless

Weight1,300 lbs (crane installation)

U-value0.19 — exceeds most walls

CoatingWater-beading, self-cleaning

LocationAbove 25-ft atrium staircase

Kitchen Appliances

Gaggenau

OvensTwo Gaggenau units

CooktopGaggenau induction

Grill / GriddleGaggenau electric (both)

ControlsKnobs carved into marble island face

FabricatorIPA (NJ) · 1/4″ marble on doors

Plumbing Fixtures

Vola — Danish

MaterialStainless steel throughout

Primary wet roomCeiling shower + custom tub filler

CareWipe dry · No abrasive cleaners

Stone & Surfaces

New York Stone · IPA (NJ)

Primary wet roomBlue Celeste marble throughout

Kitchen + secondary bathsVermont White Danby marble

Shower floorSingle-piece machined slab, no grout

Ceiling (wet room)13-ft glowing waterproof plaster

SealingAnnually · pH-neutral cleaner only

Flooring

Madera · Single German forest

SpeciesGerman white oak, wide-plank

FinishFactory pre-finished roller-coat

SourceSingle forest — consistent grain/color

Box beams25-ft continuous, same forest

CareManufacturer cleaner · No steam · 35–50% RH

Structural Framing

Cape Cod Panel · Panelized

MethodPre-built off-site, assembled on lot

ArchitectVincent Appel · Of Possible Architecture

BuilderNick Schiffer · NS Builders (est. 2014)

Project typeFirst spec project for NS Builders

Waterproofing

Schluter Systems

ProductsKERDI board + KERDI band (walls/seams)

Floor membraneDitra uncoupling + radiant heat cables

ServiceInspect KERDI seams at penetrations annually

Mega Shingles (Roof)

Custom · Pine tar finish

Material4×8 plywood cut in half

FinishPine tar + boiled linseed oil + turpentine

AgingDesigned to silver naturally over time

TraditionScandinavian centuries-old technique

The Team Behind This House

Company	Role	Contact / Note
NS Builders	General Contractor / Builder	nsbuilders.com · Nick Schiffer · First spec project
Of Possible Architecture	Architect	Vincent Appel — 100-ft gable, skylight, atrium
Madera	Millwork & White Oak	German white oak floors, beams, cabinetry
New York Stone	Stone Sourcing	Blue Celeste + Vermont White Danby marble
IPA	Stone Fabrication	NJ-based · 1/4″ marble doors, chiseled island, one-piece shower floor
EAS	Windows	European Architectural Systems · White oak / aluminum
Glazing Vision	Skylight	Custom 9×9 ft, 1,300 lbs, 0.19 U-value
Schluter	Waterproofing	KERDI board, KERDI band, Ditra membrane
Vola	Plumbing Fixtures	Danish · Stainless steel throughout
Gaggenau	Kitchen Appliances	2 ovens, induction cooktop, electric grill, electric griddle
Cape Cod Panel	Structural Framing	Panelized, pre-built off-site
The Sarkis Team	Listing Agent	Douglas Elliman · (508) 952-6104 · MLS 73540092

What the Listing Sheet Won't Tell You

Quirks, Features & Easter Eggs

The things you only learn from being here — or from the people who built and know this house.

From the Builder · NS Builders, Nick Schiffer

Builder · Exterior

The masonry shingles are screwed, not mortared

Every brick on the exterior can be removed and replaced. If one ever gets damaged, it's not a masonry repair — it's unscrewing a fastener. The 3-inch air space behind the brick is intentional. Don't block it.

Builder · Roof

The mega shingles will silver

The plywood shingles coated in pine tar, boiled linseed oil, and raw turpentine were designed to weather naturally. They will get darker, then lighter, then silver. This is not decay — it's the finish working as intended. The Scandinavians have been using this technique for centuries.

Builder · Kitchen

The island controls are in the marble

The Gaggenau cooktop knobs are carved into the marble face of the island. They're not on the cooktop itself. First-time cooks in this kitchen are sometimes confused for a moment.

