Brooklyn's housing stock is one of the most demanding renovation environments in the country. Pre-war brownstones and brick rowhouses built before 1940 routinely surface cloth wiring, cast iron plumbing stacks, and lead paint the moment walls open up. That complexity requires a crew that knows what they're looking at and can handle every trade without calling in a different contractor for each problem. Melani General Contractor handles home renovation in Brooklyn, NY from our Park Slope office at 343 4th Ave, managing every phase of your project under one roof, from permits to final finishes. Licensed and insured in New York State, our crew has built its reputation across the borough's toughest pre-war buildings.
Ready to renovate? Talk to our Brooklyn crew today.
Home renovation in a pre-war borough means something different than it does anywhere else. The housing stock across neighborhoods like Bed-Stuy and Carroll Gardens spans brick rowhouses, brownstones, and masonry apartment buildings raised in the decades before World War II. Open a wall in any of them and you may find surprises that reset the scope. The plan adjusts to what the building actually contains, not just what the floor plan shows.
Project type depends heavily on property type. A standalone rowhouse in Crown Heights gives you full control over the renovation timeline and trade sequencing. A pre-war co-op adds board approval, an alteration agreement, and restrictions on shared plumbing risers before a single wall comes down. A modern condo near Atlantic Avenue sits in a different regulatory lane entirely. Understanding which category your building falls into determines the full scope before any budget conversation starts. Our Gut Renovation covers the full range, from targeted trade replacements to stripping a rowhouse down to the studs.
Most structural, electrical, and plumbing work requires a permit from the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). In historic-district properties, exterior work also requires Landmarks Preservation Commission review on top of standard DOB filings. That is two separate approval tracks running in parallel. We file permits, coordinate DOB inspections, and track Local Law compliance so your project does not stall at a regulatory checkpoint. You should not have to manage that process yourself, and with us, you do not. For a full breakdown of what triggers a permit, see What Property Owners Need to Know Before Renovating a Historic Home.
We handle every trade in-house, which means a single contract, one schedule, and one point of contact for your entire project. There are no handoff gaps between an electrician and a tiler, and no waiting on a subcontractor who answers to someone else. As a General Contractor, we coordinate kitchen work, bathroom gut-outs, electrical upgrades, plumbing repairs, flooring, and finish carpentry as one continuous scope.
We redesign cabinet layouts, install countertops, set tile backsplash, and handle all appliance hookups. Electrical and plumbing rough-in are scheduled on the same timeline so nothing waits on a separate crew. See the full scope on our Kitchen Remodeling page.
Work ranges from a single-fixture swap to a full gut of a pre-war bathroom, including cast iron tub removal, new waterproofing membrane, tile, and vanity installation. Because the same crew handles demolition through finish, tile and fixtures land right after rough-in with no scheduling gap. Details are on our Bathroom Renovation page.
We strip the space to bare studs and rebuild every system: framing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC rough-in, insulation, and drywall. Keeping all trades under one supervisor compresses the timeline, since each phase is sequenced to start the moment the last one clears inspection. Learn more about our Gut Renovation service.
We handle panel upgrades, outlet additions, wiring replacement, drain stack repairs, and fixture installation, all by licensed tradespeople in compliance with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) code. Brooklyn pre-war buildings frequently run on 60-amp service, which is insufficient for a modern kitchen and central AC, and a panel upgrade to 200-amp requires a DOB permit and Con Edison coordination. On drainage work, the DOB requires a licensed master plumber to pull the permit, not just a journeyman doing the labor.
We install hardwood, engineered wood, and tile, and restore original pre-war oak and pine floors common in Cobble Hill rowhouses. Restoration typically costs less than replacement and preserves the floor's original character.
Interior painting, trim work, and finish carpentry are handled in-house. Pre-war brownstones require ornate baseboard and molding profiles that modern stock does not match; we mill or source period-appropriate profiles and install them to fit.
Get a scope estimate for your brownstone or rowhouse, no obligation. We'll walk the property and put the plan in writing.
Homeowners planning a full renovation frequently fold in one or more of these Melani General Contractor services.
