Seen on Reddit — 2 mentions in r/ArlingtonMA and r/medfordma, mostly positive
Verified state license
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 Custom Contracting, Inc.. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
— Massachusetts home improvement registration active
Deep credentials — a NARI Certified Master Remodeler on staff, NARI and NKBA membership
Long repeat relationships — reviewers describe hiring them across 10 to 18 years
Strong permit history — 509 recorded projects, mostly kitchens and additions
5.0★ on Houzz from 14 reviews, with 46 projects and two awards shown
Custom Contracting has been doing full-scale remodels and additions around Arlington since roughly 1989 or 1990 (its Better Business Bureau file and its own website differ by a year on the exact start), and its written record backs up the longevity: five-star reviews on Houzz stretch back to 2017, several from clients who came back again and again over the better part of two decades. Its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration is active, and the firm — led by Bill Farnsworth and Scott Blain — carries a deep bench of credentials on its Houzz profile, including a NARI Certified Master Remodeler on staff alongside NARI and NKBA memberships.
The work described in reviews is almost entirely whole-project remodeling and additions, not single-component jobs: gut kitchen renovations, full bathroom remodels, an attic addition, a playroom converted into a master suite with a cathedral ceiling, and a portico that neighbors — including two architects, one reviewer noted — complimented. One customer described using the company for a bathroom, a kitchen, and a basement in separate projects over ten years; another said they'd used Custom Contracting for both small and large jobs, from a built-in bookshelf to a full kitchen renovation, over 18 years. BuildZoom's permit history backs this up at scale — 509 recorded projects, with a typical permit value around $104,000, weighted toward kitchen remodels and additions.
More recently, a Reddit thread in Arlington's own local forum from August 2026 pointed a neighbor toward the company for a custom butcher-block surface, citing a friend's good experience, and an earlier 2023 post described good luck with the firm across three separate renovations.
Nothing negative shows up in the written record here — the reviews on file are all five stars, spanning 2016 to 2025.
For a serious kitchen, bathroom, or whole-home remodel in the Arlington area, Custom Contracting's history is long, the credentials are unusually deep for a firm this size, and the repeat-customer pattern speaks for itself. It's the kind of firm worth calling for a bigger project rather than a quick fix.
Heard around town
On Reddit
Butcher Block Countertop replacement?Aug 20, 2026
“It’s worth talking to Custom Contracting here in town - we have friends who did a big butcher block surface with them.
In terms of vendors you might do better at the big box vs specialty - check Lowe’s, Home Depot, I know ikea used to make them but not sure anymore.”
Recommendations for bathroom remodeling in Medford areaNov 15, 2023
“We have had good luck with Custom Contracting, based in Arlington. They have renovated our bathroom, our kitchen, and our basement in separate projects over the past ten years. Note that Custom Contracting is a full-service firm, not just a guy with a truck and a license, and that comes at a significant $ cost. However, the team there does good work, and they're relatively easy to work with.”
Thanks Bill and your wonderful team for all that you did to bring our dreams to reality. It has been such a great experience from start to completion, our appreciation for your genuine care, attention to detail and quality. We absolutely love our new kitchen and bathroom additions, we are proud to say that you made it all possible !
We had a fantastic experience working with Custom Contracting for our attic remodel/addition project. The team really took the time to get to know us and our hopes for the project -from overall design to every detail. They were easy to communicate with throughout, stayed on schedule and budget, and were flexible with our changes and requests. The subcontractors were all highly skilled and professional. We are thrilled with the outcome, truly life changing addition to our home. We have since reached out to Custom for additional projects and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future!
Our overall experience with Custom Contracting has been fantastic and we would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a true partner in your remolding journey. Our lead Carpenter Dave was awesome to work with and always responded to any questions or ideas we had. The overall team was very high touch and made what could have been a stressful timeline very manageable. We are very happy with the final product.
We are very pleased with how the bathroom turned out. Everyone who worked on the project was professional and responsible. Michael was very helpful and provided guidance that improved the bathroom. He was patient when we waffled on decisions or asked for unexpected things. Terry was conscientious and responsive; it was a pleasure working with him and his carpentry was flawless.
