Full Home Renovation Contractors NYC

What Does a Full Home Renovation Consist Of?

A full home renovation in New York City is a meticulous and transformative process that encompasses the complete overhaul of your residence, turning the space into a harmonious and modern residence. The renovation goes beyond mere superficial updates, reimagining your entire home, room by room, and system by system (think updating plumbing, electric, mechanicals, etc…). This comprehensive approach ensures every aspect of your home is carefully considered and renovated to achieve a cohesive and contemporary design that not only reflects your personal style but also caters to the unique demands of metropolitan living.

Benefits Of Full Home Renovations In NEw York City

Optimal Space Utilization

In the space-constrained landscape of NYC, every square foot counts. Full home renovations allow for a strategic redesign of your home's layout, maximizing space utilization and functionality. This can mean creating open-concept living areas, optimizing storage solutions, and crafting custom layouts that perfectly suit your needs.

Enhanced Property Value

The real estate market in NYC is highly competitive and ever-evolving. A full home renovation is a strategic investment that can significantly boost your property's value. A modern, well-designed New York City home not only commands a higher price on the market but also attracts discerning buyers looking for move-in-ready properties.

Overhauling Outdated Systems

Many older homes in NYC may have outdated electrical, plumbing, or HVAC systems that can be costly and inefficient. Full home renovations offer the opportunity to update and modernize these essential systems, ensuring energy efficiency, safety, and long-term savings on utility bills.

Consistent Aesthetic

NYC is renowned for its eclectic mix of architectural styles. A full home renovation allows you to harmonize the aesthetic of your entire property, ensuring a consistent and appealing design throughout. From exterior facades to interior finishes, you can create a unified look that showcases your personal taste and elevates your home's curb appeal.

The Design-Build Approach Explained

We’re often asked why we’re different from other firms in NYC. See how our full-service design-build approach compares to competitive renovation models:

More Streamlined Than Traditional General Contractors

While searching ‘general contractors in Manhattan’ may be the first route that comes to mind when renovating in NYC, this age-old path to your dream home is not always the straightest. Hiring a traditional design-bid-build general contractor usually requires additional design support you must source and manage yourself, plus complicated permit and approval work most homeowners are unfamiliar with. For more information, read Design-Build Vs General Contractor: What’s The Difference?

More Control And Lower Cost Than Independent Architects

On the opposite end of the spectrum is an independent architect. Hiring an independent architect may result in less work for the client, but this route can also become a burdensome partnership. Since independent architects often act with their own interests in mind, clients get very little input in the design process and wind up paying exorbitant material costs for interior design that may not even suit their style. Plus, since independent architects outsource the construction, you’re often not seeing the full scope of costs until after designs are completed - which could take up to six months in some circumstances.

‍We design the project, then we build the project.

For more information, read What Kind Of Architect Is Best For Your NYC Apartment Renovation?‍

Our Process for
Full Home Renovations

If you’re looking for a quick turnaround renovation, you’re in the wrong place. Our full home renovation process is all-inclusive and comprehensive as any offered in NYC. Below is a breakdown of every aspect of our complete renovation process, from the initial consultation to the final handover, offering a detailed overview of what to expect when partnering with Gallery.

Phase 1 - Inspections, Diagnostic Testing, And Risk Management

The pre-construction phase is where we formally test and assess for problematic conditions, including those identified in the initial walk through. Because of their intrusive and costly nature, these tests can only be performed once our client is the formal owner of the property and has formally retained us. While initial walk-throughs are where we typically identify site conditions that have the potential to cause problems for the desired scope and design intent, this is when the actual diagnostic testing is performed. These tests typically consist of:

• Electrical Load Test: Determines whether the existing electrical amperage is sufficient for the proposed load or whether an upgrade of existing amperage (or reduction of electrical demand) is required
• Asbestos Test: Determines whether proposed areas of demolition contain asbestos that either needs to be remediated or planned around
• Wall Probes: Determines whether unforeseen obstructions exist inside walls that are proposed to be moved or removed

Phase 2 - Formal Design And Material Procurement

The most hands-on aspect of any interior renovation is finding the right materials for the chosen design style. That entails paint color, accent walls, flooring style, mouldings, fixtures, countertops, and more. As a full-service design-build firm in NYC, we take on the design, sourcing, and procurement of every permanent fixture needed for your full home renovation.

