Brooklyn, NY · Headquartered in Park Slope

General Contractor in Brooklyn, NY

Melani General Contractor is headquartered in Park Slope and has served Brooklyn property owners for over 22 years. Brooklyn's diverse housing stock, from 1880s brownstones in Park Slope to converted industrial lofts in Williamsburg, demands contractors who understand century-old construction methods, Landmarks Preservation Commission requirements, and modern building code compliance. Call (718) 283-4154 for your free on-site estimate.

Headquartered in Park Slope
NYC License #626219
EPA Lead-Safe NAT-F277952-1
Brooklyn Services

Comprehensive Renovation Services Across Brooklyn

Brooklyn's housing stock includes over 100,000 buildings constructed before 1940, creating specific renovation requirements for structural systems, electrical, plumbing, and facade preservation. Our licensed team delivers complete solutions for residential properties across all neighborhoods.

Rowhouses

Brownstone and Townhouse Renovation

Brooklyn contains the highest concentration of brownstone rowhouses in New York City. Our brownstone renovation services address sandstone facade restoration, parlor floor modernization, garden-level conversions, and multi-floor gut renovations. For limestone and brick townhouses, we handle rear extensions, cellar excavations, staircase restoration, and complete interior reconfigurations.

  • Sandstone and limestone facade repointing with matched lime mortar
  • Parlor floor restoration preserving moldings, mantels, and stair detail
  • Garden-level conversions with cellar underpinning where required
  • Rear extensions and full multi-floor gut renovations
General contractor in Brooklyn - Melani General Contractor brownstone renovation with facade repointing in Park Slope
Kitchens

Kitchen Remodeling

Kitchen renovations are the most requested project across Brooklyn. We transform cramped galley kitchens in pre-war brownstones into open-concept layouts with custom cabinetry, stone countertops, and modern appliance integration. Brooklyn kitchens often require structural modifications, removing load-bearing walls with steel beam installation and complete plumbing and electrical system upgrades.

  • Load-bearing wall removal with engineered steel beam installation
  • Custom cabinetry, stone countertops, and full appliance integration
  • Gas line, waste line, and dedicated circuit upgrades
  • Layout reconfiguration in narrow pre-war rowhouse kitchens
Brooklyn kitchen renovation by Melani General Contractor with steel beam header and custom cabinetry in a brownstone
Apartments & Boards

Apartment and Co-op/Condo Renovation

Brooklyn's co-op and condo buildings require alteration agreement management, board coordination, and compliance with building-mandated construction hours and insurance requirements. We handle the full apartment renovation process from board submission through final walkthrough, along with bathroom renovations that range from cosmetic co-op updates to full gut-and-rebuild projects in brownstones.

  • Alteration agreement packages and board submissions prepared in full
  • Insurance certificates naming the corporation as additional insured
  • Kerdi and Hydroban waterproofing, heated floors, and modern vanities
  • Pre-war cast iron stack work and limited-space bathroom layouts
Brooklyn apartment renovation by Melani General Contractor with floor protection and new copper plumbing rough-in
Lofts & Commercial

Loft and Commercial Renovation

Williamsburg, Bushwick, DUMBO, and Greenpoint feature converted industrial lofts with open floor plans, exposed brick, and high ceilings. We build out these spaces with custom partitions, mezzanine construction, kitchen and bathroom installations on concrete slabs, and mechanical system design for open-plan living. Brooklyn's mixed-use corridors along Atlantic Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, and Fourth Avenue also require commercial renovation expertise distinct from residential projects.

  • Custom partitions, mezzanine construction, and slab core-drilled plumbing
  • Mini-split HVAC design that preserves original ceiling height
  • Tenant buildouts, ADA upgrades, and storefront modifications
  • Full interior overhauls for retail, office, and multi-use buildings
Brooklyn loft renovation by Melani General Contractor with timber post-and-beam ceiling and new framed partitions in Williamsburg

Trade Services

We provide standalone plumbing, electrical, flooring, and painting services as part of larger renovations or as individual projects. Brooklyn's pre-war housing stock frequently requires galvanized pipe replacement, panel upgrades from 60-amp to 200-amp service, hardwood floor refinishing, and plaster repair with skim coating.

