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Essex County
Topsfield is mostly detached houses from the middle of the last century. Fifty-seven percent of units were built from 1940 to 1979, 13% before 1940 and 12% in 2000 or later, with a median year of 1969 (ACS B25034). Detached homes are 86% of units (ACS B25024), and 90% of occupied homes are owner-occupied. About 3% of units are seasonal (ACS B25004).
The state inventory lists the Topsfield Common Historic District (1974) as a local historic district (MHC inventory). The Topsfield Town Common and River Road - Cross Street districts are on the National Register (MHC inventory). Under chapter 40C, a district commission reviews exterior changes that can be seen from a public way (MGL c.40C §5 and §6). If your house faces the common, check with the commission before changing a garage door.
Topsfield Inspectional Services takes residential building permit applications online through PermitLink. The page says "You must wait for confirmation of the permit fee amount before paying online," and that a project "is not complete unless all required inspections have been performed and approved" (Topsfield Inspectional Services). The state's home improvement chart lists a replacement garage door as a possible permit item and a new installation as a yes (mass.gov).
Many houses from the 1960s and 1970s have two-car attached garages, some under a bedroom. Original doors on these houses were often wood or thin steel without insulation. An insulated steel door cuts drafts into the room above. See insulated garage doors.
Older lots may have barns or sheds with wide doors. A carriage house door gives the look of swing doors while opening overhead.
When a torsion spring breaks, both cables go slack and the door won't lift. Leave it closed and call for torsion spring repair.
We install Clopay, Garaga, Wayne Dalton and Amarr doors and service LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Genie and other openers.
Topsfield is in Essex County. Nearby towns: Boxford, Danvers, Hamilton, Ipswich, Middleton, Wenham. See insulated garage doors. Call (781) 602-0737, or see emergency service.
