Where to Start When Remodeling a House on Long Island: A Complete Guide for Homeowners
Remodeling a home on Long Island can feel overwhelming—between permits, design decisions, budgeting, and choosing the right materials, it’s hard to know where to begin. As a design–build firm that has worked throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties for years, we guide clients through this process every day. Below is a practical, transparent breakdown of how to start, what to expect, and the professional insights that will help your remodel run smoothly and efficiently.
1. Where to Start When Remodeling a House
The first question many homeowners have is: Where do I even begin?
If you’re unsure where to start, it’s usually because you don’t yet have a design plan—and that’s completely normal. The first step is connecting you with one of our trusted architects. These are architects we’ve worked closely with for years, and they handle the architectural drawings, the scope definition, and the permitting requirements for major remodels.
Once the architect completes the plans, we step back in to finalize the interior design elements. Architects typically don’t select fixtures, finishes, paint colors, flooring, tile, or other stylistic elements—that’s where our design-build team adds tremendous value. We help you complete the design so that by the time construction begins, your project has clear plans, clear selections, and a clear vision.
2. Common Mistakes Homeowners Make at the Start
One of the biggest early-stage challenges is budget transparency. Many homeowners are hesitant to discuss their true budget with contractors, worrying that we’ll simply “use all of it.” For that reason, they often have this conversation more openly with architects.
Being upfront about your budget—both with us and your architect—helps keep your scope and final selections realistic and aligned with your goals. Without that clarity, homeowners sometimes design a project that far exceeds what they intended to spend.
3. Gut Renovation vs. Addition vs. Cosmetic Remodels
Your approach depends entirely on the type of project:
Gut Renovations & Additions
These always require architectural plans and permits. You may be adding a bathroom, relocating a kitchen, moving walls, or altering structural components. In these cases, an architect is essential for both design and permitting.
Small Room-by-Room Remodels
If the updates are cosmetic—replacing a light fixture in the same location, installing new tile, painting, replacing flooring—an architect is usually not needed because no permits are required. These projects move faster and are more straightforward.
4. How We Help Homeowners Establish a Realistic Budget
We use a combination of methods depending on your needs:
Per-Square-Foot Costs for Specific Items
For standardized work—painting, trim installation, certain carpentry tasks—we use fixed per-square-foot pricing.
Historical Project Ranges
If you just need a quick verbal ballpark for a whole-house project, we reference similar past projects to provide a rough range.
Formal Line-by-Line Cost Proposals
If you enter a Pre-Construction Agreement with us, we prepare a detailed, paid proposal with every line item broken out. This includes per-square-foot pricing where appropriate, along with specific labor, material, and finish costs. This is the most accurate way to understand your total cost.
5. Do We Structure Remodels in Phases?
We can—but we strongly recommend doing the full scope of work at once whenever possible.
Phasing a remodel over months or years often increases the total cost because:
Material and labor prices rise yearly.
Subcontractors charge more for repeated mobilizations.
You may have to undo work from Phase 1 to complete Phase 2, wasting money.
If your budget doesn’t support the full scope right now, it's often better to adjust the scope or explore financing rather than phasing. This ensures efficiency, reduces disruption, and saves money long-term.
6. Dust Protection, Plastic Sheeting & Jobsite Setup
We tailor dust protection to the scope of your project and whether you’ll be living in the home during construction.
Poly Sheeting for Light-Duty Work
For smaller, low-dust projects, standard poly sheeting taped off is sufficient and cost-effective.
ZipWall & Zipper Doors for Heavy-Duty Remodels
For dust-heavy work—or when homeowners are living in the home—we use more substantial barrier systems like ZipWall or zipper doors. These systems cost more but provide superior containment.
Floor Protection Is Always Included
We protect floors with Ram Board or similar products to prevent scratches and damage from foot traffic, unless the flooring itself is being replaced.
Air Scrubbers & Negative Air Pressure
These are not included by default but are available upon request. Many homeowners choose to skip them due to cost, but we gladly provide them for clients who want the highest level of air-quality protection.