Building Stock

The Brooklyn Building and Renovation Landscape

Brooklyn's residential architecture consists primarily of rowhouses, brownstones, and mid-rise apartment buildings constructed between 1880 and 1960. Neighborhoods like Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights feature Italianate and Romanesque Revival brownstones with limestone and sandstone facades. Bedford-Stuyvesant contains the largest concentration of intact Victorian-era housing stock in the United States, while Williamsburg and Bushwick showcase converted industrial lofts and newer condominium developments.

Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill feature smaller-scale rowhouses with private gardens, and Bay Ridge, one of the first neighborhoods we worked in, mixes pre-war apartment buildings with single-family homes and semi-detached houses. These varied building types require specialized approaches to structural modifications, facade restoration, and mechanical system upgrades that respect original construction methods while meeting current DOB code requirements.

Brooklyn home renovation by Melani General Contractor in a pre-war brownstone
What We Plan For

Common Renovation Challenges in Brooklyn

Our experience with Brooklyn properties enables us to anticipate complications before they affect timelines or budgets.

Lead Paint and Asbestos

Properties built before 1978 constitute approximately 70% of Brooklyn's housing stock, requiring EPA-certified remediation protocols during demolition and surface preparation. Our EPA certification (NAT-F277952-1) ensures compliant handling.

Galvanized Pipe Replacement

Brownstones and pre-war apartment buildings typically contain original galvanized steel plumbing that corrodes after 70+ years. Complete plumbing system replacement with copper or PEX supply lines is often necessary during gut renovations.

Knob-and-Tube Wiring

Homes constructed before 1940 often retain obsolete electrical systems lacking grounding conductors. Complete rewiring to meet current NEC standards is critical for safety and insurance compliance.

Material Access and Staging

Rowhouse construction without driveways or loading zones requires DOT parking permits and careful scheduling of material deliveries through narrow stoops and hallways.

Landmark District Compliance

Properties in Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights North, and other designated districts require LPC approval for exterior modifications and certain interior work affecting historic fabric.

Pre-War Structural Systems

Brooklyn's residential architecture consists primarily of rowhouses, brownstones, and mid-rise apartment buildings built between 1880 and 1960. Each type requires approaches that respect original construction while meeting current DOB code.

Investment

Renovation Costs in Brooklyn

Brooklyn renovation costs reflect the borough's older housing stock, which often requires more extensive structural repairs and hazardous material abatement than newer construction. Here are general ranges.

Cosmetic Update (paint, fixtures, hardware)$10,000 – $30,000
Kitchen Remodel$25,000 – $75,000+
Bathroom Renovation$15,000 – $50,000+
Single-Floor Brownstone Renovation$75,000 – $175,000
Full Brownstone Gut Renovation$300 – $500+ / sq ft
Apartment Gut Renovation$150 – $350 / sq ft

Brooklyn-specific cost factors include landmark district compliance costs, co-op board insurance minimums, limited staging areas that increase material delivery costs, and the prevalence of pre-war construction requiring hazardous material abatement.

Permits & Regulations

Permits and Regulations in Brooklyn

The NYC Department of Buildings requires permits for structural modifications, plumbing alterations, and electrical upgrades. Co-op and condo boards maintain their own approval processes that often exceed DOB requirements, including alteration agreements, insurance certificates naming the building as additional insured, and neighbor notification letters. Properties within designated historic districts require Landmarks Preservation Commission approval for exterior work, which must precede DOB permit applications.

Our team manages the complete permit and approval process, including architectural drawings, engineering certifications, DOB filings, LPC applications, and board package preparation. Active general contractor license #626219 ensures compliance with all municipal regulations. Brownstone and rowhouse renovations that do not change the certificate of occupancy file under Alteration Type 2, while projects adding a dwelling unit or changing occupancy require a full Alt-1 filing with engineer-sealed drawings and a special inspection program.

Alt-2

Standard renovation without a certificate of occupancy change — most brownstone and apartment work.

