Custom Building Solutions Inc

Custom Building Solutions is a Newton design/build general contractor known for custom renovations, additions, and historic renovation work around Greater Boston and MetroWest. It's owner-operated by John Buckley, and the company's founding date is oddly unsettled: its own site puts it at 1986 (a third-generation Boston-area contractor with 40 years in business), while BBB records the business starting in 1993 (33 years). In a March 2026 Reddit thread recommending someone for a staircase remodel, a commenter called the work "expensive, but they do a great job," adding that Buckley personally showed up on site every day to keep the job on track. Houzz shows a 5.0-star review alongside a 2013 Cambridge Preservation Award, and BBB gives the company an A+ letter grade, though it isn't BBB-accredited. Google tells a thinner story: 3 stars from just two ratings. Its Massachusetts home improvement contractor license is active, and the company also holds a Certified Aging in Place Consultant (CAPS) credential. A reasonable call for an addition or a historic-sensitive renovation where having the owner on site matters — just budget on the higher end, and get the estimate in writing given the "expensive" note in that one detailed account.