House Demolition
We take whole houses down to the ground across Weymouth and the South Shore. Garages and barns come down too, and we clear the debris off the site.
Learn More
Braintree sits about 10 miles south of Boston, and the town is almost fully built out. Much of its housing is old. By Census estimates, half of the town's homes were built in 1957 or earlier. More than a third went up before 1950, so they are already past 75 years old. That matters, because Braintree's demolition delay rule covers buildings 75 years or older.
MJ Masonry is a demolition and masonry contractor, and Braintree is part of our service area. Weymouth, right next door, sits at the center of it. Here we take on house demolition and building demolition. We also lay brick and concrete block (CMU), and we pour the concrete that goes with it. We look at the job and put the quote in writing. Call or text (617) 838-0280 to set up a visit.
Tell us about the demolition or masonry work and where it is. We look at the job and put the quote in writing.
In Braintree, demolition permits come from the Building Division at Town Hall. Applications go through the town's online permit system. The Building Division's guide for applicants lists a Demolition Sign-Off Form. It also calls for a signed contract between the contractor and the owner.
That guide also says a demolition permit is only for the complete demolition of a structure. It flags the Demolition Delay rule for buildings 75 years or older. Under the ordinance, those applications go to Planning and Community Development, which notifies the Historical Commission. If the commission finds a building significant, it holds a public hearing before it decides on a delay.
A building found worth preserving can wait out a delay while the commission looks at other options. An amendment to the ordinance went before the Town Council in 2026. Confirm the current timeline with the Building Division before you set a date for the work.
Braintree grew fast in the middle of the last century. The town's open space plan says its population nearly doubled between 1930 and 1960, to more than 31,000. The Highlands, laid out in the 1870s, filled in during the 1930s. The 2020 Census counted 39,143 people. Census estimates show about 65 percent of homes are detached single-family houses.
The same plan puts the highest density in East Braintree and around Braintree Square. In older, denser areas like these, a teardown can take in the house and a detached garage behind it. Our house demolition covers the full structure, and we clear the debris from the site as part of the job.
Other owners keep the house and strip rooms back for a remodel. Our interior demolition takes out non-structural walls and ceilings ahead of the renovation. We carry the debris out as we go. For that work, the town's building permit guide asks for floor plans, plus a framing plan if walls come out.
The town's open space plan describes granite and some sandstone bedrock under Braintree. Glacial till and shallow soils sit on top, and ledge comes to the surface in many areas. Along the waterways, the ground holds sand and gravel deposits and floodplain soils.
Most of that soil drains well at the surface but holds a hardpan layer within two feet. Water stops at the hardpan, so the ground above it gets saturated fast. Many wetlands were also filled before today's environmental rules. Ledge and wet ground both shape the work and the price of footings and foundation walls.
The Farm and Cochato Rivers join near the municipal golf course to form the Monatiquot River. It runs about four miles through town on its way to the Fore River. FEMA maps show flood hazard areas along those rivers and along Town Brook and Cranberry Brook. Projects that need Conservation Commission approval carry its conditions, and the Building Division enforces them.
With so little open land left, most new building in Braintree reuses older sites. The open space plan notes several large projects that turned older sites into high-density housing. After the 2008 financial crisis, housing permits jumped, and most went to buildings with five or more units.
Commercial building lines Route 37 and Route 53. The Highway Business district sits beside Interstate 93 and the Route 3 split, home to South Shore Plaza. The town has also studied the Wood Road area, west of the highway, for life sciences and mixed-use growth. The open space plan credits the Greenbush rail stop with spurring redevelopment at Weymouth Landing.
Redevelopment of an older site starts with taking down what stands on it. Our building demolition handles the whole-building knockdown and clears the debris from the site. When the new building goes up, our commercial masonry covers block walls and elevator shafts. We do that work for general contractors, much of it through bids. Brick veneer goes on where the plans call for it.
Communities and areas we serve around Braintree: East Braintree, South Braintree, Braintree Highlands, Braintree Square, Weymouth Landing, Five Corners, French's Common, Pond Meadow Park, Sunset Lake, Watson Park, Wood Road, Monatiquot River.
Braintree ZIP codes served: 02184.
Braintree is part of our service area. We look at the job first, then put the quote in writing.
(617) 838-0280 We take whole houses down to the ground across Weymouth and the South Shore. Garages and barns come down too, and we clear the debris off the site.
Learn More
We knock down commercial and industrial buildings, warehouses and apartment buildings around Weymouth and Greater Boston. The debris leaves the site as part of the job.
Learn More
Interior demolition for houses and commercial spaces around Weymouth and Greater Boston. We handle gut-outs and selective demolition ahead of a renovation and carry the debris out.
Learn More
We lay concrete block (CMU) buildings and the elevator and stair shafts inside them. Brick and brick veneer go up on the same commercial jobs, priced in writing from the plans.
Learn More
We lay new brick walls for homes and commercial buildings, both structural brick and brick on concrete block. Brick steps and landings come with the building work, and we put the quote in writing.
Learn More
Concrete block (CMU) walls for commercial buildings and foundations, reinforced and grouted to the drawings. We pour the footings under the block walls we build, and we lay elevator and stair shafts in block.
Learn More
We lay brick veneer over wood-frame walls on homes and additions, and over concrete block (CMU) on commercial buildings. Metal ties hold it to the wall, and flashing and weep holes let water back out.
Learn More
Footings, foundations, slabs, pads, steps and landings for homes and commercial buildings. We pour the concrete that goes with our masonry work.
Learn MoreA few of the questions we hear most around Braintree. If yours is not here, call or text and ask.
Use the form to tell us about the work and the town it is in. You can also call or text (617) 838-0280 and send photos or plans.
Tell us about the demolition or masonry work and where it is. We look at the job and put the quote in writing.