7. Which Remodels Deliver the Best ROI on Long Island?
The remodels that tend to deliver the best return on investment are those future buyers are least interested in tackling themselves:
Exterior Improvements
New siding
Landscaping
New front doors
New windows
These make an immediate impact on curb appeal, and most buyers prefer to customize interiors later.
Interior Work: Keep It Market-Appropriate
ROI drops when homeowners over-customize. If you live in a middle-income neighborhood and install ultra-high-end finishes, the next buyer may not pay the premium you invested.
Sticking with stylish but broadly appealing finishes helps protect your home’s value.
8. Trends in Long Island Buyer Preferences
Current preferences in Nassau & Suffolk include:
Exterior: Modern Farmhouse
Charcoal asphalt roofs
White board-and-batten siding
Black windows & shutters
This look is extremely popular and instantly modernizes older homes.
Interior: Manhattan-Inspired Sophistication
Because many Long Islanders work in NYC, interior preferences often reflect Manhattan design trends:
Statement marble
White oak flooring
Brass-toned lighting
Clean, modern millwork
Homes that incorporate these elements often show stronger resale appeal.
9. Permits: What Always Requires One
In towns like Huntington, Oyster Bay, and others across Long Island, the following always require permits:
Additions and extensions
Garage conversions
Building a pool
Gut renovations involving moving fixtures or walls
Anything affecting the structure, footprint, or building systems requires architectural plans and formal permitting.
10. Permits That Often Surprise Homeowners
A common example is building a new deck. Many people assume that because a deck is outdoors, no permit is required—but this is not the case. In our experience, all towns we have worked in on Long Island require a permit for new decks, and many existing decks are unfortunately unpermitted without homeowners realizing it.
11. How Long Do Permits Take?
Permit timelines vary significantly by town.
Factors that affect timing include:
How quickly your architect completes drawings
The municipality’s staff size and workload
Whether the plan examiner requests revisions
The complexity of your project
Large towns with bigger staff may move faster; smaller villages may take longer.
Emergency Permits Are Expedited
If your home suffered a fire or flood, your architect can apply for an emergency permit that moves quickly because the town understands you need to re-occupy your home urgently.
All other projects move through the standard queue.
12. Remodeling vs. Renovation: What’s the Difference?
You can think of it this way:
Renovation
Primarily cosmetic
No structural changes
Typically does not require permits
Examples: painting, tile, flooring, replacing fixtures in the same location
Remodeling
Structural changes
Moving walls, changing layouts, adding bathrooms, etc.
Always requires permits
Often requires an architect
Homeowners sometimes mix up the terms, but once we explain this distinction, it becomes very clear.
13. Recessed Lighting: Brand Preferences & Budget Options
Lighting brands are usually selected by the architect or interior designer, but when we handle the selections directly, the homeowner’s budget guides our recommendations:
High-End Options
Visual Comfort Architectural Lighting
DMF Lighting
Dals Lighting
Budget-Friendly Options
HALO (Home Depot)
Cree (Home Depot/Lowe’s)
These are reliable, accessible options that still provide good performance.
14. Common Lighting Mistakes Homeowners Make
When homeowners plan lighting without professional help, we commonly see:
Poor spacing
Too many or too few recessed lights
Cans that are too large for the room
Incorrect color temperatures
Trims that don’t suit the design
On Long Island, one of the most frequent missteps is over-lighting—too many cans installed without a proper lighting plan.
Hiring a qualified professional ensures your lighting feels intentional, balanced, and appropriate for the space.
Final Thoughts
Remodeling a home on Long Island is a major investment—financially and emotionally. With the right team guiding you from architectural design through interior selections and permitting, the process becomes far more predictable, enjoyable, and successful. Whether you’re planning a simple room refresh or a full-house transformation, having professionals on your side ensures your remodel is properly designed, budgeted, and executed from start to finish.
If you’re considering a remodel and unsure where to begin, we’re here to walk you through every step.
