# Zelek Design **Trade:** General Contractor / Remodeling · **Phone:** (781) 797-0369 · **Website:** https://www.zelekdesign.com/ · **Languages:** English **Rating: 3.9/5** (low confidence) — from 6 reviews across 6 sources. 100% of sentiment-scored reviews read net-positive. Last 6 months: 0 reviews, 0 negative. ## The honest read Zelek Design is a Swampscott, Massachusetts design-build firm founded by architect Rafal Zelek, who combines architecture and general contracting for custom homes, additions, renovations, and historic preservation work for residential and commercial clients. Rafal grew up around the trade, working in his father's general contractor and masonry business before training as an architect at Boston Architecture College, and he still runs the company today, managing projects from design through construction with a crew of subcontractors that includes carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians. Clients who have hired Zelek Design consistently point to that dual architect-and-builder role as the standout. A 2023 review described Rafal as "professional, attentive, very responsive, and easy to work with" as both the architect and general contractor on a home addition and renovation. Another reviewer noted that having one person hold both roles keeps a project on schedule and within budget — a 2017 HomeAdvisor review made a similar point about his punctuality, attention to detail, and problem-solving. A 2025 review of a custom-built home called him "a steady and reliable partner" through a complex design and planning process, and a 2022 review praised a porch build finished "professionally and beautifully," with everything promised in the contract delivered. Design work has also extended to historic properties, per a dated 2017 review describing consultation and design work on historic-site renovations. The company is listed as holding an active Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor license and a BuildZoom-verified Construction Supervisor license, lists a LEED affiliation, and has 7 permitted projects on record with BuildZoom dating back to 2013. Every review on file — across Google and HomeAdvisor — is 5 stars, and HomeAdvisor lists free estimates as part of doing business, though not emergency service or written warranties. One thing worth asking about directly: the company's BuildZoom profile displays an "Alert - Unpaid Debt" badge at the top of the page with no explanation attached. It isn't clear what it refers to, and nothing else in the record elaborates on it, so it's worth a direct question before booking. It's also worth noting the review record, while uniformly positive, is modest in volume — six reviews spanning 2017 to 2025 — so a prospective client is relying on a small but consistent sample rather than a large one. **Strengths:** - Design-build in one — architect Rafal Zelek manages design through construction - Consistent 5-star record — every review on file rates 5 stars - Dual licensed & LEED — active HIC and Construction Supervisor licenses plus LEED affiliation **Concerns:** - Unexplained debt alert — BuildZoom profile shows an unpaid-debt badge with no detail given - Modest review volume — only 6 reviews on file since 2017 ## Claims & citations Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication. - A Swampscott, MA design-build firm founded by architect Rafal Zelek, combining architecture and general contracting for custom homes, additions, renovations, and historic preservation for residential and commercial clients. _(confidence: high)_ - [Official Website](https://www.zelekdesign.com) — “A Swampscott, MA design-build architecture and general contracting firm founded by architect Rafal Zelek, specializing in custom homes, addi…” - Founded and run by architect Rafal Zelek, who trained at Boston Architecture College and worked in his father's general contractor/masonry business growing up. _(confidence: high)_ - [Official Website](https://www.zelekdesign.com) — “Ownership (self-reported): Founded and run by architect Rafal Zelek, who trained at Boston Architecture College and worked in his father's g…” - Rafal Zelek serves as both architect and general contractor on projects, managing design through construction with a crew of subcontractors including carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians. _(confidence: high)_ - [HomeAdvisor](https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.ZelekDesign.42349640.html) — “5★ They were punctual, attentive to details, extremely knowledgably and very good problem solving. What makes this company unique is that Ra…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNoc2NTTVBnEAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xdb919dc700b9f073!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIChscSMPg%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Rafal from Zelek Design is very professional & helpful. Rafal works on all of my projects. He does everything from the design to buildin…” - Listed as holding an active Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor license (#191049) on both BuildZoom and HomeAdvisor, shown as active through March 2028. _(confidence: medium)_ - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/zelek-design-llc) — “Licence listed on BuildZoom: License #191049 — Home Improvement Contractor, Active, Massachusetts” - [HomeAdvisor](https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.ZelekDesign.42349640.html) — “Licence listed on HomeAdvisor: Trade License #191049, Massachusetts, expires 03/20/2028” - Listed as holding an active Massachusetts Construction Supervisor license (#CS-111727), shown as BuildZoom-verified. _(confidence: medium)_ - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/zelek-design-llc) — “Licence listed on BuildZoom: License #CS-111727 — Building Licenses/Construction Supervisor, Active, Massachusetts (BuildZoom-verified)” - Lists a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) membership/affiliation. _(confidence: medium)_ - [HomeAdvisor](https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.ZelekDesign.42349640.html) — “Listed certification: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) — membership/affiliation” - 7 permitted projects on record with BuildZoom, dating back to 2013. _(confidence: medium)_ - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/zelek-design-llc) — “7 project(s) shown on BuildZoom” - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/zelek-design-llc) — “A BuildZoom profile for Zelek Design, LLC (34 Farragut Rd, Swampscott, MA, owned by Rafal Zelek) with a BuildZoom score of 127, an active Co…” - Every review on file is 5 stars — 5.0★ from 4 Google ratings and 5.0★ from 2 HomeAdvisor ratings (100% 5-star). _(confidence: high)_ - [HomeAdvisor](https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.ZelekDesign.42349640.html) — “HomeAdvisor: 5.0★ from 2 ratings” - [HomeAdvisor](https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.ZelekDesign.42349640.html) — “HomeAdvisor star distribution: 100% 5★ (of 2 ratings)” - [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=ZELEK%20DESIGN%2C%20LLC&query_place_id=ChIJDTxvSerfRKIRc_C5AMedkds) — “Google: 5★ from 4 ratings” - In a 2023 review, a homeowner described Rafal as professional, attentive, very responsive, and easy to work with as both architect and general contractor on a home addition and renovation. _(confidence: high)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNoc2VheVNnEAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xdb919dc700b9f073!