Each trade has its own statewide directory, a page for every one of the 351 Massachusetts cities and towns, and a set of guides written for how the work is actually permitted, priced and rebated here.
New decks, farmers porches, screened porches and repairs. Massachusetts requires a building permit, footings below the 48-inch frost line and a proper ledger, and inspects both. Composite and pressure-treated builds both need a licensed CSL holder.
Panel and service upgrades, EV chargers, generator hookups, rewiring and code work. Massachusetts requires a licensed electrician and a permit for wiring work (owner-occupants may pull their own permit for their own home), and the state smoke and carbon monoxide alarm rules come up on every sale.
Wood, vinyl, chain link and aluminum fencing, gates and repairs. Massachusetts towns cap fence heights and many require permits above 6 feet; wetlands buffer zones and historic districts add review, and Dig Safe is required before setting posts.
Hardwood installation and refinishing, tile, luxury vinyl plank, laminate and carpet. Massachusetts flooring contractors deal with old subfloors, radiator cutouts and condo soundproofing rules, and most refinishing jobs in pre-1978 homes need lead-safe practices.
Basement waterproofing, sump pumps, foundation crack repair and drainage. Massachusetts basements fight clay soils, high water tables and fieldstone foundations, so the right fix ranges from an interior drain to exterior excavation, with very different price tags.
Browse Foundation Repair / Waterproofing by town → · 17 guides
Heat pumps, boilers, mini-splits
Heat pumps, boilers, furnaces, mini-splits and central air. Massachusetts installers work inside the Mass Save rebate program in investor-owned utility territory and the separate Municipal Light Plant programs elsewhere, with oil and propane homes seeing the largest incentives.
Attic, wall and basement insulation, air sealing and weatherization. In investor-owned utility territory Mass Save pays 75 to 100 percent of approved insulation after a free home energy assessment; Municipal Light Plant towns run their own programs.
Whole-home & room-by-room
Full-service and hourly interior designers for kitchens, baths, basements and whole homes. Massachusetts designers work with old floor plans, radiators and local historic district review, and often act as the bridge between a homeowner and a contractor.
Remodels, vanities, full renovations
Kitchen and bathroom remodels, refacing, tile and fixture work. Massachusetts remodels pull building, plumbing and electrical permits, and contractors must hold a Home Improvement Contractor registration that protects your deposit through the state guaranty fund.
Lawn care, hardscape, design-build
Lawn care, planting, hardscape, retaining walls, drainage and grading. Massachusetts landscapers work around wetlands protection, the state fertilizer law, local gas leaf blower bans and summer watering restrictions. Walls over 4 feet need an engineer.
Chimney rebuilds, relining, repointing, stone walls and brick repair. Massachusetts has a very old masonry stock; lime mortar, historic district rules and wood stove inspections all shape the job, and chimney work above the roofline usually needs a permit.
Interior and exterior painting, staining, cabinet finishing and lead-safe prep. Massachusetts requires lead-safe work practices on every home built before 1978, and the short exterior season means good crews book months ahead for summer.
Asphalt and concrete driveways, pavers, sealcoating and repairs. Massachusetts driveways take frost heave, plow blades and road salt, so base depth and asphalt thickness matter more than price. Widening or a new curb cut usually needs town approval.
Water heaters, repiping, gas lines, fixtures and drain work. Massachusetts enforces its own plumbing code through local inspectors, and licensed plumbers must pull permits for most jobs, including water heater replacement and expansion tank installs.
Asphalt, metal, rubber and slate roofing, repairs and ice dam work. Massachusetts code requires an ice-and-water barrier at the eaves, and most towns need a permit for a full replacement. Storm-chasing crews are common after nor'easters, so licensing matters.
Title 5 inspections, repairs, full system replacement and pumping. About a third of Massachusetts homes are on septic, and the state tax credit returns up to $18,000 of a replacement over several years. Installers must be approved by the local board of health.
Vinyl, fiber cement, cedar and engineered wood siding, plus trim and house wrap. Massachusetts siding contractors register under the Home Improvement Contractor law, which protects your deposit, and price around freeze-thaw, coastal salt and triple-decker scaffolding.
Replacement & installation
Replacement windows, entry doors, sliders and storm doors. Installers here work to the state energy code's U-factor limits, historic district review in older town centers, and the Mass Save window rebate for gas-heated homes replacing single-pane glass.