Alt-1

Structural work, occupancy change, or a new dwelling unit; requires an architect of record and sealed drawings.

LPC CNE / C of A

Certificate of No Effect or Certificate of Appropriateness, required in all designated historic districts before DOB filing.

Special Inspection

Required for underpinning, beam replacement, and concrete work, with tracked hold points at each phase.

Neighborhood Highlights

Brooklyn Neighborhoods We Serve

Our crews work across Brooklyn's most architecturally distinct neighborhoods, each with its own building stock, permitting requirements, and renovation priorities. For property managers and co-op boards, we serve as a single point of contact through every stage of a project, from initial scope development and DOB filings through trade coordination, inspection scheduling, and final sign-off.

Bay Ridge

One of the first neighborhoods we worked in, Bay Ridge is home to semi-detached brick houses, pre-war apartment buildings along Shore Road, and limestone rowhouses on the numbered avenues. We handle kitchen gut renovations in Owners Corp co-ops and rear extensions on single-family homes, preparing complete alteration agreement packages and carrying the insurance certificates boards require.

Park Slope

Our headquarters neighborhood. The Park Slope Historic District holds one of the largest concentrations of intact Italianate and Romanesque Revival brownstones in the country, so LPC approval drives most renovation timelines. We specialize in parlor-floor restorations, garden-level conversions, and modernizing pre-war kitchens without disturbing original moldings, mantels, or stair detail.

Williamsburg

Williamsburg blends converted industrial lofts along the waterfront with frame houses in the South Side and new condo construction throughout. We build out raw loft spaces with custom partitions and kitchens on concrete slabs, and coordinate access, freight elevator reservations, and construction hours directly with building staff.

DUMBO

DUMBO's warehouse conversions feature timber post-and-beam construction, 14-foot ceilings, and factory windows that constrain where plumbing and HVAC can run. We design mechanical systems that preserve original ceiling exposure, and engage special inspectors with tracked hold points on Alt-1 filings.

Brooklyn Heights

New York City's first designated historic district requires LPC review for virtually all exterior work and much interior work in landmarked buildings. We renovate pre-war co-ops and Federal-style and Greek Revival townhouses on Willow, Cranberry, and Pineapple Streets, giving boards an accurate timeline before work begins.

Cobble Hill

Cobble Hill's smaller-scale rowhouses, many under 20 feet wide, demand precise space planning and careful structural work. We handle full gut renovations, cellar excavations for added square footage, and rear-yard extensions, managing engineer-of-record and special inspection requirements as part of standard delivery.

Carroll Gardens

Known for deep front gardens and 1860s and 1870s Italianate rowhouses. Our work focuses on updating original cast iron plumbing, rewiring knob-and-tube electrical, and restoring sandstone stoops and cornices — including resolving DOB violations through the Certificate of Correction process.

Greenpoint

Greenpoint combines frame and brick rowhouses from the shipbuilding era with new towers along the East River. We handle structural repairs on 150-year-old workers' cottages, loft buildouts in converted Manhattan Avenue warehouses, and high-end finish work, with progress documentation at each construction phase.

Prospect Heights

The Prospect Heights Historic District covers brownstones and apartment buildings along Eastern Parkway, Plaza Street, and the side streets to Grand Army Plaza. We manage LPC-approved facade restorations and full-floor co-op renovations, handling LPC and DOB permit tracks simultaneously.

Bushwick

Bushwick's mix includes frame houses, masonry rowhouses, and converted factory lofts along Flushing and Morgan Avenues. We take on warehouse-to-residential conversions, gut renovations of three-family buildings, and rooftop additions, managing Alt-1 change-of-occupancy filings through CO issuance.

Why Melani

Why Choose Melani General Contractor in Brooklyn

Twenty-two years of Brooklyn work, an active DOB license, and the documentation that boards, managing agents, and homeowners rely on.

Established Brooklyn Presence

Headquartered in Park Slope with 22+ years of experience across brownstones, pre-war co-ops, converted lofts, and every other Brooklyn property type.

NYC Licensed General Contractor (#626219)

Active DOB license valid through December 2028 with comprehensive permit management and code compliance for all project types.

