Local business · East Falmouth, MALocal business · 172 E Falmouth Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536, USA
Verified record
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Cataldo Custom Builders Inc. 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
A typical Cataldo job, by the company's own Houzz listing, runs between $500,000 and $10,000,000 — and the work homeowners describe matches the number: waterfront rebuilds, a new 5,000-square-foot house on the water, a pool house, whole-home remodels along the Falmouth shoreline. The company works out of 172 East Falmouth Highway and calls itself a Cape Cod custom home builder that also does remodeling and year-round estate maintenance. Its BBB page dates the business to January 1992 — 34 years — lists seven employees and Ralph Cataldo as owner, and carries an A+ grade, though the company is not BBB accredited. The written praise runs deep, and it runs old: nine of the ten written accounts date to 2017 or earlier. One 2017 Houzz reviewer described a Falmouth job through the blizzard winter of 2015, when weather threatened the site fifteen weekends in a row, and named the project manager and the office contact who kept it moving. Another that year credited the crew with finishing a new 5,000-plus-square-foot waterfront house two months ahead of schedule. A third, writing in 2017 about rebuilding a 45-year-old waterfront home and adding a pool house, said the team squared conflicting environmental rules and site-specific code requirements without going over budget or past the date. The one current voice is a 2025 Google review describing a large construction and landscaping project as the writer's best experience with a contractor. Cape Cod LIFE has returned to the firm more than once — a 2018 article described Ralph Cataldo assembling an architect, an engineer and his project manager to settle how a house would sit on a difficult lot, and a 2023 piece covered a home overlooking Racing Beach. Houzz lists a 2011 America's Best Builder award from the National Association of Home Builders and three 2014 BRICC awards; a 2024 capenews.net article reports the same NAHB award. Two things belong on the first call. The state registry shows the company's Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration, number 144103, as expired — for a general contracting and remodeling business, that is worth resolving before any contract is signed. And a 2022 Cape Cod LIFE piece reported that Rob Geggatt, then director of operations and a partner, was working to buy the business from founder Ralph Cataldo, so ask who is running it now. Several of the 2017 Houzz entries were also written by interior designers who worked alongside the crew rather than by the clients paying for the house. For a large coastal build or a full renovation on the Falmouth shoreline, this is a firm with 34 years behind it and detailed, if dated, accounts from people who lived through the process. Confirm the registration status and who owns the company today, then ask for two references from the past few years.
“He later started his own company—Cataldo Custom Builders Inc.—built through hard work and treating people fairly. He was awarded the “America’s Best Builder” award by the National Association of Home Builders in 2011.”
“When the conversation turned to the exterior, its challenging topography and stunning views, Ralph Cataldo from Cataldo Custom Builders recommended he speak to landscape designer Greg Bilowz, of Bilowz Associates, Inc.”
“Ralph Cataldo assembles his team of professionals to craft a special home overlooking Racing Beach.”
“Falmouth’s Cataldo Custom Builders, was enlisted to remodel the home.”
“Rob Geggatt is currently director of operations and a partner at Cataldo Custom Builders, Inc. Over the next several months, Rob is working to purchase the business from founder Ralph Cataldo.”
Best experience ever with a contractor. Took us through a large construction and landscaping project. Excellent work!!! Grateful Joe!
I had the joy of working with Cataldo Builders in the blizzard winter of 2015 in Falmouth on Cape Cod where weather threatened the job site 15 weekends in a row! The entire team is tightly interfaced with their subcontractors and the communication is pipelined thru the on going and detailed specifications channels in their front office with Julie. With Peter Sarkinen in the field as the project manager, he is 2 steps ahead of every one else and is ready to trouble shoot and execute in a highly professional manner. Ralph is the man on the go with deep experience and vision that guides the project seamlessly thru it's phases. I adored specifying interior wall, floor and ceiling finishes and materials and was met with cooperation and feedback from the team. The clients added tremendous direction to the process as they were detail oriented towards making sure the way they perceived themselves living in this new home was how Cataldo met their needs on a monthly basis for over 15 months.
Immediately upon meeting Ralph, we knew he was the "right" builder for us. His honesty, extensive knowledge and professionalism are all real. Having completed construction and renovation on our primary home in Winchester and our summer home in Falmouth, we are pleased beyond our expectations with the quality of workmanship, the professional staff and, most of all, the sincerity of Mr. Ralph Cataldo of Cataldo Custom Builders. They met or exceeded all of our expectations. Immediately upon meeting Ralph, we knew he was the "right: builder for us. His honesty, extensive knowledge and professionalism are all real. Ralph employs outstanding and talented craftsmen who pay attention to detail and take pride in the quality of their work. Both our projects were completed on time and within budget, they were completely in tune with us, addressing all of our concerns, allaying all fears and handling the unexpected challenges that arise in construction with ease. Not only did we get an extraordinary builder, we got a lifetime friend.
Based on a recommendation from a trusted friend, our family hired Ralph and his team to build our home in Falmouth. Their overall performance was somewhere between outstanding and amazing as the quality of their work and project management was only exceeded by their collective enthusiasm and personal touches making the process a pleasure from start to finish. Several key attributes distinguish Cataldo Custom Builders in the marketplace. The quality of their work is exemplary and speaks for itself. Ralph and his team work seamlessly with the architects and suppliers to maximize the value of every dollar spent while providing a level of financial transparency that gave us continual insight and control of the project. Ralph has trusted relationships with his suppliers and partners and this enabled the project to be completed ahead of schedule with an attention to detail that was outstanding. The level of commitment, dedication, and professionalism that Ralph, Julie, Peter, and Maribeth gave to us throughout the building process resulted in a relationship such that we count them as friends of the family-they made the experience that memorable and successful. We would recommend them with the highest accolades and gladly share our experiences firsthand-please feel free to contact us!
We selected Ralph Cataldo and his team to rebuild and expand our 45-year-old waterfront home, and to construct a pool house on the property. Construction on waterfront property requires successful management of nuanced environmental regulations as well as site specific building code requirements. Ralph's team completed their work on budget, on time while successfully resolving, architectural requirements that initially conflicted with modern era rules and regulations. The quality of the craftsmanship and meticulous logistical process, allowed our family to build our dream home.
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Added 10 new comments, added 33 new photos, license now expired, established rating 3.7
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Porch and deck rebuilds4.4
49 years in business4.4
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