Builder · Bathrooms

The medicine cabinets pull vertically

They're not hinged. They slide straight out on heavy-duty vertical drawer slides. This was done so they would never sag, droop, or drift out of alignment over time. Pull straight out.

Builder · Secondary Bedrooms

The shower curtains live in the ceiling

There are shade pockets built into the ceiling above the frameless glass showers. Waterproof privacy curtains drop down on a track. They're there if you want privacy — the shower functions perfectly without them.

Builder · Atrium

The skylight weighs 1,300 pounds

It was lifted into place by a crane operated by CJ Shaughnessy. It is frameless, double-glazed, with a self-cleaning coating. The U-value is 0.19 — it performs better thermally than most walls in conventional homes.

Builder · Wet Room

The shower floor is one piece of stone

The entire Blue Celeste shower floor was milled from a single slab of marble and machined to pitch toward the drain. There are no triangular seam cuts. There is no grout in the floor. The silicone perimeter at the wall is the only seam — inspect it annually.

Builder · Envelope

This house is very quiet

The 0.6 ACH50 airtightness means very little sound, very little air movement, very little temperature variation between rooms. Ventilation is managed mechanically — don't block the registers. This is high-performance building, not conventional frame construction.

From the Neighborhood · Things Worth Knowing

Outdoors · Right Across the Street

Carisbrooke Reservation starts at your front door

The trail entrance is at the end of White Oak Road. You can walk out the front door and be on a woodland trail in 90 seconds. Easy 0.5-mile loop, rocky outcrops, Cold Stream Brook. The Hundreds Path connects through to Rockridge Pond.

Commute · Train

Wellesley Farms station is about a mile away

The H.H. Richardson building from 1886 — it's on the National Register of Historic Places. 27 minutes to South Station. If you work in the city, this is your commute: park, train, done.

Community · April

The Scream Tunnel

Every April, Wellesley College students line the Boston Marathon route and make noise that runners have been looking forward to for 20 miles. You will hear it from the right side of town. It's one of the great free events of the year.

Food · Local Institution

Captain Marden's on Linden Street

Wellesley's seafood market. Has been for decades. The fish is excellent and the staff knows everything about where it came from. Worth a visit early — the best things go by noon on Saturdays.

Airport · Timing Matters

Leave before 6am for early flights

From this house to Logan in 25–30 minutes with no drama. Leave at 7:30am and you may add 45 minutes to an hour. Route: Route 9 or 16 → Mass Pike East → Ted Williams Tunnel.

Build Documentation

NS Builders documented everything

There are 28 videos on YouTube — full build series at @NSBuilders. If you ever want to know exactly how a wall was built, how the skylight was installed, how the staircase was assembled — it's all there. Nick narrates each one.

Things Worth Knowing · Quick Reference

Item	Detail
Brick replacement	Any masonry shingle can be unscrewed and replaced without mortar — no mason needed
Mega shingle silvering	Normal — the pine tar/linseed finish is designed to weather and silver. Not a maintenance issue.
Cooktop controls	Gaggenau knobs are in the marble island face, not on the cooktop surface
Medicine cabinets	Pull vertically (not swing out) — heavy-duty drawer slides, won't droop
Shower curtains	Hidden in ceiling pockets above frameless glass — drop on track for privacy
Indoor humidity	Maintain 35–50% RH year-round — critical for wide-plank white oak floors
Snow on exterior	Plastic shovel or broom only near masonry cladding — no metal shovels
Marble sealing	Annual — pH-neutral stone cleaner only, no vinegar, no citrus, no bleach
HVAC app	Confirm all zone settings before extended travel — app/remote control available
Build videos	youtube.com/@NSBuilders — 28 full-build episodes + walkthrough with Matt Risinger

On the Record

Public Records

Everything that's officially documented — deeds, permits, assessor data, and where to find the original records.

