J. Kenneway / Awl Carpentry
Local business · 4 Union St Unit 5, Scituate, MA 02066, USA
Their work
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Call (781) 389-2424Visit websiteSee on GoogleYou reach them directly — we don’t take a cut.
Verified record
- Not rated by the BBB
- 16 customer photosOf completed work
Highlights
- High Google rating — 4.9 average across 34 ratings
- Attention to detail — independent reviewers describe a careful, thoughtful crew
- Established local shop — self-reported 20+ years, run by a third-generation carpenter
- License confirmation — clearest reference is a 2017 third-party directory listing
- Company history — the 20-year, third-generation claim is self-reported by Awl
A 4.9-star average across 34 Google ratings is the first thing that stands out about Awl Carpentry, and the reviews behind it circle around one idea: a careful, detail-focused crew rather than a rush job. Based in Scituate, the company works the South Shore — it names Duxbury, Hanover, Hingham, Marshfield, Norwell, and Cohasset directly — and takes on full remodels and additions: kitchens, basements, bathrooms, bedroom and closet reworks, and outdoor living spaces, more than small repair calls. It's run, by its own account, by Jim Kenneway, a South Shore native, third-generation carpenter and U.S. Army veteran, and it says it's been doing this work for more than 20 years. It's also listed as a member of the Scituate Chamber of Commerce. Across 24 reviews collected since 2022 on Google, Birdeye, Porch, and BuildZoom, the tone is consistently positive, and the same two things keep resurfacing independently across those different sources: a thoughtful crew and close attention to finished detail. That's not one reviewer's opinion echoed everywhere — it's the same observation showing up separately on more than one site. Before booking, it's worth confirming the license directly. The most specific license reference tied to the Kenneway name — Building, Construction Supervisor, Home Improvement Contractor, and Electrical Contractor credentials — comes from a 2017 BuildZoom snapshot, not a current lookup, so don't take that as proof of an active registration today. The 20-year, third-generation history is Awl's own account of itself; nothing else available independently confirms when the company started. Awl fits a homeowner planning a real project — an addition, a full kitchen or basement, a multi-room remodel — who wants one crew carrying the whole job rather than piecing together trades. Confirm the current HIC license status and get a written scope and timeline before signing on.
Read the comments
Most recent comments
- 5.0Aug 15, 2025
Jim and team were amazing to work with. The crew at our house was extremely thoughtful and had amazing attention to detail. We are very fortunate to have found AWL
— Joseph O'BrienView on Google Reviews ↗ - 5.0Jul 6, 2025
We had a rental home that we leased out for many years - > and when the last renter moved on, we knew it was our turn to live on the South Shore. Jim and the AWL team transformed the property into a beautiful home, adding an addition, decks, moving the laundry upstairs, reimagining beautiful bathrooms, a kitchen, and preserving some the best original features of the house. They listened, gave great advice and always provided alternative solutions. AWL also put us in touch with wonderful resources (architect, tile, plumbing fixtures, appliances, cabinetry, countertops...), which makes a sometimes overwhelming process easier. Such a nice group of people and easy to work with. We highly recommend!
— Carrie RanaganView on Google Reviews ↗ - 5.0Apr 20, 2025
We worked with Awl to finish our basement and add a covering to our back porch. They helped us with a playroom, powder room, living space, and gym. Everyone on Jim’s team (and all of the subcontractors) were such a pleasure to work with. They were knowledgeable, skilled, and great problem solvers. We will definitely be using them again if we need more work done on our house. Can’t recommend them enough!!
— Logan ClarkView on Google Reviews ↗ - 5.0Mar 28, 2025
Amazing team to work with! Our basement was already finished but was totally empty. We wanted to add an entertainment center, wet bar, and a wine storage area. From our first meeting with Jim we knew we wanted to work with him and are so thankful we did.<br><br>Communication and transparency are super important to us, and Emily goes above and beyond. The Friday updates (every Friday without fail) are a great way of keeping up with progress and serve as a great reminder of to-do’s on your end. She juggles everyone involved incredibly and keeps you in the know always so that there are no surprises. The entire team was incredibly friendly, trustworthy with our home, and Mark (Griff) in particular could not have been a nicer, more thoughtful project manager/foreman to work with. The people they bring in (shoutout to the whole team at Rock Solid, Ryan, Wes and Paul) are incredibly talented at what they do and just great people all around.<br><br>We will not hesitate one bit to work with them again for any future projects. My wife and I cannot recommend them enough, and we can’t wait for our furniture so we can enjoy our new, beautiful space!
— Jamy BaronView on Google Reviews ↗ - 5.0Sep 30, 2024
Awl just completed our kitchen / pantry renovation. Absolutely nailed it. It's the fourth project they have done at our home. Jim and Emily are great and easy to work with, the work is excellent and so is the value.
— chris maceView on Google Reviews ↗
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Update history
Added 24 new comments, added 33 new photos, established rating 4.3
- behind the score: License confirmation — clearest reference is a 2017 third-party directory listing
What does carpentry work cost in Greater Boston?
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from J. Kenneway / Awl Carpentry. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
A typical single-level deck is 12×16 — about 200 sq ft.
Estimated range
$7,750 – $14,500
Typical carpentry project around $11,100