After 20 years of building in Manhattan, these have been our top 8 questions about renovating your apartment
Why is it so expensive to build in
Manhattan?
1 / 8
Besides having the world’s second largest labor rate, Manhattan is an island with no storage space. Buildings have strict work hours, and everything is brought in on a just in time basis, impacting shipping and handling costs. Costs can quickly spiral out of control unless you assemble an experienced, well organized team.
How much will it cost to renovate
my apartment?
2 / 8
For a complete remodel of a Manhattan apartment — including floorplan reconfiguration, new bathrooms, kitchen, flooring, HVAC, and custom millwork — a value-conscious client can expect a starting budget of $400/square foot. Finish selection will take the price to a midrange starting point of $600/square foot and a high-end starting point of $900/square foot.
What’s involved with a kitchen and bathroom
renovation?
3 / 8
The following video explains the difference between different types of kitchen and bathroom renovations and what type of permits are needed depending on the scope of work.
What should I think about when
moving into a new building?
4 / 8
Lighting! The most common type of work is installing lighting and this video explains why.
What permits and approvals do I need to
renovate my apartment?
5 / 8
Apartment renovations generally require two separate approvals.
First, the building’s management must approve the alteration and grant permission for work to begin.
Second, if required, the NYC Department of Buildings (the “DOB”) must also approve the work and grant the construction permit.
Most buildings have a formal approval process. The apartment owner’s engineer/architect will need to provide plans for the proposed work.
The owner must also agree to comply with building work rules, pay the applicable fees, use licensed, insured contractors, and perform the construction with minimal inconvenience to other tenants.
What DOB permits
do I need?
6 / 8
The permit is dependent on the type of work.
● ALT1 — major construction changes use, egress, or occupancy, e.g., commercial to residential.
● ALT2 — construction that does not change use, egress, or occupancy but requires several types of work e.g., plumbing, electrical, installing a new bathroom and electrical outlets, rerouting a gas pipe, and moving a load-bearing wall.
● ALT3 — minor work not affecting use, egress, or occupancy that involves only one type of work, e.g., install a construction fence.
The DOB does not require a permit for painting, plastering, installing millwork, and installing flooring. However, the building must still approve the work and, apart from painting, it cannot be performed by a non-licensed contractor.
Once the work is complete, the DOB passes inspection. Then a Letter of Completion (or, for an ALT1, a new Certificate of Occupancy) is issued.
How do I obtain a DOB permit and
how long does it take?
7 / 8
There are two ways:
1) Full DOB review filing
A DOB examiner reviews and approves your architectural plans, which should be stamped by a licensed NY architect. If you don’t meet the current building code, your plans will be sent back for revision.
Assuming everything is in order, it takes about 6 weeks to obtain a permit.
2) Same Day filing
Most buildings don’t allow Same Day (Professional Certification) filing because the architect certifies compliance with the building current code.
First, check with your building management. Assuming you can do a same-day filing, it takes about 12 weeks to obtain a permit.
When starting a project, what are
the common questions?
8 / 8
Besides having the world’s second largest labor rate, Manhattan is an island with no storage space. Buildings have strict work hours, and everything is brought in on a just in time basis, impacting shipping and handling costs. Costs can quickly spiral out of control unless you assemble an experienced, well organized team.