Property & Ownership

Address	45 White Oak Rd, Wellesley MA 02481
Parcel ID	WELL M:094 R:013 S:
APN	260280
County	Norfolk County, MA
Lot size	0.59 acres / ~25,700 sq ft
Zoning	Single family residential

Sale History

Date	Event	Price
8/30/1993	Prior home sold	$625,000
3/31/2023	Purchased by 45 White Oak Road LLC	$1,975,000

Assessment & Taxes

2025 Assessed Value	$2,488,000
— Land	$1,465,000
— Improvements	$1,023,000
2025 Tax Bill	~$25,577/year
2026 Est. Tax (post-rebuild)	~$34,536/year

Note: The 2025 assessment reflects the demolition-era value of the old structure. Full reassessment of the new home is pending — expect the tax bill to increase substantially once the town reassesses at current market value.

Permits — Town of Wellesley

Permit	Filed	Description	Value
RES-23-708	9/13/2023	Demolition of existing structure	$3,000,000
RES-23-839	10/30/2023	New two-story single-family dwelling, 3-car garage	$2,500,000

Public Records Links

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds

masslandrecords.com/Norfolk

Wellesley Assessor Database (VGSI)

gis.vgsi.com/wellesleyma

Wellesley Building Department

wellesleyma.gov/161/Building

Historical Maps — Atlascope

atlascope.leventhalmap.org

Builder Project Site — 45whiteoak.com

45whiteoak.com

Year One & Beyond

Seasonal Maintenance

This house is young. Most of what you need in year one is just learning its rhythms — and tracking which systems need their first service intervals.

Spring — April through May

Inspect masonry shingle cladding — check battens, confirm air space clear

Inspect and caulk EAS windows at sills/jamb transitions as needed

Clean gutters; inspect waterfall gutter channel above dog trot

Test and restart irrigation system after winter shutdown

Summer — June through August

Clean outdoor Mitsubishi condenser coils mid-season

Maintain 18" vegetation clearance around heat pump units

Check drainage at 3" air space behind masonry after heavy rain

Inspect Glazing Vision skylight perimeter seal annually

Fall — September through October

Schedule Mitsubishi annual professional inspection before heating season

Schluter wet room inspection — check KERDI seams at penetrations

Shut down irrigation system before first freeze

Clear gutters after leaf drop

Inspect exterior mega shingle pine tar finish — note any uneven wear

Winter — November through March

Snow removal: plastic shovel or broom only near masonry cladding

Monitor indoor humidity — maintain 35–50% RH for white oak floors

Vola fixtures: wipe dry after use, no abrasive cleaners

Expect seasonal wood movement — expansion/contraction is normal

Year-Round & Annual

Mitsubishi filters: replace every 3 months (all indoor cassette/wall units)

Marble sealing: Blue Celeste + Vermont Danby — annually with pH-neutral sealer

Gaggenau knobs: barely damp cloth only — no cleaners in marble cavity

White oak floors: manufacturer cleaner only, no steam mops

Service Contacts — To Complete

HVAC service — Mitsubishi certified tech: [Add on move-in]

Stone sealing — recommend calling New York Stone for referral

Gaggenau appliance service: [Add on move-in]

Irrigation: [Add on move-in]

First-year exterior inspection — contact NS Builders directly

Wellesley Public Schools

The Schools at This Address

The schools are one of the best things about this address. Wellesley's public schools are consistently ranked among the top in Massachusetts, and all three assigned schools are within 1.5 miles.

Elementary · K–5

Sprague Elementary School

9

/10 GreatSchools

📍 1.4 miles from this address

Wellesley Public Schools district

Middle School · 6–8

Wellesley Middle School

8

/10 GreatSchools

📍 1.3 miles from this address

9:1 student-teacher ratio

Top 10% in MA statewide

High School · 9–12

Wellesley High School

10

/10 GreatSchools

📍 1.5 miles from this address

#28 in MA · US News Rankings

College Success Award 6× since 2018

Where You Live

The Neighborhood

Restaurants Worth Knowing

The Cottage Linden Square. Locally-sourced, chef-driven. The neighborhood dinner spot.

Black & Blue 65 Central St. Elevated dining, award-winning wine list. When someone deserves a steak.

Alta Strada 92 Central St. Italian from Michael Schlow.

Laughing Monk 90 Central St. High-end sushi and Thai — 15-course tasting menu.

