Holbrook, NY
Home renovations in Holbrook, NY
High ranches and split-levels near MacArthur Airport. We finish lower levels, redo tired rooms and fix the outside, all with one crew from nearby Medford.
- Fully insured
What Holbrook homes usually need
Holbrook is full of high ranches and split-levels. They're solid houses, and after a few decades they tend to need the same handful of things.
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A lower level that never got finished right
The downstairs den or bottom half of a high ranch often has paneling, a low ceiling full of pipes and a cold floor.
We frame, sheetrock, add a drop ceiling or sheetrock ceiling, and lay vinyl plank that handles a little moisture.
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Original trim and hollow doors
Thin baseboard, narrow casing and hollow-core doors that don't close right are almost standard in houses from that era.
We replace doors and trim together so the gaps are tight and every door swings clean.
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Stained ceilings and cracked corners
Older ceilings show water stains, nail pops and cracks along the seams, especially in the main living area.
We repair the sheetrock, retape the seams and paint the ceiling so the damage doesn't come back through.
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A deck off the kitchen that's gone gray
Many high ranches have a raised deck off the upstairs kitchen, and the boards, stairs and railings wear out.
We replace soft boards and railings, or rebuild the deck when the frame underneath is done.
What we do in Holbrook
Carpentry, walls, floors, tile and exterior work, all from the same crew.
Projects we do in Holbrook
Most Holbrook jobs start with one room and grow into a short list. We handle all of it.
- Finishing the lower level of a high ranch
- Drop ceilings in basements and dens
- Replacing hollow-core doors and trim
- Vinyl plank floors on both levels
- Kitchen cabinet installation
- Bathroom tile updates
- Raised deck repairs and rebuilds
- Roof leak repairs and ceiling fixes
Renovation work in Holbrook
Holbrook sits near MacArthur Airport and straddles the line between the Town of Brookhaven and the Town of Islip. Drive down most streets and you’ll see the same kinds of houses: high ranches, split-levels and a few capes and ranches mixed in, most of them built in the 1960s and 1970s. We know these houses well. Our home base is Medford, a short drive east.
The high ranch lower level
In a lot of Holbrook high ranches, the downstairs is the biggest opportunity. It’s usually half finished: old paneling, a ceiling with pipes and ductwork running across it, a floor that’s cold in the winter, and maybe a small bathroom or laundry area. It’s space you already own that isn’t doing much.
We start by looking at the height, the walls and any signs of moisture. Then we frame where it’s needed, hang sheetrock, and pick the right ceiling. A drop ceiling lets you lift a tile to reach a shutoff. A sheetrock ceiling gives a smooth, one-piece look. We’ll tell you which fits your space. Vinyl plank flooring works well down there because it handles some dampness better than wood. Trim, doors and paint finish it off.
Upstairs updates
Upstairs, most Holbrook houses still have the original trim and hollow-core doors. Replacing them is one of the biggest visual changes you can make without moving a wall. We install new pre-hung doors, new casing and taller baseboard, then caulk and paint so everything lines up. If the walls have cracks or old patches, we smooth them first so the paint looks clean.
Kitchens and bathrooms are common projects too. We install cabinets, tile floors and showers, and handle the sheetrock and paint around them, so one crew takes the room from start to finish.
The raised deck
Lots of high ranches have a deck off the upstairs kitchen, sitting a full story off the ground. After years of weather the boards soften, the stairs get loose and the railings wobble. We check the frame underneath first. If it’s sound, we replace boards and railings. If it isn’t, we rebuild it right.
Getting ready to sell
If you’re getting ready to list, the goal is different: fix what a buyer will notice, and make the rooms photograph well. That usually means patching and painting, new doors and trim in the main rooms, vinyl plank where the carpet is worn, and a power wash of the siding and deck. We walk the house with you, suggest what is worth doing and what is not, and put it all in writing so you know what you are spending before the photographer shows up.
How the job goes
We come out, look at the whole project and give you a written, itemized price that includes a start date and how long the job will take. The crew cleans up every day, and we finish with a walk-through so you can point out anything you want fixed. Call 631-745-9982 or use the form to get your price.
Holbrook renovation questions
Which town do I call about a permit in Holbrook?
Holbrook sits in two towns. Part of it is in the Town of Brookhaven and part is in the Town of Islip, so it depends on which side your house is on. Your tax bill will tell you. Cosmetic work usually doesn't need a permit, but new walls, decks and structural changes often do, so check with your town's building department.
Can you make the downstairs of my high ranch feel less like a basement?
Yes. Better light, a flat ceiling, smooth walls and a warm-looking floor go a long way. We plan the ceiling around the pipes and ducts so you keep as much height as possible.
Do you do both levels in one job?
Yes. A lot of Holbrook homeowners do new doors, trim and flooring upstairs and downstairs at the same time. We put the whole house in one written price with one start date.
Get your price on a Holbrook project.
Tell us about the room or the list, and we'll set up a time to come look. A few photos help a lot.
631-745-9982- Price in writing before any work starts.
- One crew from start to finish.
- Fully insured