What does a remodeling project cost in Greater Boston?
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Cedar Falls Construction. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
— condemned homes and a gutted warehouse brought back
Insurance advocacy — customers say he pushed carriers past their first offer
Additions on hard houses — a large addition onto an older concrete home
Historic restoration — replica windows and fine trim on a historic property
One-day roof — a 2024 customer had it stripped and replaced in a day
Verified registration — Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration is active
Repeat hires — several customers came back for a second and third job
Estimate never arrived — a 2015 reviewer got no quote and no callback
Several of the people who write about Cedar Falls found it after a fire. One family's Chicopee-area home was condemned after theirs. A business lost a warehouse in late 2022. A homeowner in Westfield called around after a house fire and could not get a straight answer out of anyone until Richard Rivet picked up. The same name runs through all of it.
The company works out of 209 Prospect St in Chicopee, and its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration — number 156493, held in Rivet's own name — is active. The Better Business Bureau has accredited the business and grades it A+.
The written history is deep for a shop this size: 37 reviews across nine sources running from 2015 to 2026, five of them in the last six months and none of those negative. Two threads keep repeating. The first is disaster work — fire, flood, water and mould. A March 2025 reviewer whose home was condemned after a fire described Rivet's team handling everything from structural repairs to redesigning the interior. In February 2025 a commercial customer described the crew putting a warehouse back together after a late-2022 fire. A June 2026 reviewer came through a big water-and-mould job and singled out the carpentry, siding, sheetrock and cleaning crews.
The second thread is what happens with the insurance company. A serviceman who came home from deployment in April 2024 to a flooded house wrote that it felt as if Rivet "went after my insurance company and fought harder for me than I did." In April 2023 a homeowner with a flooded basement said Rivet handled the carrier directly and came away with considerably more than the first offer.
Between the emergencies is a steady run of ordinary work: a large addition onto an older concrete house with the kitchen and living room redone, described in August 2024; new siding and windows in December 2025; a third-floor balcony and rebuilt back deck in November 2025; replica windows and fine trim on a historic property, also December 2025; and in April 2024, a roof stripped and replaced in a single day for less than the competing estimates.
Local coverage adds something the reviews don't. A 2023 MassLive article reported that Rivet stepped in as project manager on the Harmony House hospice rebuild in Chicopee, made sure the permits were right and put his own crews on the job at no charge; a 2019 Health Care News piece credited the company among those that poured the foundation and footings.
One sour note, and it is old. A BuildZoom reviewer in November 2015 said Rivet came out to look at the project, told them he would not waste their time, and then never sent a quote or called back. It is the single complaint in a history running to 2026, and it is why BuildZoom's 4.0 from two ratings sits below Google's 5.0 from 38.
This is the contractor for the job nobody planned — and, judging by the additions and siding work people describe, for the planned ones too. Confirm the registration is current, and settle in writing when your estimate will land and how insurance billing will be handled before anyone starts.
Heard around town
News & the web
Harmony House hospice home to reopen in new building in Chicopee after 3-year hiatusMay 18, 2023
“Rich Rivet, owner of Cedar Falls Construction, stepped in to serve as project manager. He made sure the home had the proper permits and offered his own crews at no charge.”
Harmony House Slates Inaugural ‘Blitz Build’ for Dec. 21-22 - Health Care NewsDec 20, 2019
“A foundation and footings have already been poured and backfilled thanks to Cedar Falls Construction, Washburn Concrete, and Chicopee Concrete Service.”
Cedar Falls Construction in Chicopee, MA 01013 - 413-885...
“Highly recommend. After they did an awesome job on our roof, we hired them to redo our front porch. Extremely professional and reliable and the porch came out fantastic! Could not ask for a better price or a better contractor.”
Cedar Falls Construction - Damage Restoration in Chicopee, MA
“Rich is an amazing guy! He is very friendly and understanding. He goes extra miles to help you. He has a very supportive and skilled team to get the job done. He recently finished a project for me which I am very satisfied with. I would strongly recommend him for any building project!”
Rich Rivet and his entire crew from Cedar Falls were absolutely amazing to deal with for a project involving a lot of water and mold damage. Rich is amazing to deal with; he is respectful, easy and effective to communicate with, and kept me in the loop throughout our job.
His entire crew also deserves many, many thanks. They were all extremely respectful to our house, us as the home owners, and did immaculate work while keeping our house and property extremely clean at all times.
From the carpentry, siding, Sheetrock, and cleaning crews that were part of our project, working with Cedar Falls Construction was everything we could have asked for in an immensely stressful time. I cannot thank you all enough!
From the moment I spoke with Richard Rivet about a possible roof repair, I knew we chose the right general contractor. He was incredibly professional, and his knowledge of the work was comprehensive. Mr. Rivet laid out a very detailed outline of the job, explained exactly what to expect, and stands behind his work with a 100% warranty. He made us feel confident that we made the right decision to replace our roof with him.
His team was also highly professional, courteous, and respectful of our property, making sure to carefully clear away all debris. I couldn't believe they replaced the entire roof in just ONE day! They cleaned up so thoroughly it was as if they were never there. I strongly recommend Cedar Falls Construction for any of your home projects. They are professional, knowledgeable, and very affordable. We will absolutely be using them for future projects!
Working with Rich and his team at Cedar Falls Construction has been an absolute delight. I highly recommend him and would eagerly collaborate with him again in the future.
Trust and integrity are the number one things that come to mind with Cedar Falls -- the work was excellent, the crews were skilled and professional, and the project looks great. But what sets the experience apart is that over this several month basement renovation I came to learn that I could trust Rich (the owner) to do the right thing without having to ask. No corners cut, nothing done half-assed. I wish I had more work for him because he was such a pleasure to deal with. Highly recommended for any of your construction or reno needs.