You stop worrying about whether your contractor will show up tomorrow. We arrive on time, clean up before we leave, and answer when you call.
Your kitchen finally works the way you need it to. Cabinets that make sense, counters that fit how you cook, lighting that doesn’t make you squint at the stove at 6 PM.
The upstairs bedrooms you added don’t feel tacked on. They match the rest of the house because the framing, the trim, the flooring—all of it was done by people who’ve been doing this for decades, not a rotating cast of subcontractors you’ve never met.
Your home value reflects the work you put into it. In East Hills, where the median property sits at $1.37 million, a poorly executed renovation doesn’t just waste money—it costs you when you sell. A properly managed full house renovation protects that investment and often increases it.
You’re not managing the project yourself. You’re not calling the electrician because the GC didn’t, or wondering why the plumber hasn’t shown up in three days. That’s handled.
Ray Coleman Home Improvement has been operating out of Wantagh since the early 1980s. Over 40 years in the home improvement business, serving Nassau and Suffolk County homeowners who need more than a handyman—they need a licensed general contractor who can pull permits, manage trades, and see a complex job through to the end.
We rank in the top 1% of New York’s 77,888 licensed contractors according to BuildZoom. That’s not marketing language—it’s a verifiable score based on license status, insurance, and project history.
Most clients come back. Some have been working with us for over a decade, calling us first when they’re ready for the next phase—whether that’s finishing the basement, adding a dormer, or gutting the first floor. In East Hills, where 100% of residents own their homes and the average property value exceeds a million dollars, you don’t get repeat business unless you do the work right.
You call or text. Someone picks up. Not a voicemail system, not an answering service—an actual person who can talk through what you’re planning and whether it makes sense to move forward.
If it does, you’ll get a walkthrough and an estimate. We look at the space, ask questions about how you use it, and talk through what’s possible. If permits are required, that gets discussed up front. If there’s a way to structure the work to avoid permit delays, that gets discussed too.
Once you agree to move forward, the timeline gets set. You’ll know when we’re starting, what’s happening each week, and when you should expect the job to wrap. If something changes—a material delay, a structural surprise once the walls are open—you’ll hear about it the same day, not three weeks later.
We show up when we say we will. We work through the day, clean up the site before we leave, and keep the disruption as contained as possible. You’re not coming home to a disaster zone every night.
When the job’s done, it’s done right. No half-finished punch lists, no “we’ll come back next month” promises that never happen. You get what you paid for, and it works.
Ready to get started?
A whole house renovation isn’t one thing—it’s a series of connected projects that have to happen in the right order. You’re typically looking at kitchen and bathroom remodels, first-floor layout changes, possibly an extension or dormer if you need more space.
In East Hills, most homes are Colonial Revival or New Traditional builds, many from the mid-20th century. That means you’re often dealing with outdated electrical, plumbing that wasn’t designed for modern appliances, and floor plans that don’t match how people live now. A full renovation addresses all of that.
The work includes framing and structural changes if you’re opening up walls or adding square footage. It includes updated electrical and plumbing, new flooring, trim, paint, and finishes. If you’re adding a second story or dormer, it includes roofing, insulation, and HVAC adjustments to handle the new space.
On Long Island, costs run higher than the national average—expect $150 to $250 per square foot depending on finishes and scope. That’s not price gouging, it’s the reality of working in Nassau County where labor, permits, and materials all cost more. The goal is to make sure that money goes toward work that actually improves your home, not fixes someone else’s mistakes.
It depends on the scope, but most full house renovations take three to six months. A kitchen and bathroom remodel might finish in eight to twelve weeks if there are no structural changes. Add an extension or second story, and you’re looking at closer to six months, sometimes longer if permits take time to process.
Weather affects the timeline too. Long Island winters mean frozen ground and slower concrete work. If your project includes exterior work or foundation changes, starting in spring or early summer usually keeps things moving.
The bigger variable is usually permitting. If your renovation requires structural changes, new square footage, or electrical and plumbing overhauls, you’ll need approvals from the local building department. That can add weeks or even months depending on how backed up they are. Projects that don’t require permits—like interior remodels that don’t touch load-bearing walls—move faster.
Most whole house renovations in Nassau County run between $150 and $250 per square foot. For a 2,000-square-foot home, that’s $300,000 to $500,000 depending on finishes, structural changes, and how much of the house you’re touching.
