Most contractors in Upper Brookville disappear mid-project. Calls go unanswered. Timelines stretch. The job site becomes a disaster zone that disrupts your entire household.
You’re left wondering if they’re even coming back tomorrow. That’s not how we work here.
When your kitchen remodeling or bathroom renovation is underway, the owner is on-site. Every single day. The crew cleans up before they leave—not once the job wraps, but at the end of every shift. You get updates without having to chase anyone down. And when a timeline is set, it’s kept.
No surprises. No excuses. Just the work you were promised, completed exactly how and when it should be.
If you’re planning a first-floor renovation, dormer addition, or whole house remodel, you already know how disruptive construction can be. The difference is whether that disruption lasts three months or six—and whether you’re treated like a priority or an afterthought.
Ray Coleman Home Improvement has been handling large-scale residential projects across Upper Brookville and Nassau County since 1972. That’s over five decades of kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, extensions, and full home transformations.
This is a father-and-son operation. Ray and Ray Jr. work together on every project. You’re not handed off to a rotating crew of subcontractors who’ve never met the owner. The people running your job are the same people who quoted it.
Upper Brookville homes aren’t cookie-cutter. They’re estates with character, space, and specific needs. Many are multi-generational properties where families want to age in place or accommodate adult children moving back home. Others are being updated to reflect modern living while respecting the original architecture. Either way, you need someone who understands what’s at stake—and what’s possible.
First, you call. And someone actually picks up. Not a voicemail. Not an answering service. A real person who can talk through what you’re planning and schedule a time to walk the property.
During that visit, you’ll meet with Ray or Ray Jr. directly. We’ll assess the scope, talk through your goals, and give you a realistic sense of timeline and budget. No pressure. No upselling. Just a straightforward conversation about what the project requires.
Once you move forward, the schedule gets locked in. The crew shows up when they’re supposed to. The owner is there throughout the job—not just at the start and finish. If something needs adjusting, you hear about it immediately. If a question comes up, you get an answer the same day.
At the end of each workday, the site is cleaned. Debris is removed. Tools are stored. You’re not living in a construction zone any longer than necessary. And when the final day arrives, it’s the day that was promised from the beginning—not two weeks later with a list of excuses.
After the work is done, the relationship doesn’t end. If something comes up—a frozen pipe in the middle of winter, an issue that needs attention—you can still reach someone. That’s the difference between a contractor who wants your business and one who wants to keep it.
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Ray Coleman Home Improvement specializes in projects that transform how you live in your home. That means kitchen remodeling, bathroom renovations, first-floor overhauls, dormers, extensions, and whole house renovations. These aren’t small cosmetic updates—they’re structural, functional changes that require experience and precision.
In Upper Brookville, many homeowners are dealing with older homes that need modernization without losing their charm. Others are adding space for aging parents or adult children. Some just want a kitchen that works for how they actually cook and entertain. Whatever the goal, our approach is the same: listen first, plan carefully, execute cleanly.
Our crew includes licensed professionals and a trusted network of skilled tradespeople. Electricians, plumbers, tile setters—everyone brought onto the job is vetted and reliable. You’re not getting whoever was available that week. You’re getting people who’ve worked together for years and know what’s expected.
Upper Brookville has a median home value near $2 million. These aren’t starter homes. They’re investments. And when you’re putting money into a renovation, you need to know it’s being done right—not just finished, but done well enough that it adds value and lasts.
A full kitchen remodel usually takes six to eight weeks, depending on the scope. If you’re replacing cabinets, countertops, flooring, and appliances, plan for the longer end. A bathroom renovation typically runs three to five weeks.
Those timelines assume no major surprises—like opening a wall and finding outdated plumbing that needs replacing. But even when issues come up, they’re addressed immediately, not used as an excuse to drag things out.
The key is setting a realistic schedule from the start. Some contractors lowball the timeline to win the job, then blame delays on supply chain issues or subcontractors. We don’t do that. The timeline you’re given is the one that’s kept, and if something changes, you’ll know why before it becomes a problem.
Permit requirements depend on the project. For work that doesn’t require permits—like many kitchen and bathroom remodels—you don’t need to worry about it. For larger jobs that do require permits, we handle that process as part of the project.
Upper Brookville has specific building codes, and navigating them can be a headache if you’re not familiar with what’s required. The goal is to keep things moving without unnecessary delays or complications.
If your project involves structural changes, additions, or anything that impacts the footprint of your home, permits will likely be necessary. But that’s all discussed upfront during the initial consultation, so there are no surprises later. You’ll know what’s required, how long it takes, and what it costs before any work begins.
If an emergency comes up—a frozen pipe, a leak, something that can’t wait—you can call anytime. That includes nights and weekends. Someone will answer, and someone will show up.
Most contractors don’t offer that kind of availability. Once they’re off the clock, you’re on your own. But construction doesn’t always cooperate with business hours, especially during Long Island winters when pipes freeze and systems fail.
Even after the project wraps, that availability doesn’t disappear. If something needs attention six months down the road, you’re not starting from scratch trying to find someone new. You already have a number that works, and a team that knows your home. That’s not a marketing line—it’s how we actually operate.
The site gets cleaned at the end of every single day. Debris is removed. Dust is managed. Tools are put away. You’re not stepping over sawdust and drywall scraps for weeks on end.
Most contractors treat cleanup as something that happens at the very end of the project. By then, your home has been a mess for so long you’ve just accepted it. That’s not acceptable to us.
Upper Brookville homes are lived in during renovations. Families are still cooking, sleeping, and going about their routines. The job site shouldn’t take over your entire house. Keeping things clean isn’t just about appearances—it’s about respect for your space and your time. It’s also a sign of professionalism. If a crew can’t be bothered to clean up after themselves, what else are they cutting corners on?
Yes. Many Upper Brookville homes were built decades ago, and they have architectural details worth preserving—crown molding, hardwood floors, original trim work. The goal is to modernize without erasing what makes the home special.
That requires a different approach than new construction. You can’t just tear everything out and start over. You need to work carefully, plan around existing structures, and know when to restore instead of replace.
Experience matters here. A contractor who’s only worked on new builds won’t have the same understanding of how older homes are put together—or how to avoid damaging things that can’t easily be replaced. Over 50 years in business means we’ve worked on every type of home, from brand-new builds to century-old estates. That experience shows up in how the work gets done.
Larger companies often juggle dozens of projects at once. You’re assigned a project manager you may never meet, and the crew rotates depending on who’s available. Communication runs through multiple people, and things get lost in translation.
Here, you work directly with the owner. Ray or Ray Jr. is on-site throughout the project. There’s no middleman. No project manager who’s managing ten other jobs at the same time. When you have a question, you ask the person actually doing the work.
That doesn’t mean the business is small—it means it’s run differently. We have a full network of skilled tradespeople who get brought in as needed, but the oversight and accountability stay in one place. You’re not a line item on a spreadsheet. You’re a homeowner who deserves attention, and that’s exactly what you get from start to finish.
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