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIChseaySg%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ I can't say enough good things about the home addition and renovation experience I had with Zelek Design. Rafal was the architect and GC …” - In a 2017 HomeAdvisor review, a client credited the combined architect/general-contractor role with keeping the project on schedule and within budget. _(confidence: high)_ - [HomeAdvisor](https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.ZelekDesign.42349640.html) — “5★ They were punctual, attentive to details, extremely knowledgably and very good problem solving. What makes this company unique is that Ra…” - In a 2022 review, a client described a porch build completed professionally and beautifully, with everything promised in the contract delivered. _(confidence: high)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUQtek1UMGdBRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xdb919dc700b9f073!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgID-zMT0gAE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ This company is very reliable. They did everything that they promised in the contract. We highly recommend to hire this company if you th…” - In a dated 2017 review, a client described design work and consultation on historic-site renovations in addition to new-home design work. _(confidence: medium)_ - [HomeAdvisor](https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.ZelekDesign.42349640.html) — “5★ He has done multiple design work for some brand new homes. He has also done design work for smaller type of renovations including histori…” - Offers free estimates per its HomeAdvisor profile, which does not list emergency service or written warranties. _(confidence: medium)_ - [HomeAdvisor](https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.ZelekDesign.42349640.html) — “A HomeAdvisor profile for Zelek Design (Swampscott, MA) showing 5.0 stars from 2 reviews, 16 years of experience, a LEED membership/affiliat…” - The company's BuildZoom profile displays an 'Alert - Unpaid Debt' badge with no further detail given. _(confidence: medium)_ - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/zelek-design-llc) — “A BuildZoom profile for Zelek Design, LLC (34 Farragut Rd, Swampscott, MA, owned by Rafal Zelek) with a BuildZoom score of 127, an active Co…” - Specializes in General Contractor / Remodeling _(confidence: high)_ - [Official Website](https://www.zelekdesign.com) — “A Swampscott, MA design-build architecture and general contracting firm founded by architect Rafal Zelek, specializing in custom homes, addi…” - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/zelek-design-llc) — “Services offered (BuildZoom): Custom Home Build, New Home Construction, Medium Multi-Family New Construction (5-25 Units), Other Residential…” - [HomeAdvisor](https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.ZelekDesign.42349640.html) — “Services offered (HomeAdvisor): Architectural Design, Design Build, General Contractor” - Also offers Kitchen Remodel _(confidence: medium)_ - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/zelek-design-llc) — “Services offered (BuildZoom): Custom Home Build, New Home Construction, Medium Multi-Family New Construction (5-25 Units), Other Residential…” - Also offers Bathroom Remodel _(confidence: medium)_ - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/zelek-design-llc) — “Services offered (BuildZoom): Custom Home Build, New Home Construction, Medium Multi-Family New Construction (5-25 Units), Other Residential…” ## License No license record has been checked yet for this contractor. ## Sources - [BuildZoom](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/zelek-design-llc): Listed on this source - [HomeAdvisor](https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.ZelekDesign.42349640.html): 5.0★ from 2 ratings - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Zelek%20Design&query_place_id=ChIJDTxvSerfRKIRc_C5AMedkds): Listed on this source - [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Zelek%20Design&query_place_id=ChIJDTxvSerfRKIRc_C5AMedkds): 5.0★ from 4 ratings - [Exa](https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/zelek-design-llc): 0 web mentions across the open web (each linked to its source) - [Official Website](https://www.zelekdesign.com): Self-reported profile and service details ## Recent reviews - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Keith Waters · 2025-01-02**: Our home was a unique custom build, and we’re very pleased with the final result. From the early design and planning phases through to completion, Rafal was a steady and reliable partner. He worked closely with us to navigate and solve the challenges that came with such a complex project. Rafal’s c… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · MakeMine Marvel · 2023-02-15**: I can't say enough good things about the home addition and renovation experience I had with Zelek Design. Rafal was the architect and GC for this project and was professional, attentive, very responsive, and easy to work with throughout the entire project. The quality and finish is top notch. The en… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Michael Sarat · 2023-02-15**: Rafal from Zelek Design is very professional & helpful. Rafal works on all of my projects. He does everything from the design to building & managing the projects. Rafal works with a crew of great contractors which include carpenters, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and more. I never have… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Lyudmila Glikberg · 2022-11-23**: This company is very reliable. They did everything that they promised in the contract. We highly recommend to hire this company if you thinking about doing some construction. The porch that they built for us was done very professionally and beautifully. We’re very satisfied with the results. Once ag… - **5/5 · HomeAdvisor · Charles S. · 2017-12-01**: He has done multiple design work for some brand new homes. He has also done design work for smaller type of renovations including historic sites. General consultation. He has been beyond fantastic. - **5/5 · HomeAdvisor · Derek · 2017-12-01**: They were punctual, attentive to details, extremely knowledgably and very good problem solving. What makes this company unique is that Rafal is not only a General contractor but also an architect and as a result the entire process stays on schedule and with in budget. I highly recommend him. --- Data freshness: last scanned 2026-09-11T13:58:10.447Z. Cite as: Zelek Design — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/zelek-design) Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/zelek-design