Home repair and renovation on Staten Island

Staten Island looks different from the rest of the city, and so does the work. Most homes are detached or semi-detached one- and two-family houses with driveways, garages and real yards. That means more exterior work than in the other boroughs, such as fences, decks, patios, lawns, gutters, siding and long runs of driveway and sidewalk, alongside the kitchens, bathrooms and basements every house eventually needs.

Since Hurricane Sandy in 2012, flooding has also shaped how many East and South Shore homeowners repair and renovate. We do landscaping and outdoor work, masonry, basement waterproofing, plumbing and electrical, and full renovations across the island, from St. George and the North Shore to Tottenville. Estimates are free, and our crews speak English, Spanish, Bengali, Hindi and Urdu.

Detached houses and two-family homes

Staten Island grew quickly after the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge opened in 1964, and much of its housing dates from the decades that followed. Typical homes are frame houses with vinyl or aluminum siding, high-ranch and split-level layouts, and two-family houses with a rental downstairs or alongside. Older Victorian and colonial houses survive in St. George, New Brighton, Stapleton and Port Richmond.

Houses from the 1960s through the 1980s are now at the age where several big items wear out together: original kitchens and bathrooms, gutters and roof drainage, decks with tired framing and fasteners, and electrical panels that weren't sized for central air and modern kitchens. We take these on in stages or as one project, depending on what the house needs first.

Two-family owners on the island are often landlords too. Our home maintenance plans give tenants one number for repairs and cover emergencies, turnovers, inspections and seasonal work, with photos after every visit, so you aren't the one fielding every call. If a tenant reports a problem while you are away, someone still shows up.

Flood zones and basement resilience

Sandy flooded large parts of the East and South Shores, including Midland Beach, South Beach, New Dorp Beach, Oakwood Beach and Tottenville, and many of those blocks are in mapped flood zones. If your house is in one, the flood map affects insurance and can limit how much you can renovate before the house has to meet flood-resistant building standards. Check your address on the city's flood map before planning major work.

Inside the house, resilience is mostly about what sits low. We move water heaters, electrical panels and laundry off the basement floor where possible, install backwater valves against sewer backup, add sump pumps and interior drainage, and finish basements with materials that can get wet and dry out, like tile and moisture-resistant board, instead of carpet and paper-faced drywall.

Away from the coast, basement water on Staten Island usually comes from poor grading, clogged gutters and leaders, or groundwater on sloped lots. Those problems are often cheaper to fix from the outside, by regrading, extending leaders and repairing drainage, than from the inside. We look at both before recommending anything.

Yards, fences, decks and landscaping

Staten Island yards are big by city standards, and they take work. We do landscaping and cleanups, planting, lawn repair, patios and walkways, and fence installation and repair in wood, vinyl and chain link. We also repair and rebuild decks, replacing rotted boards, posts and railings, and checking the ledger board where the deck attaches to the house, which is where many deck failures start.

Before adding a new deck, fence or structure, check the rules for your lot. Larger decks, retaining walls and anything attached to the house can need Department of Buildings approval, and parts of the island are in special zoning districts that protect trees, steep slopes and natural features. We tell you if a project looks like it needs a permit before you commit.

Storm cleanup is part of yard work on the island too. After a heavy storm we clear debris, repair fence sections and gutters, and remove fallen limbs on private property. Street trees belong to the city, so damage from a street tree, or a city tree that looks unsafe, should be reported to 311 rather than cut back yourself.

Driveways, sidewalks and exterior repairs

Long driveways and corner-lot sidewalks are common on Staten Island, and they crack from freeze-thaw cycles, tree roots and heavy vehicles. As elsewhere in the city, the property owner is responsible for the sidewalk in front of the house, and NYC DOT can issue a violation for raised, cracked or broken flags. Corner houses have two frontages to keep up.

We replace sidewalk flags and driveway sections, rebuild front steps and retaining walls, and repoint brick and block foundations and chimneys. On sided houses, we repair the trim and flashing around windows and doors where water gets behind the siding, a common source of hidden rot in frame houses, and we replace damaged sheathing before the siding goes back on.

Neighborhoods we serve in Staten Island

St. George, Tompkinsville, Stapleton, New Brighton, West Brighton, Port Richmond, Mariners Harbor, Westerleigh, Grymes Hill, Todt Hill, Dongan Hills, Grant City, Midland Beach, South Beach, New Dorp, Oakwood, Great Kills, Eltingville, Annadale, Huguenot, Prince's Bay, Tottenville, Bulls Head, Travis, Rossville

Landscaping & outdoor work on Staten Island — Fences, deck repair, patios, planting and storm cleanup for the island's larger yards.

Basement waterproofing on Staten Island — Sump pumps, backwater valves, interior drainage and raising mechanicals for homes in and out of flood zones.

Masonry & sidewalk repair on Staten Island — Sidewalk flags, driveways, front steps, retaining walls and foundation repointing.

Kitchen & bathroom renovation on Staten Island — Updating original kitchens and baths in high-ranches, split-levels and two-family houses.

Painting & flooring on Staten Island — Interior and exterior painting, trim repair, and flooring suited to both basements and main floors.

Home maintenance plans on Staten Island — For two-family owners and landlords: one number for tenants, repairs, turnovers and seasonal upkeep, with photos every visit.

Is my Staten Island house in a flood zone?

Check your address on the city's flood hazard map or FEMA's flood map service. Many East and South Shore blocks hit by Hurricane Sandy, such as Midland Beach, South Beach and New Dorp Beach, are in mapped flood zones. Being in one affects flood insurance and can limit how much renovation you can do before the house must meet flood-resistant standards.

How can I protect my basement from flooding?

Start by finding where the water comes from. Sewer backup calls for a backwater valve, groundwater for drainage and a sump pump, and surface water for grading and gutter work. Then move the water heater, panel and laundry off the floor where possible, and use finishes that tolerate getting wet. We assess all of this during a free estimate.

Do I need a permit for a fence or deck on Staten Island?

It depends on size and location. Many simple fence replacements don't, but larger decks, decks attached to the house and retaining walls often need Department of Buildings approval, and special zoning districts on parts of the island add rules about trees and slopes. Check before you build; we flag likely permit needs during the estimate.

Who repairs the sidewalk in front of my house?

You do, as the property owner. NYC DOT can inspect and issue a violation for cracked, raised or broken flags, and corner lots have two sidewalks to maintain. If a city street tree caused the damage, report it to 311 first. Otherwise we can replace the damaged flags along with driveway or front step work.

Do you come out to the South Shore?

Yes. We work across all of Staten Island, from St. George and Port Richmond to Great Kills, Huguenot and Tottenville, as well as the other four boroughs. Call or text 929-400-9900 to book a free estimate. We're available Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.