The Best General Contractors in Massachusetts

Last updated on May 18th, 2024 at 08:03 am

Massachusetts has a rich variety of the quintessential New England home styles, from 17th century Colonial homes to the cottage-like Cape Cod home style. Whether you’re looking to restore your home’s historic molding, build an in-law suite or remodel your kitchen with more modern features, this list of the 14 best general contractors in the state will have you covered.

The firms on this list operate across all major counties of Massachusetts and have a sensibility to the architectural hallmarks that reflect the region’s rich history. We evaluated the best contractors focusing on large-scale remodels and additions based on the firm’s work history, its customer reviews, the quality of the homes remodeled, and its reputation including awards and press features.

If you are thinking about remodeling your home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.

14) WORKS by Jesse DeBenedictis

239 Western Ave., Essex, MA 01929

Jesse DeBenedictis has been serving residents of the North Shore of Massachusetts for over 17 years. From general house remodeling to repairs and installations, the company’s namesake delivers; the company has worked with over 8,000 clients. Recognized as the #8 Best Bath Remodeler in 2018 by Boston Architects, the portfolio of DeBenedictis’ small team should not be overlooked.

DeBenedictis estimates that the typical bathroom remodeling service costs between $30k to $45k. In addition to the distinction by Boston Architects, the company is also a member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).

13) Hammersmith Associates

292 Newbury St., Suite #541 Boston, MA 02115

This husband-and-wife contractor business has been serving the Boston area for over 20 years. Mark and Dawn-Michelle Smith specialize in both single family and multi-unit homes. Mark Smith developed the business from his general contracting work in his Boston neighborhood, growing into a well-known, reputable building company. Its due diligence and understanding of Boston urban living enabled the company to be featured in the Fall 2015 issue of Smart Home magazine, discussing how urban homes help families adapt in the busy Boston landscape. The company’s prominence grew substantially, as it became responsible for more than 82k square feet of living space.

While Hammersmith Associates specializes in Cape Cod and various European home styles, the company does an equally excellent job with the contemporary design. In the work featured above, the company did a clean rendition of a contemporary home. Monochromatic tones match the deep blue colors and wooden accents present in the living space. This combination allows a comfortable yet stylish atmosphere.

12) Payne | Bouchier

173 Norfolk Ave., Boston, MA 02119

Established in 1981, Payne | Bouchier was founded by Steve and Tom Payne and Oliver Bouchier. It primarily specializes in historic restorations and coastal homes, with its designs often leaning towards rustic themes. The firm prides itself for its extensive modernization work which it manages to achieve without compromising the authenticity and original structure of a particular home. This can be seen in the chosen project below—a renovation of a shingle-style summer cottage. With this home, the firm primarily worked with modernizing it and updating its HVAC system.

Throughout its years in the industry, intricate woodwork has become one of the firm’s trademark specialties, and the firm’s most notable new additions include millwork walls and ceilings. Founder Steve Payne had acquired a liking to woodwork after college and would go on to develop a mastery for it.

11) Barnes Custom Builders

580 N Falmouth Hwy., N Falmouth, MA 02556

Barnes Custom Home Builders is a premier full-service design, build, and remodeling company based on Cape Cod. The company is led by Charlie Barnes who founded the firm in 2008. A very hands-on principal, Barnes actively coordinates with his staff and ensures that each project receives the benefit of his experience. His outstanding work with the firm managed to earn him a spot in Professional Remodeler magazine’s “40 Under 40” list in 2018. In addition, the firm had the honor of being named as one of the country’s leading builders in Remodeling magazine’s annual Big50 list.

Often accentuated with white and light tones, the firm’s designs often showcase classic Cape Cod themes complete with fine wood finishes. This can be seen in the photo above through the generous use of neutral tones with the project’s color palette and the exposed beam work.