Between your first call and the day work starts, there are several distinct steps. Each one has a real impact on your timeline and budget. Here is exactly how we run a home renovation in Brooklyn, NY from site walk to final inspection.
We walk the property before anything is signed. Pre-war rowhouses routinely surface lead paint, aging wiring, and deteriorating cast iron plumbing stacks the moment walls open. We identify those conditions upfront and build a written scope of work that reflects what the project actually requires. If you are still working out your budget, our guide on How to Budget for a Home Renovation is a useful starting point before that first meeting.
We file all required NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) permits and handle Landmarks Preservation Commission submissions for designated properties in historic districts. DOB permit processing typically adds two to six weeks at the front end. Co-op owners face an additional layer: the alteration agreement must clear the board before any trade work begins.
Selective or full demolition comes first, followed by framing any new layouts. All Electrical Services and Plumbing Services rough-in is completed before walls close. DOB inspections are scheduled at each required milestone so no work gets buried without sign-off.
Tile, Flooring Installation, cabinetry, Painting Services, trim, and fixtures are installed in sequence. Final DOB inspections are passed, and the property is left clean and ready for occupancy. No open permits, no loose ends.
Some signs are cosmetic. Others point to systems that are decades past their safe service life. In Sunset Park and Park Slope rowhouses raised in the pre-war era, the gap between a surface problem and a serious one is not always obvious. These five indicators go beyond aesthetics.
Pre-war buildings frequently still carry original 60-amp fuse boxes. That service level cannot safely support a modern kitchen, let alone central AC. Insurers flag it. Co-op boards reject it. Our Electrical Services includes full panel upgrades to bring your service up to current DOB standards.
These are not paint problems. They are plumbing problems. Aging cast iron stacks and galvanized supply lines corrode from the inside out. What shows on the wall or floor is usually a fraction of the damage behind it. Call us at (718) 283-4154 before a slow leak becomes a gut renovation.
Racking in a brownstone's masonry structure shifts frames out of square over decades. This signals foundation settling or structural movement. Cosmetic work should not start until a structural assessment confirms what is actually moving.
Original pre-war kitchens and bathrooms often have galvanized supply lines, cast iron drains, and zero GFCI protection. All three are outside current NYC code. See what a full Kitchen Remodeling is involved before you decide how far to go.
Compartmentalized pre-war floor plans divide livable square footage into small closed rooms separated by non-structural walls. Many of those walls can come down. Opening the layout is one of the most cost-effective changes a rowhouse owner can make.
Home renovation in Brooklyn, NY is priced by scope, property type, and the conditions found once demolition begins, so a single number rarely holds. A bathroom gut, a full kitchen, and a floor-through gut renovation each sit in very different budget ranges, and pre-war buildings often add cost for lead-safe work practices, panel upgrades, and drain stack replacement that only surface after walls open. That is why we build contingency into every scope and put a firm price in writing before you sign. Our guide on How to Budget for a Home Renovation breaks down realistic ranges by project type.
Most pre-war buildings in the borough went up in the decades before World War II. That means the moment demolition starts, you are likely looking at knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized or cast iron supply lines, asbestos pipe insulation, lead paint on nearly every surface, and unreinforced masonry foundations. The street-facing facade can look solid while the interior tells a completely different story. This gap between appearance and actual condition is the primary reason pre-war renovation scopes expand after the walls open. If you are planning a Gut Renovation, budget for discoveries before demolition starts, not after.
The seasonal temperature swing here runs from roughly 28°F to 84°F. That range is hard on masonry. Mortar joints crack, brownstone facades spall, and water infiltrates through gaps that widen every time temperatures drop below freezing. Basement moisture intrusion follows. Exterior materials and repair methods must be specified for this cycle specifically, not for a milder climate. Repointing with a mortar matched to the original lime content matters here, since a mortar that is too hard accelerates spalling on soft pre-war brick.
