Hardscaping & Masonry Services |
Greater Boston & North Shore, MA
Patios, walkways, stone walls, outdoor kitchens and fire features — built to survive New England weather.
We’ve been doing this on the North Shore since 1984, from Swampscott and Marblehead up through Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Newburyport. In 2026 Northshore Magazine named Leahy Landscaping Editors’ Choice for Landscaping Services.
Coastal New England is hard on stonework. Freeze-thaw cycles lift anything built on a shallow base. Road salt and sea air eat materials that would last decades inland. Most of what separates a patio that still looks right in 2040 from one that’s heaving by 2029 happens before a single stone is set.
Walkway & Patio Design
We design and install breathtaking walkways and patios on the North Shore, Greater Boston and Southern New Hampshire areas. Our team uses high-quality materials and precise craftsmanship to ensure your outdoor space stands out. Whether you envision a charming pathway to welcome guests or a spacious patio for hosting unforgettable gatherings, we’ll bring your ideas to life.
What Goes Under a Patio
A long-lasting patio starts with a properly prepared foundation. We ensure thorough site excavation, a solid compacted base, and proper site drainage to handle New England’s changing seasons. Taking the time to build the sub-base correctly prevents shifting, settling, and water pooling over time.
Bluestone, Granite, or Pavers
We install a wide range of high-quality materials tailored to your property’s aesthetic and budget. Whether you prefer the classic look of natural bluestone, the durability of granite steps and accents, or the versatility of stone pavers, our team delivers a seamless finish that elevates your outdoor living space.
Patios on a Sloped or Ledge Lot
Challenging terrain requires experienced hardscape planning. We design custom retaining walls, terraced patio areas, and site-specific drainage to turn steep slopes or rock ledge into stable, functional outdoor living spaces built for your property.
Seating &
Retaining Walls
A retaining wall can also serve as a drainage structure that happens to look like a wall.
Water builds up behind it, freezes, and pushes. That’s what fails a wall — not the weight of the soil. So behind ours usually goes crushed stone backfill and a perforated drain line that takes water somewhere it can go, rather than letting it collect against the back face.
Walls do three jobs at once here:
Hold the hill. Sloped North Shore lots lose soil every spring. A wall stops the runoff and keeps it off your foundation.
Make the slope usable. A terrace cut into a hillside turns unusable grade into a patio, a garden bed, or flat lawn.
Give you somewhere to sit. A seat wall at the right height (about 18 inches) adds permanent seating around a patio or fire pit without furniture.
On height: walls above four feet generally require engineered drawings and a building permit in most Massachusetts towns. We’ll tell you up front if yours crosses that line and handle the paperwork.
Stop Erosion Before It Starts
We build retaining walls that stabilize your yard and protect your foundation from water damage and soil runoff.
Make the Most of Your Outdoor Space
Turn sloped or unusable ground into level, functional areas for patios, gardens, or play.
Licensed & insured
Fully licensed & insured local team. Serving the North Shore since 1984.
Boost Curb Appeal and Property Value
A well-designed retaining wall adds structure and visual impact to your landscape.
Outdoor Kitchen Design & Installation
From a built-in grill station to a full run with storage, refrigeration, sink and counter space.
The build comes down to three things: a structure that survives winter, utilities run properly, and surfaces that don’t stain or crack.
Consultation. How you actually cook and entertain, where the sun and wind come from, and how far the utilities have to travel.
Layout & materials. Masonry or framed-and-veneered structure, counter material, appliance selection. Granite and dense natural stone outperform most alternatives outdoors.
Installation. Gas lines, water and drainage where there’s a sink, electrical, and the stonework. Anything with water gets a drain-down for winter.
Stone & Masonry Work
A lot of what we build here is stone. Fieldstone walls, granite steps, stone veneer on foundations and pillars, chimneys and columns, and the retaining structures that hold a sloped lot in place. Dry-laid where the look calls for it and the structure allows; mortared where it needs to carry load or shed water.
Mortar has a season. It needs temperatures above roughly 40°F to cure properly, so mortared work gets scheduled accordingly — generally April through November on the North Shore, longer in a mild fall. Dry-laid stone can go in later.
Custom Outdoor Fireplaces
From Marblehead, MA to Manchester, NH, our expert team designs and installs custom outdoor fireplaces and stone fire pits that become the heart of your backyard.
We specialize in creating stunning focal points for homes across the North Shore of Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, perfect for gathering around a crackling fire on a cool evening or adding warmth and ambiance to any gathering.
Let us build a feature that blends seamlessly with your existing landscape.
Outdoor Fire Pit Design &
Installation
Transform Your North Shore yard with a Custom Outdoor Fire Pit
Outdoor fireplaces are the bigger build — a full masonry structure with a firebox, flue and chimney, on a footing below frost line. Draft matters: a chimney that’s too short or badly sited pushes smoke back at the people sitting in front of it. Siting is as much of the design as the stonework.
Fire pits are simpler and far more common. Gas or wood:
Wood needs no utility run and gives you the fire people picture. It needs clearance from structures and overhanging branches, and someone to haul wood.
Gas means a line run from the house, which is the main cost, but lights instantly and produces no embers — which matters on a tight lot or under trees.
Check your town. Several North Shore communities require a permit from the fire department for a permanent outdoor fire feature, and the rules differ town to town. We’ll find out for yours before we build.
Our Reviews
“Jesse was wonderful to work with. He really listened to what we wanted and helped us with a design that we love and that worked with our budget. His team was great … Professional and efficient, cleaning up each day and leaving us with a beautiful new approach and landing. We’re so happy with the job they did. Don’t hesitate to go with this team!” –Patricia J
“Leahy has been doing our landscaping for more than 20 years, designing gorgeous beds and hard scape whenever we needed it. Their crew has always been professional, careful, responsive and knowledgeable. Currently we are working with Jesse who has overseen a major project and couldn’t have been more engaged, communicative and responsive.” -Mary Anne Schultz
“Jesse and the Leahy Landscaping team nailed it! They designed our dream deck, patio, and yard within budget, met a super tight timeline, and delivered incredible quality. They treated our home like their own, and now we have a gorgeous space our family loves every day. Highly recommend!” – Andrew Z.
“Eight years ago, we contracted with Leahy Landscaping, and we’re quite satisfied with the results. Hence, my wife and I recently hired them again to complete a relatively large hardscape and landscape project. Once again, we are thrilled with the results.” -Gary
