Your Trusted General Contractor in Queens
Melani General Contractor provides complete renovation services for Queens’ diverse residential properties. The borough’s housing stock spans single-family homes in Bayside and Forest Hills, garden apartment co-ops in Jackson Heights, postwar houses in Flushing, and high-rise condominiums in Long Island City — each with distinct construction methods and renovation requirements. Our licensed team delivers home renovations, kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, apartment renovations, and gut renovations across every Queens neighborhood. Call (718) 283-4154 for your free on-site estimate.
Comprehensive Renovation Services Across Queens
Queens contains approximately 320,000 housing units built before 1978, requiring specialized approaches to lead abatement and systems upgrades. The borough’s mix of detached homes, attached rowhouses, and apartment buildings creates varied renovation requirements that our experienced team handles daily.
Home Renovation
Queens’ single-family and two-family homes are the backbone of the borough’s housing stock. Our home renovation services address aging roofing, siding, windows, and foundations alongside interior improvements. We handle everything from room additions and basement finishing to complete interior reconfigurations that modernize postwar layouts for contemporary living.
Kitchen Remodeling
Kitchen renovations in Queens homes frequently involve expanding closed-off cooking spaces into open-concept layouts. We remove walls between kitchens and dining rooms, install custom cabinetry, stone countertops, and modern appliances, and upgrade plumbing and electrical systems to support contemporary kitchen demands.
Bathroom Renovation
Queens bathroom renovations range from updating dated tile and fixtures in postwar homes to complete gut-and-rebuild projects adding modern walk-in showers, heated floors, and double vanities. Many Queens bathrooms require updated plumbing — replacing galvanized supply lines and cast iron drains that are 50–70+ years old.
Apartment and Co-op/Condo Renovation
Queens features significant co-op housing stock, particularly the pioneering garden apartment co-ops of Jackson Heights and the postwar high-rises in Rego Park and Forest Hills. Our co-op and condo renovation services include alteration agreement management, board coordination, and compliance with building-specific requirements. We also handle apartment renovations in rental conversions and newer condominium buildings throughout the borough.
Gut Renovation
Older Queens homes sometimes require complete gut renovation — stripping to studs and replacing all mechanical systems, insulation, drywall, and finishes. This approach addresses multiple deferred maintenance issues simultaneously and brings the entire property up to current code standards.
Trade Services
We provide standalone plumbing, electrical, flooring, and painting services throughout Queens. Common needs include panel upgrades for homes with 100-amp service needing 200-amp capacity, galvanized pipe replacement, hardwood floor refinishing or new LVP installation, and interior/exterior painting for houses with weather exposure.
The Queens Building and Renovation Landscape
Queens housing stock consists primarily of detached single-family homes, two-family structures, and garden apartment complexes. The majority of residential construction occurred between 1920 and 1960, with significant postwar development in eastern neighborhoods after highway expansion improved access. These buildings typically feature brick veneer exteriors, wood frame construction, and original cast iron or galvanized steel plumbing systems.
Forest Hills Gardens showcases Tudor Revival architecture with strict covenant requirements governing exterior modifications. Flushing and Bayside contain substantial numbers of Cape Cod and Colonial Revival homes. Jackson Heights pioneered the garden apartment co-op model during the 1920s, creating unique renovation requirements for shared infrastructure and board approvals. Long Island City’s waterfront has seen significant new condominium development, adding modern high-rise renovation needs to the borough’s mix.
Common Renovation Challenges in Queens
Lead Paint and Asbestos: Pre-1978 housing comprises the majority of Queens’ residential stock. Asbestos insulation around heating pipes and in floor tiles, combined with lead-based paint, requires EPA-certified remediation during renovation. Our certification (NAT-F277952-1) ensures compliant handling.
Aging Mechanical Systems: Homes built in the 1940s–1960s typically have original plumbing and electrical systems at or past the end of their service life. Galvanized supply lines, cast iron drains, 100-amp panels, and ungrounded wiring are common findings during renovation.
Foundation and Water Management: Queens homes with basements frequently experience water infiltration due to aging foundation waterproofing and inadequate drainage. Proper renovation addresses grading, drainage, foundation sealing, and sump pump installation.
Zoning and Setback Requirements: Queens’ residential zoning varies significantly by neighborhood. Room additions, extensions, and accessory dwelling units must comply with lot coverage, FAR, setback, and height restrictions specific to each zoning district.Co-op Board Requirements: Garden apartment co-ops in Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, and other neighborhoods have their own renovation approval processes, work hour restrictions, and insurance requirements that must be navigated before construction begins.
Why Choose Melani General Contractor in Queens
Our Renovation Process
Step 1
On-Site Consultation
We visit your Queens property, assess structural conditions and systems, review zoning and building requirements, and discuss your renovation goals.
Step 2
Design and Estimate
We prepare a detailed scope of work with itemized costs, coordinating with architects and engineers as needed for additions or structural work.
Step 3
Permits and Approvals
We file DOB applications, prepare board packages for co-ops, and obtain all required permits before construction.
Queens Neighborhoods We Serve
Astoria
Bayside
Corona
Elmhurst
Flushing
Forest Hills
Fresh Meadows
Howard Beach
Jackson Heights
Jamaica
Kew Gardens
Little Neck
Long Island City
Maspeth
Middle Village
Ozone Park
Rego Park
Ridgewood
Sunnyside
Whitestone
Woodside
Other Boroughs We Serve
See What Our Customers Have To Say
Schedule Your Queens Renovation Consultation
Melani General Contractor provides detailed project estimates following on-site assessments at your Queens property. We evaluate structural conditions, review zoning requirements, and discuss your renovation goals before preparing formal proposals.
Call (718) 283-4154 to arrange your free on-site evaluation, or use the form below to request an estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Renovation in Queens
Costs range from $8,000 for cosmetic updates to $125–$300+ per square foot for full gut renovations. Kitchen remodels typically run $25,000–$65,000+. Queens costs are generally lower than Manhattan and Brooklyn due to easier material access and logistics.
DOB permits are required for structural modifications, plumbing, electrical, room additions, and mechanical work. Cosmetic updates like painting, fixture swaps, and cabinet refacing typically do not require permits.
Yes, subject to zoning requirements. Lot coverage, FAR, setback, and height restrictions vary by zoning district. We coordinate with architects and expeditors to determine what’s permitted for your specific lot and handle all DOB filings.
Aging plumbing (galvanized pipes), inadequate electrical panels, foundation water infiltration, lead paint, and asbestos materials are the most common findings in Queens homes built between the 1940s and 1960s.
Yes. We work with co-op boards in Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, Forest Hills, and other neighborhoods to manage alteration agreements, comply with building protocols, and coordinate shared infrastructure access during renovation.