Kitchen remodels alone can start at $90,000 for a luxury build-out. Bathrooms run $25,000 to $50,000 each if you’re doing more than just swapping fixtures. Extensions and dormers add $200 to $300 per square foot because you’re building new structure, not just renovating existing space.
Long Island costs more than the national average. Labor is expensive, materials cost more to deliver, and permits aren’t cheap. But in East Hills, where the median home is worth $1.37 million, a well-executed renovation protects and often increases that value. A poorly done one costs you twice—once when you pay for it, and again when it hurts your resale.
The key is making sure the money goes toward work that lasts. Cheap contractors cost more in the long run when you’re fixing their mistakes three years later.
It depends on what you’re changing. If you’re moving walls, adding square footage, or doing major electrical and plumbing work, yes—you’ll need permits. If you’re updating finishes, replacing cabinets, or doing cosmetic work that doesn’t affect structure or systems, you might not.
Permits exist to make sure the work meets code and won’t cause problems down the line. They also protect your home’s value—unpermitted work can become a nightmare when you sell, because buyers’ lenders often won’t approve a mortgage if they find out major work was done without permits.
The permit process in Nassau County can take time. Plan for a few weeks minimum, sometimes longer if the building department is backed up or if your project requires additional reviews. We know how to structure the work to minimize delays and which projects can be done without permits.
Skipping permits when you need them isn’t worth the risk. If the town finds out, you’ll pay fines and potentially have to undo the work. If you sell without disclosing it, you’re opening yourself up to legal trouble. Do it right the first time.
Check their license first. In New York, home improvement contractors are required to be licensed. You can verify that through the Department of Consumer Affairs. If they’re not licensed, walk away—it’s not worth the risk.
Look at their insurance. A legitimate contractor carries general liability and workers’ comp. Ask to see the certificate. If they hesitate or say they’ll get it to you later, that’s a red flag.
Ask for references, then actually call them. Don’t just look at reviews online—talk to people who’ve worked with the contractor. Ask how the job went, whether they stayed on schedule, how they handled problems, and whether they’d hire them again.
Pay attention to how they communicate. Do they answer the phone? Do they respond to texts and emails? If they’re hard to reach before you hire them, they’ll be impossible to reach once the job starts. A contractor who’s been in business for decades and has repeat clients didn’t get there by disappearing mid-project.
Finally, trust your gut. If something feels off during the estimate or the initial conversations, don’t ignore it. You’re about to spend a lot of money and let these people into your home for months. Make sure you’re comfortable with who you’re hiring.
It depends on how much of the house you’re renovating. If you’re doing a kitchen remodel and one bathroom, yes—it’s inconvenient, but doable. You’ll be without a kitchen for weeks, so plan on a lot of takeout and microwave meals. If you’re gutting the first floor or doing major structural work, it gets harder.
Most people stay during smaller renovations and move out for larger ones. If you’re adding a second story or doing a full gut renovation, living elsewhere makes more sense. The noise, dust, and lack of basic utilities can make staying in the house miserable.
If you do stay, expect disruption. There will be dust, even with the best containment efforts. There will be noise during work hours. You’ll have workers in your home every day, and parts of the house will be unusable.
We do everything possible to minimize the impact—cleaning up daily, containing work areas, keeping you informed about what’s happening when. But there’s no way to make a major renovation completely seamless if you’re living in the middle of it.
Talk through the logistics during the planning phase. We can tell you what to expect and help you decide whether staying or leaving makes more sense for your situation.
Problems happen on almost every renovation—you open up a wall and find old wiring that needs replacing, or the subfloor is rotted and needs to be rebuilt. The question isn’t whether something will go wrong, it’s how we handle it when it does.
We tell you the same day we find a problem. We explain what it is, why it needs to be fixed, what it will cost, and how it affects the timeline. You shouldn’t be finding out about issues weeks later or getting surprise bills at the end of the job.
Most problems add time and money, but not as much as you’d think if they’re caught early. Replacing a section of subfloor might add a few days and a couple thousand dollars. Ignoring it and building over it creates a much bigger problem down the road.
This is where experience matters. We’ve been doing this for 40 years and have seen most problems before. We know how to fix them efficiently. We have relationships with electricians, plumbers, and other trades who can jump in quickly when needed.
Make sure your contract includes language about how changes and unexpected issues get handled. You want a clear process for approvals and pricing so there’s no confusion when something comes up. And you want a contractor who’s going to communicate openly, not hide problems and hope you don’t notice.
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