Verified record
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Bertola Custom Homes. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Estimated range
$23,000 – $35,000
Typical remodeling project around $29,000
Bertola Custom Homes & Remodeling is a Waltham-based custom-build and full-renovation shop run by Joe Bertola, whose work has been featured in the Boston Globe, Architectural Digest and Modern Luxury over the years — including, in a 2018 feature, a hand-built blue-domed roof modeled on Santorini architecture as a topper for a client's table. As recently as 2026, another design site lists Bertola as the general contractor on a completed project. The five Houzz reviews on file, all from 2017 to 2021, describe demanding, detail-heavy jobs. One customer's fourth-floor bathroom renovation in a 1929 Cambridge building required removing a cast-iron bathtub by crane since there was no elevator. Another describes an extensive Victorian-era home renovation in Auburndale spanning two full bathroom remodels, a laundry room and a custom lighted display. A longtime client who says they've worked with Joe on numerous projects over more than a decade calls him more than a craftsman. BuildZoom lists an active Massachusetts home improvement contractor license (#201481) and an active construction supervisor license for the company, though it also shows two older home improvement contractor license numbers as cancelled. Houzz separately lists one of those now-inactive numbers on its own profile page. There's also a discrepancy in how long the company has operated: its own website says 10 years in business, while its BBB profile says 21. The written review record here is dated — nothing newer than 2021 — though the press coverage suggests the business has kept working steadily since. For a Boston-area homeowner planning a custom build or a detailed, high-end renovation, Bertola's featured work and long-term client relationships are worth a look — it's fair to ask directly about current licensing and how long the company has actually been operating, given the numbers don't quite line up.
“GC: Bertola Custom Homes & Remodeling”
“The six-month project, designed by Joe Bertola of Bertola Custom Homes & Remodeling (bertolacustom.com), Vivian Robbins of Vivian Robbins Design (vivianrobinsdesign.com) and Ernest V. DeMaio III of Tektoniks Architects (tektoniksarchitects.com), boasts 1,350 square feet of sleek, contemporary details along with a stone and wood panel exterior.”
“Builder: Bertola Custom Homes & Remodeling, bertolacustom.com”
“Of course, nothing is more iconic Santorini than a blue-domed roof, so Robins enlisted Bertola Custom Homes to create one as a topper for her table.”
“As a construction company, we integrates comfort, technology and beauty into traditional environments with a touch of modernity in our work.”
Joe and his team did a superb job of renovating my bathroom in a 1929 vintage building in Cambridge. The job was complicated as the unit is on the 4th floor with no elevator and the old iron bathtub had to be removed by crane. Quite the spectacle. The final result is modern and highly functional while looking beautiful in an older building. Joe helped me pick materials and finishes that I would not have discovered on my own. He and his team were respectful of my home making sure that there was as little disruption as possible and wore masks and maintained distance at all times. When I miscommunicated with a house cleaner near the end of the project, Joe did much of the cleaning himself. Above and beyond. He and his team were also very nice and pleasant to work with. Leslie D.
Bertola Custom Homes + Remodeling and Joe Bertola are among the best in their field at what they do. Its that simple. I have worked with Joe on numerous projects for more than a decade, and Joe continues to impress with his growth and project delivery. Joe is more than a craftsman and builder - Joe is an artist. Joe's attention to detail and keen design eye, combined with his work ethic and technical skills, have lifted his company to the top of their craft in the field of residential building construction. I am honored to say I have partnered with Joe in the past on many projects, and continue to do so. Joe is a rising star in this profession, and I offer my highest recommendation of Bertola Custom Homes and Remodeling to anyone seeking exceptional service and skilled craftsmanship in the world of building construction. Ernest V. DeMaio III, RA, NCARB, LEED BD+C (Sensitive Information Hidden)
We are considering doing a renovation project and were attracted to Bertola Custom Homes because of his stellar reviews on Houzz. We met with the contractor and I want to share my impression of him. Joe is a highly talented and quality driven owner. His eye for design as well as his intricate knowledge of the latest trends immediately impressed me. Hiring him has the advantage of having both a quality driven contractor and a designer who will view every detail with an eye for style and will provide many excellent ideas. We recommend him for consideration to anyone looking for a style savvy-contractor.
HOUZZ RECOMMENDATION RE: JOE BERTOLA Joe Bertola is creative, talented, responsible, thoughtful and a pleasure with whom to work. He is a craftsman in his own right and has a crew of similarly talented, affable, helpful and available workmen and specialists who are a gift to have in one’s home. He is collaborative and engaging and worked well with our designer and the people she brought into the project. We are entirely pleased with everything Joe has done for us on an extensive full-condo renovation and recommend him to anyone who is looking for an ally and a coach in undertaking such a venture.
We recently completed an extensive home renovation project in our home in Auburndale, MA. Our house is a Victorian era home built between the eighteen sixties to eighties. The project involved: two major bathroom renovations, including laundry; construction of a large lighted display cabinet for our study; constructing a custom cabinet for linen storage in a hallway alcove; reconstructing the doorway and entranceway to our two story carriage house; and pouring a new concrete floor, repointing the stonework, and adding waterproofing in our basement. We initially hired an architect to design and create plans for all of the projects, followed by interviewing four contractors to perform the work. In part, based on a very positive review from friends who had recently completed a major condo renovation with Bertola Custom Homes and Remodeling, as well as our impressions of the contractors based on the bids and interviews, we chose Joe Bertola and his company for the project. His bid was on the higher end but we were impressed with his creative suggestions and comprehensive discussion of the details of the project and the emphasis on the selection of high quality materials and products for the work that would complement and enhance the unique features of our Victorian home. We then worked closely with Joe Bertola and his design assistant, Leila Petersen Almeida, to finalize the plans for the construction and design of the bathrooms and cabinets and to do a detailed a rigorous selection of the materials and products for the renovation. The project took many months because it required extensive demolition followed by the combination of electrical, plumbing, cabinetry work and a multitude of Newton inspections. Joe assigned a project manager, Rafael Zanette, to oversee the work and he was terrific. He was immediately responsive when we had questions and kept us well informed of the progress of the work. The actual workers, including the carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, etc. were highly skilled and meticulous in the completion and quality of the work. Along the way we made some additions and minor changes in the work and design and Joe and the project manager were responsive and creative in providing solutions. We are completely satisfied with the “finished products” of the construction and proudly display the work to our friends. For homeowners who are in search of a builder who is creative and highly professional and takes pride in the quality of his work, we offer our highest recommendations of Joe Bertola and his company.
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3 changes recorded — last scanned Sep 9, 2026.
Detailed craftsmanship5.0
Renovates century-old structures5.0