What we build in Brooklyn
Nine disciplines. One standard.
Brownstone gut renovations, rear-yard extensions, parquet sand-and-refinish, and the full bath/kitchen workstream make up most of the Brooklyn portfolio. Same standard whether the project is a four-floor brownstone or a single-bath remodel in a modern condo.
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Bathroom remodeling
Brownstone primary suites, rowhouse secondary baths, and condo powder rooms. Period-appropriate fixtures where original details are being preserved; full waterproofing under every wet wall regardless of building age.
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Kitchen remodeling
Custom cabinetry sized to brownstone-narrow kitchens, slab quartz or marble countertops, and rear-yard glass doors when the project includes an extension. Original plaster preserved where it survives.
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Apartment, co-op & condo remodeling
Brooklyn co-op governance is lighter than Manhattan on average, but alteration agreements still apply. We draft the package, manage board comments, and run the DOB filing in parallel.
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Full home remodeling
Multi-floor brownstone gut renovations are the dominant Brooklyn full-home build. Original parquet, plaster, and marble fireplaces preserved; new mechanical systems, kitchens, and baths threaded through the existing envelope.
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Marble & natural stone
Slab marble and quartz on kitchen countertops and bath vanities. Restoration of original brownstone marble fireplaces — cleaned, repaired, or rebuilt from castings when sections are missing.
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Tile installation
Large-format porcelain, hand-laid mosaic, hand-glazed ceramic. Original tile patterns referenced in new design when the brownstone has surviving period details. Schluter waterproofing under every wet wall.
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Flooring installation
Sand-and-refinish on original brownstone parquet (red oak, white oak, American chestnut depending on era). Engineered wood with acoustic underlayment for upper-floor co-op and condo work.
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Basement remodeling
Brownstone cellar finishing — subject to NYC ceiling-height code. We confirm what is permitable on the consultation. Egress, moisture mitigation, and mechanical relocation handled in scope.
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Home additions
Rear-yard extensions are the dominant Brooklyn addition type — kitchen, sunroom, or family room facing the garden. DOB-permitted; landmarks-district approval handled when the rear elevation falls inside an LPC zone.
Materials & Standards
Six standards. No shortcuts.
What holds a Brooklyn remodel together is the part nobody photographs — the waterproofing under tile, the membrane behind a feature wall, the pressure-tested supply line in a 120-year-old plaster wall. We don't compromise on any of it, brownstone or condo.
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Waterproofing.
Schluter or RedGard membrane on every wet wall and shower floor. Pan slope verified before tile. Linear, point, or trough drains — same standard, no exceptions. Critical in brownstones where the original cast-iron drains and the cellar below have their own moisture history.
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Tile.
Dry-laid mockup before adhesive. Mitred outside corners on natural stone. Hand-laid mosaic feature walls. Original brownstone tile patterns referenced when surviving details inform the new design.
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Stone.
Calacatta, Carrara, statuario slab. Bookmatched walls and waterfall vanities templated on site. Original brownstone marble fireplaces cleaned, repaired, or rebuilt from castings when sections are missing.
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Fixtures.
Brass and bronze supply lines, pressure-tested before walls close. Premium valves, thermostatic shower controls, and smart-shower diverters — installed to manufacturer spec. DOB-compliant plumbing throughout.
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Glass & feature walls.
Frameless shower enclosures, low-iron clear glass, mitred outside corners — nothing thinner than 3/8". Lit niche details and bookmatched feature walls planned in framing, not bolted on after tile.
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Smart-home & lighting.
Heated electric or hydronic floors, app-controlled shower valves, pre-wired smart mirrors, motion-sensor niche lighting, integrated audio. Roughed in during framing, never after tile.
Process
Four steps. No surprises.
Same four-step process as every project. Brooklyn-specific work in a landmarks-district adds a Landmarks Preservation Commission review on the front end — figure 6 to 14 weeks depending on scope. We sequence LPC review and the DOB filing in parallel so demo starts the day approvals land.
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Free consultation
On site or by video. We measure, photograph the existing space, and walk through scope. Same-day response on most inquiries.
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Design and scope
Drawings, finish selections in three tiers, and a written line-item proposal. You see exactly what’s in and what’s out before you sign.