That overarching expertise also allows us to accommodate every architectural and interior design adjustment required, whether that’s tearing down a wall to open up your footprint or extending the back of your townhome for more square footage. We handle all architectural planning plus filings on your behalf via our award winning in-house design team and architects.

Once we have identified all site conditions, we finalize all details of the floor plan and present material selection options to choose from. This phase typically includes:

• Design meetings at our design studio and outside showrooms
• Receiving and inspection of all ordered finishes and fixtures
• Procurement of all selected finishes and fixtures
• Review of 2D and 3D lifelike renderings, plus review and approval of all material options and design plans. The kitchen render below is from our Manhattan condo renovation at The Chelsea Mercantile on 252 Seventh Ave. The following image is the completed kitchen.

Phase 3 - Building Submission

Much of the submission phase runs parallel to the design phase and although we start the building alteration submission process early on in the planning phase, it is once all architectural plans are finalized that we can complete the submission process both to the building management company along with the NYC Dept of Buildings.

We work with our client’s building management company and building-hired reviewing architects to satisfy all requirements needed to obtain formal approval by the building. If our client lives in a private home, this step is skipped. Once approval from building management is obtained, we submit the plans to NYC Dept of Buildings for approval and permitting.

Phase 4 - DOB Submission, Approval, And Permits

Navigating co-op boards, management companies, and city agencies can be quite cumbersome. That’s why we take on the production and filing of all architectural plans along with obtaining all building, plumbing, and electrical permits from the NYC Department Of Buildings. At times this also includes handling landmarked-related approvals with the LPC.

Phase 5 - Production Calendar & Logistics

With all specifics accounted for, our project management team builds a full, detailed timeline and production calendar. This means scheduling all aspects of the renovation, from client meetings and inspections to delivery, demo, and installation dates. By adhering to a strict timeline our seasoned project managers can properly coordinate all parties involved and accurately meet milestones throughout the project. 

Why Choose Gallery for Full Home Renovations in NYC?

Constant, Clear Communication

One of our core principles is to keep an open line of communication at all times. We do this by offering regular site visits and phone calls, plus a mobile project management app to track all the steps of the job, material selections or questions, and anything else to discuss. You know what we know – every step of the way.

Extensive Planning To Avoid Unexpected Costs & Change Orders

With a full-service team of design and construction professionals experienced in the complexities of NYC apartment renovations, our all-inclusive design-build approach makes change orders and mid-project budget adjustments much less likely.

Board Approval And Permit Pros

We take on the responsibility of handling all red tape involved in apartment renovations in NYC, at no additional cost. This includes reviewing and satisfying a board’s alteration agreement, filing all relevant architectural plans with the Department Of Buildings, and procurement of all necessary permits. We also handle all LPC approvals and requirements.

Upper West Side Pre-war Co-op Renovation | 801 West End Ave

When we were hired for this co-op renovation on the Upper West Side, the dated pre-war space needed some work. The family purchased the Manhattan home near Broadway with the intention of reinvigorating the spacious property without losing the historic character. With a speciality in pre-war renovations in NYC, we were happily up for the challenge. View the full apartment combination before and after.

Brooklyn Brownstone Gut Renovation | Carroll Gardens

Brownstones as beautiful as those on president street in carroll gardens rarely enter the market. When our client was able to purchase the landmarked beauty they grew up in, they not only jumped on the opportunity, they doubled down with a full gut brownstone renovation that reconfigured the space into a modern, more breathable home for raising their next generation. The full home renovation included various layout adjustments, modern renovations throughout the entire space, and a sunken dining room extension w/backyard access & dual skylight. View the full apartment renovation before and after.

Helpful Articles For Full Home Renovations In NYC

Looking for more information on full home renovations or gut renovations in New York City? View our full Renovation & Design Blog or dig into one of our highlighted articles below: 

• Gut Renovations In New York City 101
• NYC Apartment Renovation Costs In 2023: Costs Per Square Foot
• Value Comparison: Buying A Turnkey Apartment Vs Renovating A Fixer Upper In Manhattan

The Top Choice For Full Home Renovations In NYC

Thinking about renovating your NYC apartment? As a full-service design-build firm in New York City, Gallery delivers full-service apartment renovations from start to finish, handling everything from interior design and architectural planning to building and board management approval, plus construction with project management. We’re experts in pre-war apartment renovations, apartment combinations, room creations, full gut renovations and all that falls in between. For more information, view our portfolio of NYC apartment renovation before and afters, learn more about Gallery, or contact us below.