10) Morse Constructions

57 Central St., Somerville, MA 02143

For more than 40 years, Paul Morse and his namesake company have provided renovation and addition services in the Boston area. Morse Constructions was awarded the 2018 Contractor of the Year (CotY) in Eastern Massachusetts by NARI and was the Gold Winner in Residential Interior in the $75k to $150k price range. The award-winning design was a refurbished traditional cape condominium unit in Somerville.

The company has an eye for hip and sophisticated design. In this featured project, the company used soft lines and neutral tones to achieve this welcoming and posh look. Shades of blue and green matches the beige and cream tones. Ornamentations and artworks are often attributed by the company to add texture and character to space. This space perfectly matches an urban sophisticated lifestyle.

9) Fallon Custom Homes & Renovations

171 Reservoir St., Needham, MA 02494

Founded in 1976, Fallon Custom Homes and Renovations specializes in new home construction, cabinetry and millwork, and multi-room remodeling. Having built several LEED-certified homes in the past, the company also provides its clients with the option of building green to further expand its sustainability efforts. The firm now has over 31 years of experience, and collaborates with charitable organizations as a means of giving back to its community through its work. The firm’s most recent project was a field rebuild in Wellesley for its local little league team.

Timeless and elegant, the firm’s work brandishes an array of Colonial homes remodeled to keep up with the times, while still managing to maintain its rich and authentic historic look. Its work has been recognized both in print and in the media throughout the years. The firm has been on the pages of Remodeled Homes Magazine, Wellesley Weston Magazine, and Builder/Architect, and was featured on local Boston TV Channel 5’s Chronicle for a profile on its team.

8) Feinmann

27 Muzzey St., Lexington, MA 02421

With over three decades of experience in the industry, Feinmann is an award-winning design-build firm that specializes in home additions, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, and whole house renovations. Clients come to Feinmann because of their expertise in creating beautiful spaces that transform the way they live in their home. The company was most recently awarded a National and Regional CotY Award for Residential Kitchens by NARI. In addition to this, the firm has graced the pages of several publications including Boston Home, Design New England, and Perspective Magazine.

Whether your style is traditional, transitional, modern or contemporary, you can expect Feinmann to drive every detail of your project from design and development to construction with a single point of contact. The project shown above is classic yet sleek, while the design allows each room to be filled with natural light. The firm’s free-flowing and airy themes are often completed with chic cabinetry and hardwood floors.

7) Carpenter & MacNeille

106 Western Ave., Essex, MA 01929

Carpenter & MacNeille is an award-winning firm founded by Rob MacNeille, an architect, and his late friend Terry Carpenter, a builder. The two came together in 1996 to establish a firm that emphasized the design-build approach. Since then, the firm has earned various prestigious industry awards. It was awarded the Design Excellence Award in 2013 and 2015 from the American Society of Interior Designers. It has also been featured in numerous publications such as Northshore Home Magazine, Best of Boston Home, and Ocean Home.

With decades of experience, Macneille himself has been recognized for his work and contributions to the industry. In 2013, he was awarded the Bulfinch Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art. He also serves as a corporate trustee for the Trustees of Reservations and a member of the Manchester Historical Commission. From contemporary spaces to large-scale historic renovations, the firm provides clients with a wide range of services.

6) Adams + Beasly Associates

669 Bedford Rd., Carlisle, MA 01741

In 2004, after receiving their degrees at Colby College and Yale University respectively, Eric Adams and Angus Beasly started their partnership as neighborhood handymen. A few years later, their humble company grew into a construction powerhouse. The firm was awarded the NARI CotY, won the Best of Boston Home by Boston Magazine, charted for Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500, and won the Chrysalis Awards in 2016.

Adams + Beasly Associates works on projects within a large budget range. A project with the company may cost from $75k to upwards of $10 million. The company’s work is often in the contemporary style, characterized by minimalist designs and elegant themes that use earthy tones and high-end surface textures necessary to achieve a sophisticated and modern ambiance.

