Gary O'Neill

Gary O'Neill runs 1st Environmental Contractors out of Southborough, MA — the company's BBB profile says it's been at it for 35 years, with O'Neill as owner and lead paint abatement as its main line, alongside remodeling, siding, window and roofing work. The written record, eight reviews spanning 2015 through 2023, tells one consistent story: homeowners hire Gary specifically to remove lead paint hazards, usually alongside replacing the windows that carried them. A 2018 buyer who says she called five deleading contractors before finding one willing to even look at her house described Gary walking her through the lead inspection report room by room and sticking to both the estimate and the timeline; the work passed inspection the first time, with dust swabs coming back below detectable levels. A 2023 review said a full window swap tied to a lead problem got done in a single day and passed inspection with no issues. Several reviewers, across different years, specifically call out that he stayed responsive throughout the job. One thing worth checking directly: BuildZoom's permit records show the Home Improvement Contractor registration tied to this business (#118004) expired in January 2023 and hadn't been renewed as of BuildZoom's last check — worth confirming current licensing status before hiring. Worth calling if you're dealing with a lead paint issue in an older Massachusetts home and want someone who's specifically been doing that work for decades; just verify the license is current.