Regulus Construction

Regulus Construction is a locally owned shop in Milford, Massachusetts, operated by owner Marcos Damasceno. The firm positions itself as design-led: the conviction is that good design makes a difference in how projects function and feel, and that designing well before breaking ground prevents expensive rework and surprises. That philosophy applies to every project the company takes, from kitchen renovations to primary ADU builds.

The owner-led model shapes how Regulus operates. Damasceno is present on projects, not a distant owner overseeing projects through subordinates. This means homeowners typically interact with the decision-maker, not a project manager who has to check with someone else on questions or changes. It also means the quality bar is personal. An owner who shows up every day because it's their reputation cares differently than a shop where quality is someone's delegated responsibility.

Regulus holds Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License #120627 and Home Improvement Contractor License #195717. Both credentials are legally required to advertise ADU construction in Massachusetts and both require active renewal and compliance with state work-hour requirements. The licensing marks the firm as legitimate, though it's table stakes: any builder advertising ADU work in Massachusetts without these credentials is operating illegally. The company's 5.0 ratings on Google and Yelp reflect years of project satisfaction, which is more meaningful than the credentials alone, since credentials mark permission but ratings mark performance.

The firm has been operating for more than ten years. This tenure means the company has built through different market cycles and economic conditions, managed staff retention and growth, and maintained enough reputation to sustain a business through difficult periods. A ten-year track record is not the longest in the industry, but it's meaningful; many construction shops don't survive that long.

Regulus specializes in three ADU types. A detached backyard ADU is a freestanding cottage structure, typically eighteen to thirty feet away from the main house, offering maximum rental income potential and privacy for occupants. A garage conversion transforms an existing garage into a finished apartment, the most cost-effective ADU pathway if the existing structure is sound and has good foundation. An attached in-law suite is a home addition with its own entrance, kitchen, and bathroom, connected to or adjacent to the main house. These three categories cover the majority of ADU scenarios in residential properties across MetroWest. The choice between them depends on your property's lot size and configuration, existing structures, foundation and utility infrastructure, and your goals for rental income versus multigenerational living.

The company's process is full-service: feasibility assessment first, then architectural design, municipal permitting, construction supervision, and final inspection. The feasibility phase is crucial because it prevents homeowners from falling in love with a design that the town won't permit or that the site won't support. Regulus walks through your property, reviews your town's ADU bylaws and zoning requirements, and outlines what's realistic and what isn't. Many MetroWest towns have updated zoning post-Affordable Homes Act, but the updates vary widely: some have eliminated ADU restrictions almost entirely, while others maintain setback, lot-size, or parking requirements that constrain options. A feasibility conversation surfaces these constraints upfront.

Once a concept is validated, design proceeds. Regulus produces engineered plans submitted to your town. The drawings detail the structure, mechanical systems, electrical layout, and code compliance pathways. This stage can take four to eight weeks, depending on design complexity and any back-and-forth with the town planning or building department.

Permitting is the next gate. Submission of the engineered plans to the local building department triggers review: the official checks zoning compliance, building code conformance, and any conditions specific to your town. This process typically takes four to eight weeks, though some towns are faster and others slower. Regulus handles the submissions and communications with the department, keeping the project moving.

Once a permit issues, construction begins. The timeline for the actual build varies: a garage conversion might take three to four months, while a detached backyard structure takes longer, perhaps five to six months. Total project duration, from initial feasibility visit to final inspection, typically spans six to twelve months. The timeline is front-loaded by permitting, not construction, which means there's no advantage to rushing the design phase to save time.

The firm's service area spans more than forty towns across MetroWest and surrounding areas: Milford, Franklin, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Bellingham, Holliston, Mendon, Upton, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, and many others. This spread means Regulus has navigated the zoning of numerous municipal flavors and knows the planning departments and building officials in the region. A project in Natick versus a project in Franklin has different permitting nuances, and repeated work across both means the firm anticipates those differences without having to research them fresh.

The three ADU types Regulus specializes in represent the majority of realistic scenarios in residential properties. A detached backyard cottage appeals to homeowners who want to separate themselves from the tenant, offer maximum privacy, and potentially achieve the highest rental income. The downside is site cost: a new foundation, extended electrical service, and potentially septic or stormwater management if municipal sewer is not accessible. A garage conversion is the least-site-intensive option, using existing structure and foundation, but trades off usable garage space and requires the existing garage to be structurally sound enough for adaptive reuse. An attached in-law suite or home addition splits the difference: it uses the main house's utilities and foundation but requires architectural design to blend with the existing structure and permitting to allow the additional density.

Regulus's design-led philosophy shows up in how the firm approaches these three types. The designs aren't standard-issue; they respond to the specific lot, orientation, relationship to the main house, and what the town permits. A detached cottage facing south on a lot with southern views is designed differently than one squeezed onto a northern-facing lot. An attached suite on a house with traditional architecture is detailed differently than one on a modern home. The design phase is where bad ideas get caught and good ideas get refined. It's not the fastest phase, but it's the one that prevents costly mistakes.

The build quality reflects the design discipline. Owner involvement means attention to detail: trim, finish carpentry, mechanical performance, and attention to how the project reads when done. A cottage that looks like an afterthought reads poorly and performs poorly in the rental market. A cottage that's well-proportioned, well-detailed, and finished to match the main house (or make a considered aesthetic contrast) is a genuine addition to the property. This distinction, again, shows up in long-term value and tenant satisfaction.

The firm has worked across MetroWest long enough to understand town-specific realities. Natick's permitting culture is different from Franklin's. Hopkinton's zoning is different from Medway's. Many of the towns in Regulus's service area have ADU-friendly updated bylaws, while a few still have restrictive lot-size or setback requirements. The repeated work means the firm can tell you upfront whether an ADU is realistic in your town, rather than taking your money and then discovering an obstacle.

Regulus offers free consultations, which is the sensible first step if you're considering an ADU. That conversation either validates the idea and moves to the feasibility study, or it surfaces a showstopper (the lot is too small, zoning forbids ADUs, the soil is poorly suited to a foundation) and saves you the study cost. The owner's presence in the business means that consultation is a real conversation, not a sales pitch delivered by a junior staff member. For homeowners in MetroWest towns, the local ownership and design-led philosophy mean you're working with a principal who takes projects personally and with a firm that knows the region well. You can reach Regulus at (774) 527-9379 or contact@regulus-construction.com to schedule a consultation.