Brooklyn-Specific Building Knowledge

Expertise in brownstone facade restoration, cast iron plumbing stack replacement, LPC compliance, and co-op alteration agreement requirements.

EPA Lead-Safe Certified (NAT-F277952-1)

Proper containment and disposal protocols for lead paint present in the majority of Brooklyn's pre-1978 housing stock.

NYS Licensed Mold Remediation Contractor (#25-64SK4-SHMO)

Licensed by New York State to assess and remediate mold, so moisture damage found behind walls, ceilings, and old plumbing lines is corrected properly instead of covered up.

Fully Insured

Comprehensive general liability and workers' compensation insurance meeting the requirements of Brooklyn's most stringent co-op boards.

Process

Our Renovation Process

Five steps, in order — from the first Brooklyn site visit through DOB sign-off and final walkthrough.

  1. 1

    On-Site Consultation

    We visit your Brooklyn property, assess structural conditions, identify building-specific requirements, and discuss your renovation goals.

  2. 2

    Design and Estimate

    We prepare a detailed scope of work with itemized costs, coordinating architects and structural engineers on complex projects.

  3. 3

    Permits and Approvals

    We file DOB applications, prepare co-op and condo board packages, submit LPC applications, and obtain all permits before construction.

  4. 4

    Construction

    Our crews handle demolition, structural work, mechanical rough-in, and all finish work — flooring, cabinetry, tile, painting, and hardware.

  5. 5

    Inspection and Walkthrough

    We coordinate DOB inspections, obtain certificates of completion, restore common areas, and conduct a detailed walkthrough before closeout.

Complete Range of Services

Every Service We Provide in Brooklyn

Renovation, structural work, and licensed trades under one contract, coordinated by a single point of contact.

Apartment RenovationSingle room updates through full gut renovations that reconfigure layouts and replace mechanical systems.Bathroom RenovationWalk-in showers, heated flooring and waterproofing in pre-war and postwar buildings.Brownstone RenovationFacade restoration, parlor floor remodels, staircase rebuilds and garden-level conversions.Commercial RenovationBuildouts and refits coordinated around building management and DOB inspection schedules.Condo & Co-op RenovationAlteration agreements, board packages and shared infrastructure coordination handled end to end.Electrical ServicesKnob-and-tube and early BX wiring upgraded to modern 200-amp panels.Flooring InstallationHardwood refinishing and engineered flooring with STC-rated underlayment for managed buildings.General ContractingAll trades coordinated, permits filed, inspections managed from demolition to closeout.Gut RenovationComplete multi-floor renovations addressing structure, plumbing risers and electrical service.Home RenovationRoom additions, basement finishing and exterior work on detached and semi-detached homes.Kitchen RemodelingOpen-concept layouts, custom cabinetry and stone countertops with full appliance rough-in.Loft RenovationMezzanine construction and core-drilled plumbing on concrete slabs in converted industrial buildings.Painting ServicesInterior painting with EPA Lead-Safe surface preparation for pre-1978 housing stock.Plumbing ServicesGalvanized pipe and cast iron waste stack replacement in pre-war buildings.Townhouse RenovationMulti-floor limestone and rowhouse renovations, including landmark district properties.
Other Boroughs We Serve

Beyond Brooklyn

Our Park Slope base keeps crews close to every Brooklyn job site, and the same licensed teams take assignments across the rest of New York City.

Free · No Obligation

Schedule Your Brooklyn Renovation Consultation

Melani General Contractor provides detailed project estimates following on-site assessments at your Brooklyn property. We evaluate structural conditions, review building-specific 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 to request an estimate.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Renovation in Brooklyn

Yes. We regularly handle renovations in Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, and Crown Heights North. Landmark district projects require Landmarks Preservation Commission approval before DOB permits can be filed, and we manage both application processes on your behalf, building the LPC review period into the project schedule so that boards and owners have a realistic timeline from the start.
Licensed Brooklyn General Contractor

Start Your Brooklyn Renovation

Brownstones, co-ops, lofts, and townhouses — permitted, insured, and managed from first walkthrough to DOB sign-off.