Much of Staten Island's housing stock is older, which means aging mechanicals, outdated layouts, and building systems that are overdue for a real upgrade. We handle apartment renovation across Staten Island, from single-unit kitchen and bathroom remodels to full gut renovations in co-op and condo buildings that require alteration agreement submissions before a nail goes in. Our team is a licensed and insured NYC Home Improvement Contractor (#2113624-DCA) and coordinates each phase through one managed project, so nothing falls through the cracks between trades. Based in Brooklyn, we have completed apartment projects across all five boroughs, and Staten Island has been a steady part of that work for years.
Renovating NYC apartments for 22+ years with a 5-star Google rating. Book your Staten Island assessment today.
Staten Island's housing stock is one of the most varied in all five boroughs. Detached single-family homes in New Dorp, suburban ranch-style houses in Annadale, and co-op units near the St. George Ferry Terminal each carry different permit requirements, board approval processes, and structural realities. Melani General Contractor handles our NYC apartment renovation services with 22+ years of on-site experience across the city.
Much of the borough's housing stock is older. Mechanical systems, subfloor conditions, and bathroom substrates often need serious attention before cosmetic work can begin. Our team files all DOB permits directly, so you never hand that off to a third party or manage it yourself.
Yes. If your unit sits in a co-op building, you almost always need an alteration agreement approved by the managing agent and co-op board before any work begins. This document spells out the scope, insurance requirements, work hours, and how the building is protected during construction. We prepare that documentation and build the board-review phase into your project timeline from day one, so approvals do not stall your start date. On the condo side, requirements are usually lighter but still involve managing-agent sign-off on riser shutdowns and access windows. Either way, we handle the coordination as part of the co-op and condo renovation process, not as an afterthought.
Our crew handles demo, carpentry, tile and finishes; licensed plumbers and electricians handle regulated work under our direct supervision. Many projects involve attached or semi-detached housing rather than high-rise towers. For scopes that go down to the studs, see our full gut renovation scope.
A full-service renovation from our team covers:
We coordinate every trade, including licensed plumbers and electricians under our direct supervision, so you don't need to hire a separate electrician, plumber, or tile crew. Here's what a full apartment renovation covers.
Our kitchen remodeling work covers full cabinet replacement, countertop installation, tile backsplash, appliance hookups, and layout reconfiguration. If you want an open-plan kitchen, we assess load-bearing walls before any demo begins.
Our bathroom renovation service starts at demolition to studs. We install waterproofing membrane, new tile, vanity, and fixtures. In co-op and condo buildings, we coordinate shared plumbing riser shutdowns directly with building management under the alteration agreement.
Our flooring installation includes hardwood, engineered wood, porcelain tile, and luxury vinyl plank. Subfloor leveling and moisture barrier work are included, not add-ons, which matters where seasonal subfloor movement occurs.
Our electrical work covers panel upgrades, new circuit runs, outlet additions, and fixture installation. All work is filed and inspected through the DOB; Melani coordinates licensed electricians as required.
We replace aging supply and drain lines, install new fixtures, and coordinate building shutdowns for shared risers in multi-family buildings. See our full plumbing service for scope details.
Interior painting, trim installation, and finish carpentry close out every renovation. Our painting services are the final phase, not an afterthought.
Before any contract is signed, we visit the unit and assess existing mechanical systems, subfloor conditions, and the full scope of work. Many units have aging electrical panels, original plumbing, and layout constraints that only show up in person.
We file all required DOB permits and handle alteration agreement documentation for co-op boards. If your building requires managing-agent sign-off on riser shutdowns or access windows, we coordinate that directly. See our co-op and condo renovation process for more detail on board approval timelines.
Permits and board approvals move faster when you start early. Let us map your timeline before your build slot fills.
Demolition, structural work, and rough plumbing and electrical all run on a single coordinated schedule with DOB inspections sequenced in between. For full-unit projects, this phase mirrors what we cover in gut renovation work across the borough.
Once rough inspections pass, the finish trades begin in sequence: flooring and tile go down first, followed by cabinetry and vanities, then trim carpentry, and finally painting and hardware. We stage these so each trade protects the work of the one before it. When the last coat is dry, we walk the unit with you and build a punch list of any touch-ups, adjustments, or details that need correcting. We aim to address every item on that list before final walkthrough sign-off and confirm that the finished work matches the agreed scope.
In older units, original kitchens, bathrooms, electrical panels, and plumbing may now be well past their expected service life. Cosmetic updates cover surface problems. The signs below point to something deeper.
Laminate cabinet boxes, avocado-era tile, and fixtures that predate current code are not just dated. They signal that the substrate, waterproofing, and layout behind the walls have never been touched. A full kitchen remodel or bathroom renovation addresses what you cannot see, not just what you can.
Staten Island receives substantial rainfall, and harbor-adjacent humidity compounds that. Soft spots underfoot, ceiling stains, and paint that bubbles off the wall all point to active moisture intrusion, not a paint problem.
Two-prong outlets mean the circuit has no ground. Flickering lights under normal load mean the panel is undersized or the wiring is failing. Pre-1980 cloth wiring cannot handle modern electrical demand. Our electrical work brings these systems up to current DOB standards.
