Verified record
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Kistler & Knapp Builders. 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
Kistler & Knapp Builders is an Acton-based custom home and renovation firm — the name attached to the projects magazines want to photograph. Boston Magazine has featured its work twice, New England Home Magazine and Boston Design Guide have run its additions and renovations, and Fine Homebuilding covered a project back in 2015. The Better Business Bureau lists the company as in business since 1982, and its Massachusetts home improvement contractor license (103855) is active with the state. The written record backs up the press. On Houzz, where it holds 4.9 stars from 19 ratings across 23 shown projects, homeowners writing in 2016 and 2017 describe complete custom builds — a Truro beach house, a Cape Cod home — and major renovations, including an 18-month gut renovation of a turn-of-the-century house. The recurring themes are organization and communication: clients say the team walked them through decisions, coordinated subcontractors well, and stayed on budget. A more recent April 2026 Google review echoes that pattern, describing an ongoing relationship where the company still handles home maintenance after building the house. Notably, a chunk of the Houzz reviews come from the trade side rather than homeowners — an electrical subcontractor, a stone-veneer subcontractor, and an architecture firm each describe working with Kistler & Knapp for 10 to 20 years, which speaks more to how the company treats its partners than to a homeowner's experience directly. There's little in the way of public reviews between 2018 and the 2026 Google entry — most of what surfaces from that stretch is press coverage of specific projects rather than customer feedback, so ask about current wait times and workload before committing to a start date. For a homeowner planning a custom build, a large addition, or a historic renovation in the Acton/Boston/Onset area and looking for an established, press-covered firm rather than a budget option, Kistler & Knapp fits the brief — just confirm current scheduling directly.
“this waterfront property was built by the well-known construction firm, Kistler and Knapp Builders, and designed by Machado Silvetti”
“this waterfront property was built by the well-known construction firm, Kistler and Knapp Builders, and designed by Machado Silvetti”
“Builder: Kistler and Knapp Builders.”
“Renovation builder: Kistler & Knapp Builders”
“A wildly unique renovation in Manchester-by-the-Sea gets the nod from Kistler & Knapp Builders as one of the most complex and detailed projects the firm has done.”
We’ve had a truly outstanding experience working with Kistler & Knapp Builders who built our home and continues to handle all of our ongoing maintenance. From the very beginning, Gary Longo and the team at Kistler & Knapp demonstrated a high level of professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for the quality of work. During the construction phase, Gary was communicative, transparent, and incredibly organized. He took the time to walk us through each step of the process, answered all of our questions, and made sure we felt confident in every decision. The craftsmanship in our home is excellent, and it’s clear that the whole team takes pride in doing things the right way rather than cutting corners. What really sets Gary apart, though, is his continued support after the build was complete. It’s rare to find a builder who remains so responsive and reliable long after the project is finished. Whether it’s routine maintenance or addressing small issues that come up over time, Gary is always quick to respond and ensures everything is handled properly. We feel very fortunate to have worked with Kistler & Knapp and would highly recommend Gary and the team to anyone looking for a builder or ongoing maintenance who is not only skilled and dependable, but also committed to long-term customer satisfaction.
Kistler & Knapp lined up a collection of outstanding subcontractors to tackle several pressing home projects for us. I was impressed with the prompt, professional and friendly communication with Doug and then with each of the subs he brought on board. The subs collaborated well with each other, did beautiful work and paid impressive attention to small details along the way!
Kistler & Knapp is one of the best builders in this area. They are able to maintain the highest quality workmanship while always being respectful of the clients needs and budgets. They do a wonderful job helping their clients navigate the confusing and sometimes overwhelming process of home remodel and construction. Working with K&K is alway a good experience as they work hard to have all the correct information and the site ready for us to be productive and efficient. I would highly recommend them for all range of projects.
Utterly fantastic. Unparalleled quality, cost control and practical advise. Kistler & Knapp has now built two luxury homes for me. The first (2010) was a beach house in Truro, designed by Hutker, but KKB was instrumental in making the design work on a practical level, suggesting improvements and worked hard to find cost efficient ways of doing some seriously complicated custom work. My second project (2017) was for them to build out a 3500 sq ft condo in raw space I purchased in a new condo/church development in Boston. There were few right angles, so again, a large amount of difficult design and build features to deal with, all while coordinating with the building developer, Boston city regs and demanding (i.e. very tight) tolerances. Throughout both projects, we never doubted that they had our interest in mind, and there was never a "good enough" attitude. They always wanted it done right, whether it was their work or a subcontractor's work. Their post-construction followup and availability on both projects has been as top notch as their work along the way. If I could go higher than 5 stars I would.
I am the owner at Argento Electric, LLC and we are fortunate to have worked with Kistler & Knapp builders for 10+ years. Over the past 10 years, we have been part of an exceptional team of contractors that KKB has put together. The level of quality and customer satisfaction is second to none. From their inside office staff, to carpenters, site crew, Home services department and project managers, they have a well oiled machine that continues to produce top level results. Look forward to many more years with KKB.
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1 change recorded — last scanned Aug 2, 2026.
Restored decks and façade on an 1838 home4.8
Finished a job another contractor abandoned4.7
An architect and an interior designer keep hiring them4.4
Bathroom and shower rebuilds4.3
Long-running local shop2.6
Detailed workmanship4.2