# Raffaele Construction Corp

**Trade:** Masonry · **Address:** 233 Burrill St, Swampscott, MA 01907, USA · **Phone:** (781) 598-5989 · **Website:** https://www.raffaeleconstruction.com/contact · **Languages:** English

**Rating: 3.3/5** (low confidence) — from 2 reviews across 8 sources.

## The honest read

Raffaele Construction Corp is a family-owned masonry shop in Swampscott built around old-world, hand-cut stonework — chimneys, stonewalls, walkways, driveways, fireplaces, and outdoor kitchens. The company says it was founded in 1985 and is now run by Gerardo, who inherited it from his father.

The written record is thin but consistent. In a late-2025 Google review, a customer called the hardscape work "meticulous," with results the reviewer said stood out from other jobs they'd seen. A second reviewer that same fall was shorter but similarly satisfied. On Nextdoor in mid-2025, a Salem-area neighbor described the crew running a new waterline at a family member's home, insured and working from a signed contract with everything "fully agreed on," and said they'd recommend the company.

Its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration is active. One thing worth asking about directly: in 2014, the Boston Globe reported that State Police seized records tied to Raffaele Construction as part of a raid connected to a town spending investigation. Nothing available describes how that resolved, and there's no more recent regulatory issue on file, so it reads as an old, isolated episode rather than a pattern — but it's fair to raise before signing anything.

A good fit for hand-cut stonework — walls, walkways, chimneys, fireplace surrounds — on the North Shore. Ask about the 2014 matter and get contract terms in writing, the way the Nextdoor reviewer described.

**Strengths:**
- Hardscape craftsmanship — reviewer called the work meticulous and standout
- Word-of-mouth trust — Nextdoor neighbor praised insured, contract-based work
- Active license — Massachusetts home improvement registration is active

**Concerns:**
- 2014 state raid — records seized amid a town spending investigation

## Claims & citations

Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication.

- Praised for meticulous, high-end hardscape work _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2kxbE5sbHNUbmxSTkdsUWVuZ3hRMHBtTlV4WldXYxAB!2m1!1s0x0:0x3690930a6fbe1aa9!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOi1lNllsTnlRNGlQengxQ0pmNUxZWWc%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Best of the Best!!
Work was meticulous and looks amazing. I would highly recommend Rafael for any of you Hardscape needs. There is a big …”
- Nextdoor neighbor recommended insured, contract-based waterline work _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Nextdoor](https://nextdoor.com/p/f7xpNMZwJzS_) — “Nextdoor (Salem, MA) — Raffaelle Construction in Swampscott put in a new waterline in Salem at my nephew’s home.  They are great; insured, c…”
- Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration is active _(confidence: high)_
  - [State License Registry](https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search) — “MA hic license 177419 verified active”
- Family-owned, founded 1985, now run by Gerardo who inherited it from his father _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Official Website](https://www.raffaeleconstruction.com) — “Company history (self-reported): Family-owned and operated business founded in 1985 by expert masons on the North Shore of Massachusetts.”
  - [Official Website](https://www.raffaeleconstruction.com) — “Ownership (self-reported): Owner-operated by Gerardo, who inherited the business from his father.”
- BBB gives an A+ letter grade; not accredited, no complaints on file _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/swampscott/profile/mason-contractors/a-raffaele-construction-0021-4442) — “BBB lists A. Raffaele Construction as a mason contractor in Swampscott, MA with an A+ letter grade, but the business is NOT BBB accredited; …”
- 2014 raid — State Police seized records tied to a town spending probe _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Local News](https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/06/16/state-police-raid-nahant-town-hall-administrator-bisignani-resigns/efODLWjaSn8SAANtnLyqwJ/story.html) — “bostonglobe.com — State Police seized records related to G/J as well as Raffaele Construction of Swampscott and other companies in the raid,…”
- Hand-cut stone masonry — stonewalls, chimneys, walkways, driveways, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens _(confidence: high)_
  - [Official Website](https://www.raffaeleconstruction.com) — “Raffaele Construction Corp is a family-owned masonry contractor in Swampscott, MA specializing in old-world, hand-cut stone masonry — stonew…”
- Specializes in Masonry _(confidence: high)_
  - [Official Website](https://www.raffaeleconstruction.com) — “Raffaele Construction Corp is a family-owned masonry contractor in Swampscott, MA specializing in old-world, hand-cut stone masonry — stonew…”
  - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/swampscott/profile/mason-contractors/a-raffaele-construction-0021-4442) — “BBB lists A. Raffaele Construction as a mason contractor in Swampscott, MA with an A+ letter grade, but the business is NOT BBB accredited; …”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/raffaele-construction-pfvwus-pf~1511460914) — “Houzz lists Raffaele Construction as a landscape/masonry contractor with a broad North Shore/Boston-area service list, but the page explicit…”
- Also offers Landscaping _(confidence: low)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/raffaele-construction-pfvwus-pf~1511460914) — “Houzz lists Raffaele Construction as a landscape/masonry contractor with a broad North Shore/Boston-area service list, but the page explicit…”

## Ownership

- Identifies as family-owned — the business's own statement, not independently verified.

## License

Status: **active** (#177419, hic) — verified against the official MA state registry on 2026-07-05, never self-reported.
Re-check at the official registry: https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search

## Sources

- [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Raffaele%20Construction%20Corp&query_place_id=ChIJMRtnt89t44kRqRq-bwqTkDY): 5.0★ from 4 ratings
- [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Raffaele%20Construction%20Corp&query_place_id=ChIJMRtnt89t44kRqRq-bwqTkDY): Listed on this source
- [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/swampscott/profile/mason-contractors/a-raffaele-construction-0021-4442): Listed on this source
- [Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/raffaele-construction-swampscott-3): Listed on this source
- [Official Website](https://www.raffaeleconstruction.com): Self-reported profile and service details
- [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/raffaele-construction-pfvwus-pf~1511460914): Listed on this source
- [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/raffaele-construction-pfvwus-pf~1511460914): Listed on this source
- [Exa](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/raffaele-construction): 7 web mentions across the open web (each linked to its source)
- [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/raffaele-construction): Listed on this source

## Mentions

Unverified third-party mentions found on the open web — relay with attribution ("a Reddit commenter said…"), never as Tavlee's own finding.

- “Raffaelle Construction in Swampscott put in a new waterline in Salem at my nephew’s home.  They are great; insured, contract provided and fully agreed on every item. I would highly recommend” — nextdoor.com (2025-06-01) — https://nextdoor.com/p/f7xpNMZwJzS_
- “State Police seized records related to G/J as well as Raffaele Construction of Swampscott and other companies in the raid, according to someone briefed on the investigation.” — bostonglobe.com (2014-06-17) — https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/06/16/state-police-raid-nahant-town-hall-administrator-bisignani-resigns/efODLWjaSn8SAANtnLyqwJ/story.html

## Recent reviews

- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Richard Bozarjian · 2025-11-07**: Best of the Best!!
Work was meticulous and looks amazing. I would highly recommend Rafael for any of you Hardscape needs. There is a big difference...
- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Marvin Velásquez · 2025-09-06**: Good nice , this company does good work, I recommend it to you. Very nice works

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Data freshness: last scanned 2026-07-05T14:09:38.152Z.
Cite as: Raffaele Construction Corp — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/raffaele-construction-corp-swampscott)
Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/raffaele-construction-corp-swampscott