Your Trusted General Contractor in Manhattan
Melani General Contractor delivers professional renovation services for Manhattan’s demanding residential properties. The borough’s dense concentration of pre-war co-ops, postwar condominiums, historic townhouses, and converted lofts requires contractors who understand alteration agreement processes, strict building management protocols, and the unique structural systems found in buildings ranging from 1850s rowhouses to 1960s high-rises. Our licensed team manages complete renovations for apartments, co-ops and condos, townhouses, and lofts across every Manhattan neighborhood. Call (718) 283-4154 for your free on-site estimate.
Comprehensive Renovation Services Across Manhattan
Manhattan’s housing stock is dominated by managed buildings with strict renovation protocols. Every project requires navigating board approvals, building management coordination, and compliance with both DOB and building-specific requirements. Our experience with Manhattan’s regulatory environment ensures smooth project execution.
Apartment Renovation
Manhattan apartment renovations range from cosmetic refreshes to complete gut renovations in pre-war co-ops and postwar condos. We handle open floor plan conversions, bedroom reconfigurations, and full mechanical system upgrades — all within the constraints of building-mandated work hours, freight elevator schedules, and neighbor notification requirements.
Kitchen Remodeling
Manhattan kitchen renovations maximize limited square footage with space-efficient layouts, custom cabinetry designed for compact footprints, and premium finishes. Pre-war kitchens frequently require complete plumbing and electrical system upgrades, gas line modifications, and structural work for layout changes.
Bathroom Renovation
Manhattan bathrooms present unique challenges: shared plumbing stacks requiring building coordination for shutdowns, pre-war cast iron drain connections, and tight spaces demanding creative design. We install walk-in showers, heated floors, custom vanities, and modern fixtures with proper waterproofing over finished spaces below.
Co-op and Condo Renovation
The majority of Manhattan apartments are co-ops or condos with board approval requirements. We prepare complete alteration agreement packages, coordinate with building management on construction logistics, maintain required insurance certificates, and comply with all building protocols throughout the renovation.
Townhouse Renovation
Manhattan’s townhouses — including limestone, brownstone, and Federal-style rowhouses on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, West Village, and Harlem — require multi-floor renovation planning, structural engineering for modifications, and often Landmarks Preservation Commission approval for exterior work.
Loft Renovation
SoHo, Tribeca, Chelsea, and the Flatiron District feature converted industrial lofts with open floor plans, high ceilings, and exposed structural elements. We design and build custom partitions, mezzanines, kitchens, and bathrooms within these distinctive spaces, often working with concrete slab construction that requires core-drilling for plumbing.
Trade Services
We provide standalone plumbing, electrical, flooring, and painting services throughout Manhattan. Common needs include panel upgrades from outdated 60-amp service, galvanized pipe replacement, hardwood floor refinishing in pre-war apartments, and plaster repair with skim coating.
The Manhattan Building and Renovation Landscape
Manhattan’s residential stock consists primarily of pre-war elevator buildings constructed between 1900 and 1940, postwar high-rises from the 1950s through 1970s, and rowhouse townhouses dating to the mid-1800s. These structures feature load-bearing masonry walls, cast iron plumbing stacks, and knob-and-tube or early BX electrical systems in older properties. The Upper West Side and Upper East Side contain the highest concentration of pre-war co-ops, while SoHo and Tribeca feature converted industrial lofts. The West Village, Greenwich Village, and East Village mix townhouses with walk-up apartment buildings, each with their own renovation characteristics.
Renovation work in Manhattan must address original steam heating infrastructure, outdated vertical plumbing risers, and inadequate electrical panels — all while working within the strict logistical constraints of dense urban construction.
Common Renovation Challenges in Manhattan
Building Management Coordination: Manhattan’s managed buildings enforce strict renovation protocols including designated work hours (typically 8am–5pm weekdays), freight elevator reservations, floor protection requirements, and construction insurance minimums that often exceed standard coverage.
Pre-War Building Systems: Cast iron plumbing stacks, knob-and-tube wiring, and original steam heating systems require specialized replacement approaches. Plumbing stack tie-ins must be coordinated with building management and neighboring units for water shutdowns.
Material Delivery Logistics: Manhattan’s lack of staging areas, loading dock limitations, and parking restrictions require precise delivery scheduling. Materials must be moved through freight elevators during assigned time windows, adding coordination complexity to every project.
Sound Attenuation: Co-op and condo boards require minimum STC/IIC sound ratings for new flooring installations. We install approved underlayment systems and can provide acoustic test reports for board review.Lead Paint and Asbestos: Pre-war Manhattan apartments commonly contain lead paint and asbestos materials. Our EPA certification (NAT-F277952-1) ensures compliant handling during demolition and renovation.
Why Choose Melani General Contractor in Manhattan
Our Renovation Process
Step 1
On-Site Consultation
We visit your Manhattan property, assess conditions, review building-specific 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.
Step 3
Permits and Approvals
We file DOB applications, prepare board packages, submit LPC applications when required, and obtain all permits.
Step 4
Construction
Our crews handle demolition, structural work, mechanical rough-in, and finish work — flooring, cabinetry, tile, painting, and hardware.
Step 5
Final Inspection and Walkthrough
We coordinate DOB inspections, restore common areas, and conduct a detailed walkthrough before closeout.
Manhattan Neighborhoods We Serve
Battery Park City
Chelsea
East Village
Financial District
Gramercy Park
Greenwich Village
Harlem
Hell’s Kitchen
Lower East Side
Midtown
Murray Hill
SoHo
Tribeca
Upper East Side
Upper West Side
Washington Heights
West Village
Other Boroughs We Serve
See What Our Customers Have To Say
Schedule Your Manhattan Renovation Consultation
Melani General Contractor provides detailed project estimates following on-site assessments at your Manhattan property. We evaluate existing conditions, review building 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 Manhattan
Timelines vary by scope: cosmetic updates take 2–4 weeks, kitchen or bathroom renovations 6–12 weeks, and full gut renovations 3–6+ months. Board approval processes and building-mandated work hour restrictions often extend Manhattan project timelines compared to other boroughs.
Most boards require architectural plans, alteration agreements, contractor insurance certificates naming the co-op as additional insured, neighbor notification letters, and construction schedules. Some buildings require pre-renovation inspections and security deposits.
Apartment gut renovations typically range from $200–$450+ per square foot. Kitchen remodels run $35,000–$100,000+. Manhattan costs are higher than other boroughs due to building logistics, delivery constraints, and restricted work hours.
Yes. We prepare and submit LPC applications, source period-appropriate materials, and complete exterior work that satisfies preservation guidelines in Greenwich Village, SoHo-Cast Iron, Upper East Side, and other designated historic districts.
We schedule all work within building-mandated hours, which are typically 8am–5pm weekdays in most Manhattan buildings. Our project management approach maximizes productivity within these windows to maintain schedule efficiency.
Higher material delivery costs due to lack of staging areas, building insurance and deposit requirements, restricted work hours extending project timelines, prevalence of pre-war construction requiring specialized techniques, and premium finish expectations all contribute to Manhattan’s higher renovation costs.