Slow drains across multiple fixtures signal deteriorating cast iron drain lines. Rust-colored water at the tap points to galvanized supply pipes past their service life. Both conditions worsen fast and are worth addressing before a full failure.
Cupped hardwood means the edges of each board have risen above the center, a direct sign of moisture in the subfloor. In some hilly inland areas, substrate movement and inconsistent drainage conditions beneath the slab can contribute to that moisture migration. Cracked grout and uneven transitions follow. The next section covers these local conditions in full.
Staten Island's older housing stock can present renovation challenges that aren't always obvious until walls open. The borough's hilly inland areas, including Castleton Corners and Dongan Hills, include buildings where moisture intrusion, aging materials, and substrate movement have accumulated over time. Those conditions can contribute to subfloor deflection, cracked tile grout, and doors that fall out of square. Proper prep means addressing the substrate, not just the surface finish.
The coastal climate adds a second layer of stress. The borough receives substantial annual rainfall, and proximity to New York Harbor can drive humidity into exterior-facing walls. Seasonal temperature swings can contribute to deterioration of bathroom substrates and window frames, particularly in waterfront neighborhoods like Midland Beach and South Beach where ventilation and existing framing conditions vary. Low-lying areas near Great Kills compound drainage issues further, pushing moisture into slabs and lower-level finishes. Our bathroom renovation work accounts for these substrate conditions before any tile or fixture goes in.
Given the borough's older housing stock, once walls open in older apartments cast iron plumbing stacks, galvanized supply lines, and undersized electrical panels can be found. A full gut renovation in a building of this age rarely stays within its original scope. That is not a surprise; it is the reality of working in older housing here. The gap between what a surface inspection shows and what demolition reveals is rarely small, and experienced trade coordination is the only way to manage it without blowing your budget or timeline.
Most Staten Island property owners can find a contractor. Finding one who knows DOB permit requirements, handles co-op board alteration agreements, and puts a skilled crew on-site from day one is a different problem. We solve that, operating out of 343 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 and serving every corner of the borough, from Tottenville to West Brighton to Huguenot.
22+ years of NYC apartment renovation means we have seen many building conditions Staten Island delivers. That experience does not need to be rebuilt on your project, and our Brooklyn base keeps a team within easy reach across the harbor.
Our crew handles demolition, flooring, and finish work, while licensed plumbers and electricians handle regulated work under our direct supervision, which means every trade is coordinated through one team.
Clients consistently describe the work as done "quickly and correctly" with impeccable results, and you can read those accounts directly on our customer reviews page.
Explore our other services in Staten Island.
Our general contracting and home renovation work is based in Brooklyn, but we serve property owners across all five boroughs. Wherever your project is, we bring the same permitting know-how, licensed trades, and direct oversight.
Your unit in Dongan Hills, Midland Beach, or Tottenville has specific building conditions, and your renovation plan needs to match them. Melani General Contractor assesses the property first, then builds a scope around what the unit actually needs, including any alteration agreement your building manages.
Ready to move forward? Contact us online or call (718) 283-4154 to talk through your project. We work across all five boroughs from our base at 343 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215.
Tell us about your unit and we'll assess the conditions on-site, then build a plan that fits your building's requirements and your budget.
Yes. Most apartment renovation work in Staten Island requires permits from the DOB. Kitchen remodels that touch plumbing or electrical, bathroom renovations, and any structural changes all fall under this requirement. Our team files all necessary permits and manages the full inspection schedule. Unpermitted work creates real liability at resale and can trigger stop-work orders that shut down your project mid-construction.
A kitchen or bathroom renovation timeline varies once permits are in place. A full gut renovation of a one- or two-bedroom unit also varies depending on scope and what the existing mechanical systems look like once walls open. A detailed project schedule is typically provided at the start of work so you know where things stand.
Yes. Our team handles the full alteration agreement process for co-op boards and is familiar with noise hour rules, elevator protection requirements, and trade licensing documentation that buildings require before work begins. Riser shutdowns and common area access are coordinated by a dedicated project manager. For more on how we approach this building type across NYC, see our co-op and condo renovation process.
Costs depend on scope, finishes, access, and existing conditions. A bathroom renovation, kitchen remodel, or full gut renovation each vary based on layout complexity and what the existing plumbing, electrical, and subfloor systems reveal once work begins. Contact us to arrange an on-site assessment and receive an estimate.
Galvanized supply lines, cast iron drain stacks in early corrosion, and unupgraded electrical panels are common discoveries in apartments built in the 1960s and 1970s. Our team identifies these conditions during the initial assessment where visible and builds scope flexibility into the project plan. When conditions change mid-project, we communicate clearly before any additional work proceeds.
We serve all of Staten Island from Tottenville and Huguenot in the south to West Brighton and New Dorp in the north, including Great Kills, Annadale, New Springville, Midland Beach, and surrounding neighborhoods across zip codes 10301, 10306, 10308, 10309, and 10314. Visit our general contractor hub page for the full service area. We operate from our base at 343 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 and are available throughout the borough.
Ready to see what your Staten Island apartment actually needs? Call us at (718) 283-4154 or send a message through our contact page and we will schedule an on-site assessment at the property.