Captain Marden's 279 Linden St. Wellesley's seafood institution. The fish is excellent.

Smith & Wollensky 583 Washington St. USDA dry-aged prime and Wagyu.

Quebrada Baking Co. 272 Washington St. Worth the trip for pastries. The Saturday morning spot.

Tatte Bakery Linden Square.

Bocado Tapas Bar 45 Church St. Spanish wine and tapas.

Truly's 39 Grove St. Ice cream and coffee. A fixture since 1989.

Grocery & Essentials

Roche Bros. 184 Linden St. Headquarters brand. The best full grocery in town.

Whole Foods 442 Washington St.

Green's Hardware 308 Washington St. Full-service. Staff who know things.

ACE Wellesley 165 Linden St., Linden Square.

CVS 188 Linden St. Closest pharmacy, with MinuteClinic.

Logan Airport — Timing Guide

18–20 miles from White Oak Road. Route: Route 9 or 16 → I-90 East → Ted Williams Tunnel.

Departure Window	Drive Time	Notes
Before 6:00 AM	25–30 min	Best window for early flights
7:00–9:00 AM	45–70 min	Morning rush — avoid if possible
10:00 AM–3:00 PM	30–35 min	Reliable midday window
4:00–7:00 PM	45–60+ min	Evening rush
After 8:00 PM	25–35 min	Good for late departures

Parks & Trails

Carisbrooke Reservation Right across White Oak Road. 0.5-mi loop, rocky outcrops, Cold Stream Brook. Hundreds Path connects to Rockridge Pond (1.4 mi).

Fuller Brook Park Most popular in-town walk, ADA-accessible, parallel to Washington St.

Lake Waban / Wellesley College College grounds open to public. Lake path on College side. Dogs on leash.

Centennial Reservation 3.3 miles of woodland trails; climbs Maugus Hill for views toward Blue Hills.

Morses Pond Town beach, connects to Crosstown Trail. Summer swimming.

The Wellesley Free Library is a genuinely exceptional public library. Worth knowing about from your first week.

From One Homeowner to Another

Good to Know

A few things that take time to figure out — and you shouldn't have to.

01

Document everything before you move in

Walk every room, every mechanical space, every panel with your phone. Take photos dated on day one. You'll reference them when you need to explain something to a service tech, file an insurance claim, or recall what was original. NS Builders' 28 YouTube videos are an excellent baseline — they show every system from framing through finish.

02

Get the Mitsubishi app configured before winter

The Hyper-Heat system can be controlled via app across all zones. Set it up in the first weeks — confirm the zone map matches what you expect. Before any extended travel, check all zones are set correctly. The units can run at full capacity to -5°F, so there's no backup system, which means the app matters.

03

Buy a whole-home humidifier

Wide-plank white oak floors in a high-performance tight envelope mean dramatic humidity swings between summer and winter. Dry winter air in a sealed house will cause the floors to contract noticeably. Maintain 35–50% relative humidity year-round. A whole-home humidifier tied to the HVAC system is the right-sized solution for a 7,200 sq ft home.

04

Call NS Builders for your year-one exterior inspection

NS Builders documented this project in unprecedented detail. For any structural or system question in the first year, they are the right first call. The masonry cladding, the panelized framing, the roofline waterproofing — Nick's team knows every joint. This is not a warranty recommendation; it's just practical. The person who built it is reachable via nsbuilders.com.

05

The Wellesley Farms neighborhood is unusually private by design

The neighborhood was developed in the 1920s–30s to follow topography instead of a grid. Roads curve, lots are deep, mature trees block sightlines. The neighborhood association is low-key and neighbors are respectful of each other's space. This is by design, not accident — it was part of the original development philosophy. You'll appreciate it more each year.

06

Wellesley's zoning and building rules are strictly enforced

Wellesley was one of the first towns in Massachusetts to pass comprehensive zoning laws — 1914 for building, 1926 for full zoning. The Building Department at wellesleyma.gov/161/Building is your first stop for any addition, fence, outbuilding, or exterior change. The billboard ban from the 1970s is still in effect — the town takes its character seriously.