Rowhouses in Brooklyn vary widely in age, construction quality, and how prior work was performed. Moisture intrusion, aging framing, and improper past repairs can all contribute to settlement and structural concerns. Before any structural renovation, the foundation needs a proper assessment. Shared party walls mean one building's settlement or movement directly affects the neighbor's structure. That is not a suburban problem. It is a specific risk that requires experienced eyes before a single footing is touched. Our Plumbing Services also address aging supply lines in older buildings, where lead or mineral contamination can surface during renovation even in areas with relatively soft municipal water.
The age of the building stock, moisture exposure, and aging materials here make renovation more complex than newer suburban construction. Done right, the results are worth it.
Most licensed general contractors in Brooklyn handle one or two trades. We handle all of them, and our reviews from Williamsburg apartments to Dyker Heights rowhouses back that up. Here is what sets us apart.
Kitchen, bathroom, Electrical Services, Plumbing Services, Flooring Installation, and painting all fall to our crew. You are not chasing down a separate plumber, electrician, and finish carpenter on three different schedules, and when a detail needs correcting, one team owns the fix.
Contractor reliability is a documented problem in the NYC market. Our customers say something different. Reviewers specifically note that Mike and Gus "showed up on time every day" and delivered "immediate help always." One customer described the crew as "professional and very easy to work with" who "completed the work quickly, efficiently." That track record is not accidental. It is how we operate on every job, from a single-room gut to a full brownstone overhaul.
We have earned consistent recognition from property owners across the borough. Customers cite work ranging from ornate lobby baseboard matching in pre-war buildings to mold remediation and electrical outlet installation. Read more about our team and track record on the About Melani General Contractor page. We are based at 343 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215.
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 permits, knowledge, licensed trades, and direct oversight.
Melani General Contractor handles every phase of your home renovation in Brooklyn, NY, from the first permit filing to the final coat of paint. Whether you own a rowhouse in Dyker Heights, a pre-war apartment in Greenpoint, or a brownstone in Bed-Stuy, we're based at 343 4th Ave and ready to get to work. Call General Contractor at (718) 283-4154 or request an estimate online.
Yes. Most structural, electrical, and plumbing work requires a permit from the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). That includes electrical panel upgrades, plumbing rerouting, load-bearing wall removal, and any change to the building's footprint or use. Skipping permits creates real problems at sale or refinance. We file all required permits and coordinate DOB inspections as part of the project scope. Properties in Landmarks-designated districts require an additional review layer before work begins. See Do You Need a Permit to Renovate in NYC? What Homeowners Need to Know for a full breakdown.
A bathroom renovation typically runs two to four weeks. A full kitchen runs four to eight weeks. A Gut Renovation covering a full floor or entire brownstone runs four to six months or longer. DOB permit processing adds two to six weeks at the front end. We provide a project schedule at the outset so you know the timeline before work starts.
Costs vary by scope, property type, and existing conditions. A pre-war home renovation in Dyker Heights or Greenpoint will price differently than a post-war apartment in Flatbush. We provide a written scope and a firm price before any contract is signed. Read our guide on How to Budget for a Home Renovation for realistic cost ranges by project type.
Yes. We prepare the full documentation package co-op boards typically require: licensed contractor credentials, a certificate of insurance naming the building's management company, DOB permit copies, and a construction schedule. Getting this documentation right up front avoids delays that push your start date back by weeks.
In housing stock raised before World War II, opening walls routinely surfaces lead paint, aging wiring, galvanized supply lines, deteriorating cast iron drain stacks, and unreinforced masonry. None of that stops the project. We document existing conditions during the site walk and build contingency into the scope. Review 6 Interior Demolition Mistakes NYC Property Managers Make to understand what poor planning looks like by comparison.
We coordinate all trades through licensed tradespeople who work with us consistently, not one-off subs pulled from a list. The gap between a GC who manages subcontractors loosely and one who maintains consistent trade relationships is schedule reliability and accountability when something needs correction. Read more about Contractor vs. Subcontractor: What's the Difference and Why It Matters before you hire anyone.
Your renovation starts with a site walk and a written scope. Call (718) 283-4154 or request an estimate online. No generic pitch, just a clear plan for your specific property.