5) Kistler and Knapp Builders

916 Main St., Acton, MA 01720

With over three decades in the industry, Kistler and Knapp Builders prides itself on its meticulously crafted portfolio that showcases beautiful shingle-style homes, sophisticated contemporary houses, and Cape Cod estates. The firm’s specialty is in historic restoration work, which primarily emphasizes classic New England architecture and mainly centers on colonial farmhouses, shingle styles, and Gothic revivals. To ensure the quality of its designs, it partners up with the leading architects in the Greater Boston area. With the length of its tenure in the business, it has formed long-lasting relationships with some of the region’s finest designers.

The firm’s excellent work has caught the attention of several publications, some of which featured Kistler and Knapp multiple times throughout the years. The firm has been on the pages of Architectural Digest, US Builder’s Review, and most recently on the cover of Builder + Architect.

4) F.H. Perry Builder

90 Elm St., Hopkinton, MA 01748

Now led by its second generation of builders, F.H. Perry Builder was founded by Finley H. Perry back in 1977. A former government employee, Perry sought out a line of work that would be able to concretely show his efforts. This led him to the home building industry, where he worked collaboratively with his daughter Allison, who now runs the company. The company specializes in restoring and adding a bit of a modern touch to historic homes, as exhibited in the photo below. The project shown was done in collaboration with several architectural commissions throughout the city to ensure the preservation of its historic roots.

The firm has been featured in The Boston Globe, Modern Luxury Magazine, and Professional Remodeler Magazine. It was also named Builder of the Year by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston in 2017, and Remodeler of the Year in 2015.

3. Howell Custom Building Group

360 Merrimack St., Suite #5 Lawrence, MA 01843

A little over two decades ago, Cornell University-educated couple Steve and Susan Howell started a general contracting company as a project of love. Since the two are both engineers, they opted to start a business in which they could utilize their skills. Their pursuit gave birth to Howell Custom Building Group, a company that specializes in high-end design and remodeling.

The company has been featured in widely popular circulations such as The Wall Street Journal, and local publications such as Boston Magazine. In addition, the company is also highly decorated with awards given by local magazines and contracting organizations. They garnered the Editor’s Choice of 2018 Best of North Shore (BONS) with the Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston Home, as well as dozens of other awards in previous years.

2) Charlie Allen Renovations

91 River St., Cambridge, MA 02139

After studying at Harvard University, Charlie Allen decided to settle in Cambridge and start a company of his own. 40 years later, the small renovations and remodeling firm grew into an award-winning powerhouse. Charlie Allen Renovations has been featured in statewide circulations such as Cambridge Chronicle, NAHB Now, Boston Globe, Voyager Boston, Boston Magazine, Traditional Home, New England Home, and Yankee Magazine.

The firm has also been regarded as the Best Restoration Contractor by Boston Home, awarded 15 Cambridge & Somerville Preservation Awards, 5 Contractor of the Year awards, Remodeling Magazine’s Big 50 & Remodeler of Month, and other awards.

1) The Remodeling Company

100 Cummings Center, Suite #327J, Beverly, MA 01915

The Remodeling Company is an award-winning full-service remodeling firm that services the Greater Boston area. With over 20 years of experience in the remodeling industry, the firm has consistently been a part of Qualified Remodeler magazine’s Top 500 remodeler list since 2003. The same applies to Remodeling magazine’s annual Top 550 list, which the firm has been a part of since 2009. In addition to all of these, The Remodeling Company is also a 4-time winner of the Chrysalis Award in 2014, as well as a recipient of the 2005 Lifetime Designation Award from Remodeling magazine’s Big 50 Awards.

Led by Gary Moffie, a Certified Graduate Remodeler and Certified Aging-in-Place specialist, the firm specializes in Colonial-themed homes. The company is known for its kitchens and bathrooms that are often accented with the company’s signature elegant marble and porcelain countertops. The company also works on various living spaces and outdoor work.

How can I find a contractor near me?

Read our latest articles on the best contractors in and near Massachusetts. If you don’t see your project type below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.

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About Our Rankings

This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration.

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