Apartment renovation and repair in Manhattan

Most Manhattan renovation happens inside apartments, and the building often matters as much as the design. A co-op on the Upper West Side, a condo in a Midtown tower and a prewar walk-up in the East Village each have their own rules about approvals, insurance, work hours, deliveries and noise. Getting those right from the start is what keeps a job on schedule.

We renovate kitchens and bathrooms, paint and refinish floors, and handle electrical, plumbing and general repairs in Manhattan apartments and townhouses. We work from the building's alteration package, protect common areas and plan around elevator bookings. We serve every neighborhood from Inwood to the Financial District, estimates are free, and our crews speak English, Spanish, Bengali, Hindi and Urdu.

Alteration agreements and board approval

Most Manhattan co-ops and condos require an alteration agreement before any work beyond painting or minor repairs. The package usually asks for a scope of work, drawings for anything structural, plumbing or electrical, a schedule, contractor information and a deposit. The building's architect or engineer may review it before the board or managing agent signs off, and that can take weeks, so it belongs at the start of the plan.

Buildings also ask for a certificate of insurance naming the building and its managing agent, with wording and coverage the building sets. Requirements differ from one building to the next, so we read the actual package rather than assuming. If something in your scope will draw extra review, such as moving a bathroom or kitchen over a neighbor's living space, we flag it before you submit.

Larger alterations, such as moving plumbing, adding circuits or removing walls, usually need Department of Buildings filings by a registered architect or engineer. Cosmetic work and like-for-like replacements are usually simpler. We tell you at the estimate which category your project is likely in, and we coordinate with your architect where one is needed.

Work hours, freight elevators and neighbors

Manhattan buildings commonly limit construction to set weekday hours, with no noisy work on weekends or holidays. Some co-ops go further, allowing major renovations only in certain months or setting a deadline for finishing. We plan the job inside those windows, which usually means demolition and other loud work go first and quieter finish work fills the later weeks.

Deliveries and debris normally go through the service entrance and a freight elevator that has to be booked ahead, sometimes with building staff present. We reserve those slots in advance, protect hallway floors and elevator walls, and take debris out the same day rather than leaving it in the hall. In a walk-up, that means carrying material up the stairs and keeping the stairwell clear. Wherever we work, we seal doorways and contain dust where we cut or sand.

Prewar apartments

Prewar buildings are common on the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Morningside Heights, Washington Heights and in Greenwich Village. They tend to have plaster walls, thick masonry, high ceilings, oak or parquet floors and steam heat. They also have old plumbing risers and wiring that has been extended many times over the decades.

In a prewar apartment we repair and skim-coat plaster instead of covering it, refinish or patch parquet and herringbone floors, and work carefully around radiators and their piping. When a kitchen or bathroom is opened up, we check the branch lines to the risers and the wiring back to the panel, and price what needs replacing before it disappears behind new tile.

Many older buildings have lead paint under the newer coats. New York City has rules for work that disturbs old paint, particularly in apartments where young children live, and federal lead-safe practices apply to older housing as well. Ask your managing agent what the building requires before work begins, and tell us if a young child lives in the apartment.

Small kitchens and bathrooms

Manhattan kitchens are often galley or corner layouts with one window or none, and many bathrooms are about five by seven feet. In a small room every inch counts: cabinet depth, door swings, vanity height, a medicine cabinet recessed into the wall, a pocket door instead of a swinging one. We plan the layout around the clearances the room actually has.

Venting and electrical are usually the limits. Range hoods often recirculate because there is no route outside, and older apartment wiring can't always support an induction range, dishwasher and microwave at once. We check the panel and the building's appliance rules before you buy anything, so the plan works with what the apartment can handle.

Many buildings resist moving wet areas, so keeping the toilet, shower and sink near the existing risers saves review time and cost. Within that footprint we can still change a tub to a walk-in shower, retile floors and walls, add storage in tight corners, and improve the lighting so a small room feels larger.

Neighborhoods we serve in Manhattan

Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Harlem, East Harlem, Morningside Heights, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Midtown, Hell's Kitchen, Murray Hill, Kips Bay, Gramercy, Chelsea, Flatiron, Greenwich Village, West Village, East Village, Lower East Side, SoHo, Tribeca, Financial District, Battery Park City, Roosevelt Island

Kitchen & bathroom renovation in Manhattan — Galley kitchens and small bathrooms in co-ops and condos, planned around the building's alteration agreement.

Painting & flooring in Manhattan — Painting and refinishing of prewar parquet and oak floors, scheduled within building work hours.

Electrical & plumbing in Manhattan — Fixture, wiring and branch-line updates in apartments, coordinated with the super for riser shutoffs.

Drywall & plaster repair in Manhattan — Skim coating, crack repair and new partitions in prewar and postwar apartments.

Home maintenance plans in Manhattan — For townhouse owners and investors renting out condo or co-op units: one number for tenants, repairs, turnovers and inspections.

Free estimate in Manhattan — Call or text 929-400-9900, and send your building's alteration package if you have it so the estimate reflects its rules.

How long does co-op board approval take for a renovation?

It varies by building, but plan on several weeks for anything beyond cosmetic work. The board's architect or engineer may review the drawings, ask questions and request changes before signing off. Submitting a complete alteration package early, with a clear scope and drawings where needed, is the best way to avoid delays, and we prepare our part of it promptly.

Do I need a DOB permit to renovate my Manhattan bathroom?

It depends on the scope. Replacing tile, a vanity and fixtures in the same locations is much simpler than moving plumbing, adding circuits or changing walls, which typically need Department of Buildings filings by a registered architect or engineer. Some plumbing and electrical work must also be filed by a licensed trade. We tell you at the estimate which applies to your job.

Can you work within my building's construction hours?

Yes. We plan every Manhattan job around the building's approved work hours, freight elevator bookings and delivery rules. Noisy work is grouped into the allowed windows, common areas are protected, and debris leaves the building the same day. Share the building's rules before the estimate, and the schedule we give you will already account for them.

Can you renovate a kitchen in a small prewar apartment?

Yes. Most prewar kitchens are compact, and the work is about fitting the layout to the room, the building's venting and electrical capacity, and the location of the risers. We check the panel and any appliance rules before you buy anything, repair plaster rather than covering it, and keep plumbing close to existing lines to limit board review.

Do you work in walk-ups as well as doorman buildings?

Yes. In a walk-up, materials and debris go up and down the stairs, the stairwell has to stay clear, and we usually coordinate with a landlord or managing agent rather than full-time staff. In doorman and elevator buildings, we book the freight elevator and follow the service entrance rules. We plan for either from the estimate onward.