About
Michael Provost - Owner / Designer
Michael grew up in the construction business. His father has owned and run a successful construction company since 1989. During Summer breaks, Michael would shadow his father going from site to site, helping any way he could. This is where it became apparent that he had a knack for construction and design!
Michael graduated from the New England Institute of Technology with a degree in Architectural Building & Engineering Technology. In 2006 he was given the opportunity to work at National Lumber as an Engineered Wood Products Designer. This is where he perfected the knowledge of structural design that was taught to him in college. In 2012 he was promoted to Senior EWP Designer. Starting in 2013, Michael was given the opportunity to learn floor & roof truss design.
In 2018 Michael took it upon himself to design a home for his family. Using all of his construction, academics, and design experience, his future career path was born. In February of 2020, Michael established Provost Home Design. Then in October of 2020, Michael left National Lumber to focus full time on his business.
Knowledge & Skills
- Chief Architect - Current design software
- Wood Truss Design - Floor & roof trusses
- Steel Design - Steel I-beam, flitch plates, C-channel, tube steel & round columns
- Django
- HTML
- Engineered Wood Design - I-joist & LVL design for both floor and roof systems.
- AutoCAD - Original design software
- Open Joist Triforce - Floor design
- Python
- Css
Licenses & Registrations
- Construction Supervisor Unrestricted License # CS-097686
- Home Improvement Contractor License # 215952
- Real Estate Salesperson - Heritage Realty - License # 9581505
Do You Need a Licensed Architect in Massachusetts?
Many homeowners start their project by searching for an architect, and that's a reasonable instinct. But in Massachusetts and most of New England, a licensed architect is not required for most single-family residential homes.
Massachusetts building law (780 CMR) exempts most one and two-family dwellings from the architect stamp requirement. A residential designer can legally prepare and submit a complete permit set for your new home, addition, or renovation.
The practical difference for most homeowners:
- Cost - Residential designers typically charge significantly less than licensed architects for the same permit-ready drawings.
- Focus - A residential designer specializes exclusively in houses, not commercial or institutional work.
- Access - You work directly with the person drawing your plans, not a firm's junior staff.
If your project falls outside the residential exemption; such as a home exceeding certain size or complexity thresholds, I'll let you know upfront and can refer you to a licensed architect when needed.
Ask about your project