You’re not just getting someone to swing a hammer. You’re getting a contractor who picks up when you call, texts you back, and shows up at 3 a.m. if your pipes freeze.
Your kitchen remodel doesn’t drag into month four. Your bathroom renovation doesn’t leave you showering at your neighbor’s house. The job site gets cleaned up at the end of every day, not when someone finally remembers.
You know exactly what’s happening, when it’s happening, and what it costs. No surprise invoices. No ghost crews. No half-finished projects while we move on to the next job. Just clear communication and work that actually gets completed on schedule.
Ray Coleman Home Improvement has been handling residential renovations across Nassau County for over 50 years. That’s not a marketing line—it’s decades of kitchens, bathrooms, dormers, and whole house renovations in neighborhoods just like yours.
We’re licensed, insured, and bonded. Ray’s on every job site, working alongside his son and crew. You’re not dealing with a call center or a project manager who’s never held a level.
Locust Valley homeowners have specific expectations. Homes here aren’t starter properties—they’re investments that deserve contractors who understand what’s at stake. We do, and we’ve earned a BuildZoom score that ranks in the top 1% of licensed contractors across New York.
First, we talk. You tell us what you want done—whether it’s a kitchen remodel, bathroom renovation, first-floor overhaul, or an extension. We walk the space, take measurements, and give you a realistic timeline and cost estimate.
Once you’re ready to move forward, we put everything in writing. No vague proposals or handshake agreements. You get a detailed contract that outlines the work, the schedule, and the payment structure.
Then we show up and do the work. Ray or his son is there every day, managing the crew and making sure everything stays on track. You’ll have a direct line to us throughout the project—texts, calls, whatever works for you. At the end of each day, the site gets cleaned up. When the job’s done, it’s actually done. No punch lists that stretch for weeks. Just finished work you can start using.
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We specialize in large-scale residential work: kitchen remodeling, bathroom renovations, whole house renovations, dormers, and extensions. These are the projects we’re set up for and genuinely enjoy doing.
Locust Valley homes often need contractors who can handle high-end finishes and complex layouts without turning the project into a six-month ordeal. Open floor plans are still in high demand here, and we’ve done plenty of them—knocking down walls to combine kitchens, dining rooms, and living spaces into layouts that actually make sense for how people live now.
Bathroom remodeling trends are leaning toward spa-style retreats with smart technology and natural materials. We can execute that vision, but we’re not going to upsell you on features you don’t need. If you want a straightforward, functional bathroom that looks great, we can do that too.
We also handle projects that don’t require permits, which speeds up timelines and reduces red tape. If you’re dealing with frozen pipes or emergency repairs during Long Island’s cold winters, we respond fast—even at 3 a.m. That’s not an exaggeration. It’s something we’ve actually done for clients.
Ask for their license number and verify it with New York State. A legitimate contractor will hand that information over without hesitation. Then ask for proof of general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Don’t just take their word for it—request certificates directly from their insurance provider.
A lot of homeowners skip this step to save money and end up hiring someone unlicensed. That might seem fine until something goes wrong—an injury on your property, subpar work that needs to be redone, or worse, legal consequences that fall on you as the homeowner. Spending a few extra minutes upfront to verify credentials can save you from long-term financial and legal headaches.
We’re licensed, insured, and bonded across Nassau and Suffolk County. You can verify everything before we start, and we’ll provide documentation without you having to ask twice.
Expect your space to be torn apart, then rebuilt better than it was. That’s the reality of remodeling, and anyone who tells you otherwise is setting you up for disappointment.
A typical kitchen remodel involves demolition, potential plumbing and electrical updates, cabinet installation, countertops, backsplash, flooring, and final touches like hardware and fixtures. Depending on the scope, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months. Bathroom renovations follow a similar process but often move faster since the space is smaller.
What separates a good experience from a nightmare is communication and job site management. You should know what’s happening each day, and the site should be cleaned up before the crew leaves. You shouldn’t be left in the dark or stuck navigating a construction zone for weeks longer than planned. We keep you updated throughout, and Ray or his son is on-site daily to make sure the work stays on schedule.
Because they’re juggling too many projects at once and don’t have systems in place to manage communication. Or they’re avoiding you because something’s gone wrong and they don’t want to deal with it.
It’s one of the biggest complaints homeowners have, and it’s completely avoidable. A contractor who respects your time and investment will answer calls, respond to texts, and keep you in the loop without you having to chase them down.
We answer every call and text. That’s not marketing speak—it’s how we operate. Ray’s on the job site every day, so if you need to reach him, you can. If something comes up or the schedule shifts, you’ll hear about it directly from us, not through silence and guesswork. We’ve built our reputation on being reachable and reliable, and that doesn’t change once the contract is signed.
It depends entirely on the scope of work, the finishes you choose, and the condition of your home going in. A first-floor renovation might run anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 or more if you’re reconfiguring layouts, updating systems, and using high-end materials.
Locust Valley homes are often older and well-built, but that can also mean outdated electrical, plumbing, or structural issues that need addressing. Once we open up walls, we sometimes find things that weren’t visible during the initial walkthrough. That’s why a detailed contract and transparent communication matter—you need to know what’s included, what’s not, and how changes will be handled if they come up.
We provide clear estimates upfront and stick to them unless you request changes or we uncover something that genuinely requires additional work. No surprise invoices. No vague line items. Just honest pricing based on the work you’re actually getting.
It depends on what you’re doing. Structural changes, additions, electrical and plumbing work, and anything that alters your home’s footprint usually require permits. Cosmetic updates like painting, flooring, or cabinet replacements typically don’t.
Permits exist to make sure work meets safety codes and doesn’t create problems down the road. Skipping them when they’re required can lead to fines, issues when you sell your home, or complications with your insurance if something goes wrong.
That said, we specialize in projects that don’t require permits, which streamlines timelines and reduces hassle. If your project does need permits, we’ll tell you upfront and help you understand what’s involved. We’re not going to push you toward unpermitted work if it’s not appropriate, and we’re not going to leave you guessing about what’s legal and what’s not.
We show up, we answer the phone, and we finish what we start. That shouldn’t be a differentiator, but in this industry, it is.
Ray’s on every job site. Not just for the walkthrough or the final inspection—every single day, working alongside the crew. You’re not dealing with a rotating cast of subcontractors or a project manager who’s never picked up a tool. When you call or text, you get a response. When something needs attention at 3 a.m.—like frozen pipes in the middle of a Long Island winter—we handle it.
We’ve been doing this for over 50 years, and we’ve earned a top 1% BuildZoom ranking among New York contractors. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because we treat your home like it matters, communicate clearly, and don’t disappear halfway through the job. If you’re looking for a contractor who actually does what they say they’ll do, that’s us.
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