Does work in a Newton historic district need approval?

Newton has four local historic districts: Upper Falls, Chestnut Hill, Newtonville and Auburndale. Exterior changes visible from a public way in those districts usually go through the district commission. Check with the city's historic preservation office before starting.

How much does a paver or bluestone patio cost in Newton?

Patios are usually priced by the square foot, and the total depends on material, size, base depth, steps and any walls needed on a slope. Natural stone like bluestone generally costs more than concrete pavers. We give a free on-site estimate with an exact price.

Can you reuse the original granite on my Newton front steps?

Often, yes. If the granite treads are sound, we lift them, rebuild the base and reset them level. That keeps the original look and usually costs less than new stone.

Newton Masonry Contractor for All 13 Villages: Steps, Patios and Stonework Built to Last

Neto Painting & Masonry, based in Everett, MA.

8 years of masonry experience
Based in Everett, MA
Real photos of our own work

Or call (857) 335-0897

The short answer

Who does masonry contractor work in Newton, MA?

Neto Painting & Masonry serves all of Newton, MA from its base in Everett. The company installs and repairs granite and brick steps, builds patios, walkways and retaining walls, repairs chimneys and paints houses across Newton's villages. Call or text for a free on-site estimate.

Masonry Contractor for Newton homes

Newton is really thirteen villages, and each one has its own housing. Newton Upper Falls grew around early mills and still has worker houses and stone along the Charles. Newtonville and West Newton have dense blocks of Victorians and Colonial Revivals near the train. Chestnut Hill, Waban and Oak Hill hold bigger homes on larger, often sloped lots. Newton Centre, Auburndale and Newton Highlands mix all of it. A masonry job in Nonantum looks nothing like one on a hilltop in Chestnut Hill.

The ground matters too. Parts of Newton sit on hills, including the stretch of Commonwealth Avenue known as Heartbreak Hill, and outcrops of ledge show up in many yards. Long driveways, terraced front lawns and stone walls along the street are common, and they all need maintenance as frost and water work on them year after year.

Newton also has four local historic districts (Upper Falls, Chestnut Hill, Newtonville and Auburndale) covering about 775 properties, where exterior changes go through a district commission. Outside those districts many owners still want stone and brick that suit an older house. We do the full range here: granite entries, bluestone and paver patios, brick walks, stone and block retaining walls, and chimney work.

What we see in Newton

Terraced front yards with failing walls

Many Newton homes sit above the street behind a low stone wall. When drainage behind it clogs, the wall bulges or the cap stones loosen. We rebuild with a footing, drainage stone and a pipe, and reuse the original stone where it is sound.

Granite entries settling on older homes

Granite steps on Victorian and Colonial Revival homes are durable, but the base under them shifts over decades. Resetting the treads on a new compacted base is often cheaper than replacing granite that is still in good shape.

Patios and walks on ledge and clay

Ledge close to the surface and clay soils in low spots both cause trouble for patios. We adjust base depth and drainage to the site so pavers or bluestone do not heave or hold water.

Neighborhoods we cover in Newton: Newton Centre, Newtonville, West Newton, Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Waban, Newton Highlands, Newton Upper Falls, Newton Lower Falls, Newton Corner, Nonantum, Oak Hill, Thompsonville.

How we serve Newton

Newton is roughly 9 miles from our Everett base. We cover every village, not just the ones near the highway, and we plan each job around the house and lot in front of us. If you are in one of the four local historic districts, we work with you on materials and details that suit the commission review.