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Build
Floor protection in place before tools arrive, dust barriers up before demo. In-house tile and stone setters, trusted licensed plumbers, daily clean-down.
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Walk-through and warranty
Final punch, deep clean, and the 2-year written workmanship warranty. Pass-through manufacturer warranties on tile, fixtures, and cabinetry.
Featured Projects
Recent Brooklyn builds. Built to last.
A recent Brooklyn build — brownstone-era housing stock with original details preserved alongside new mechanical systems. Links to the full case study with the permit timeline, materials list, and build sequence.
Service Areas
Where we build.
We’re based in Newark, NJ, and we work across the NYC metro from there. Five boroughs, Long Island, Yonkers, and northern New Jersey are all on the standard route.
And 30+ surrounding cities within a 50-mile radius of Newark, NJ
FAQs
Brooklyn-specific questions.
Brownstone preservation, rear-yard extensions, landmarks-district review, co-op alteration agreements, and townhouse-street logistics — the things that decide whether a Brooklyn remodel ships on time.
Do you remodel Brooklyn brownstones?
Yes — brownstone work is a meaningful share of our Brooklyn portfolio. Original details (parquet floors, plaster crown moldings, marble fireplaces, original casement windows, parlor-floor doorways) are preserved where possible and replaced with period-appropriate match where necessary. We've handled stoop and facade work that requires landmarks-district approval, full-house gut renovations across multiple floors, and parlor-floor-only renovations where the homeowner stays on another level.
Can you do a rear-yard extension on a Brooklyn townhouse?
Yes. Rear-yard extensions are a common Brooklyn project — typically to expand a kitchen or add a sunroom or family room facing the garden. They require a DOB filing, sometimes zoning review depending on the lot, and (in landmarks districts) Landmarks Preservation Commission approval for the rear elevation. We file every permit and handle the LPC review when applicable. Add 8 to 16 weeks for approvals on a landmarks-district project.
What about Brooklyn co-ops and condos?
Less governance-heavy than Manhattan on average, but still typically full alteration agreement for co-op work. Brooklyn condos vary widely — some are nearly as strict as Manhattan high-end, some are quite light. We confirm building rules during the consultation and adjust the timeline accordingly.
Do you work in landmarked districts?
Yes. Several Brooklyn neighborhoods are within Landmarks Preservation Commission designated districts, which means exterior work — facade restoration, window replacement, stoop changes, dormer additions — requires LPC approval. Interior work in a landmarked district usually doesn't trigger LPC review, but exterior changes universally do. Approval timelines run 6 to 14 weeks depending on the scope and the district.
Can you preserve and restore original Brooklyn brownstone details?
Yes. Original parquet floors get sanded and refinished where possible (red oak, white oak, or American chestnut depending on era). Plaster crown moldings are patched, skim-coated, and painted; missing sections are reproduced from castings. Marble fireplaces are cleaned, repaired, or restored. Original casement windows are repaired (sash kits, glazing replacement) rather than replaced when feasible — historically appropriate windows match better and often outperform modern replacements when properly maintained.
How long is the drive from Newark to Brooklyn?
About 30 to 50 minutes door-to-door, depending on routing and traffic. We typically use the Verrazzano Bridge from Staten Island, or Manhattan crossings (Holland Tunnel + Manhattan Bridge or Brooklyn Bridge) depending on the destination. South Brooklyn is closest via Verrazzano; north Brooklyn (closer to Manhattan) is faster via Manhattan crossings.
Do you do single-family homes in Brooklyn?
Yes. Outside the brownstone belt, Brooklyn has substantial single-family detached and semi-detached housing — bath, kitchen, basement, and full-home renovations all in scope. Single-family work runs more like our Long Island portfolio than our Manhattan portfolio (less alteration agreement, more zoning review, more basement and addition work).
What about parking and material delivery on a Brooklyn brownstone street?
Brownstone streets are tighter than suburban driveways. We coordinate material deliveries (cabinetry, slab stone, appliances) at scheduled times to avoid blocking traffic, get block-party-style permits where required for a delivery truck to park temporarily, and stage smaller materials in the cellar or sidewalk-level entry. The first day's delivery is usually the most complicated; once we're set up, daily logistics smooth out.
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