Verified record
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Penney Construction, Inc.. 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
Penney Construction is a one-owner North Shore outfit — Ryan Penney runs it as a sole proprietorship, and its reviews read like people who worked directly with him rather than a rotating crew. Its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration is active. The clearest theme across the reviews is repeat business: in a 2023 review, one customer described using Ryan's team for two full gut renovations plus commercial work over several years, calling the results consistently high quality. Another reviewer's full-home renovation — moving into a place that needed extensive work after 20 years in their first house — leaned on Ryan and his subcontractors for guidance through a project bigger than anything they'd tackled before. In a 2025 review, a homeowner who hired Penney Construction for water damage repair named several of the subs by name — finish carpenters Howie and Wayne, a plumber, and electrical, tile, and painting crews — and called all of them thorough. Not every account is glowing. A 2025 review pushed back on pricing relative to quality and pointed to communication problems, though it leaned as much on secondhand accounts as personal experience. A 2024 review described a more concrete letdown: after an initial walkthrough and a promised estimate, the reviewer said follow-up emails went unanswered. Before calling: confirm current pricing and get a firm timeline on the estimate, since that's the one recurring soft spot in an otherwise strong record. Penney Construction reads as a good fit for someone planning a substantial renovation and willing to work directly with a small, hands-on owner-operator — just don't assume the initial quote process will move fast.
Ryan and team were great to work with from the start. Ryan was prompt and communicative, and the entire estimation process was seamless. Within a couple weeks of the first walkthrough, we were able to get an a detailed estimate broken down into individual parts, and have full visibility into the entire project from the very beginning. Thank you Ryan & Team!
Quality of work is second to none
We used Penney Construction to repair water damage in our home. Ryan and his crew were excellent to deal with and Ryan continuously checked on the progress and quality of the work being done. Ryan’s staff were pleasent to work with and meticulously detailed. Howie and Wayne, Ryan’s finish carpenters, did excellent work and were always available to address any concerns that we had. The subcontractors that Ryan uses are also excellent. His plumbing contractor, John, was excellent and came highly recommend. Electrical, tile and painting were also excellent. Ryan had his painting contractor return after the project was completed to touch up any spots missed or damaged. Throughout this process Ryan was on top of all the details and available through texting, email, in person and by phone. Ryan has an excellent and well deserved reputation for quality work. I have to concur with this and will be happy to recommend his services to anyone and I’m also planning on using Ryan in the spring for other projects.
Subpar. Pricing not worth the quality of work and lack of communication is the consensus I've heard from the community. Many other viable quality contracting companies to choose from in the area.
Ryan and team were professional, communicated well and are masters of their trade. Excellent at troubleshooting and ensure top notch fit and finish.
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Established 3.6 rating
Custom built-ins5.0
Complete bathroom gut jobs4.7
Handles damage rebuilds4.5
Custom cabinetry and staircase builds4.4
Rehired for multiple projects4.1
One-day roof replacements3.7