Most home renovation projects fall apart because too many people are involved and nobody’s actually in charge. You’re stuck playing project manager between the electrician, the plumber, the framer, and whoever else shows up when they feel like it.
That doesn’t happen here. You work with one general contractor who coordinates everything—from the initial walkthrough to the final cleanup. We handle permitting, scheduling, material orders, and every trade in between.
You’re not chasing down subcontractors or wondering if anyone’s coming tomorrow. The owner is on site every day, not just supervising but actually working. When something needs to change or a problem comes up, you get a straight answer and a real solution. No runaround, no excuses.
Your home improvement project moves forward on schedule because someone’s actually managing it. That’s what a whole house renovation should look like.
Ray Coleman Home Improvement has been handling residential renovations across Port Washington and Nassau County for over 40 years. We’re licensed, insured, and bonded throughout Nassau and Suffolk County.
This is a family-owned business, which means when you call, someone actually picks up. Not a voicemail system or a call center—a real person who knows your project. We’ve built a reputation in Port Washington by showing up, doing the work right, and treating people’s homes with respect.
Long Island homeowners deal with older homes, tight lots, and strict local codes. We know the permitting process in Port Washington, we understand what Nassau County inspectors expect, and we’ve worked through every type of structural surprise that comes with renovating homes built 50+ years ago. You’re hiring someone who’s seen it before and knows how to handle it.
It starts with a walkthrough at your home. We look at what you want done, what condition things are in, and what problems might be hiding behind the walls. You get a clear estimate that accounts for the scope of work and realistic timelines.
Once we agree on the plan, we handle permits if needed. Port Washington has specific requirements depending on whether you’re doing structural work, relocating plumbing, or adding square footage. We submit everything and deal with the town so you don’t have to.
Then the work begins. Our crew shows up on time, works through the day, and cleans up before they leave. The owner is there every day managing the job—not sitting in an office somewhere. If something comes up, we talk through it right then and address it.
Throughout the project, you’re kept in the loop. We’re available by phone or text, and if there’s an issue—even an emergency like frozen pipes in the middle of winter—we respond. When the job’s done, we walk through everything together to make sure it’s right.
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A full house renovation can mean different things depending on what your home needs. For most Port Washington homeowners, it includes kitchen and bathroom remodels, flooring replacement, updated electrical and plumbing, new windows and doors, interior painting, and structural repairs or additions like dormers or extensions.
In Nassau County, where the median home value sits around $775,000 and climbing, you’re not just updating for aesthetics. You’re addressing outdated systems, improving energy efficiency, and making sure your investment holds its value. Homes here were built decades ago, and many still have original wiring, old plumbing, and insulation that doesn’t meet today’s standards.
We coordinate all the trades—electricians, plumbers, HVAC, carpenters—so the work flows in the right order. You’re not waiting weeks between phases or dealing with scheduling conflicts. And because we’ve worked all over Long Island, we know which materials hold up in this climate and which suppliers deliver on time.
The goal is a home that works better for how you actually live, not just one that looks updated in photos.
It depends entirely on the scope of work, the condition of your home, and what you’re trying to accomplish. A full renovation in Port Washington typically ranges from $150 to $330 per square foot, but that’s a wide range because every project is different.
If you’re gutting a kitchen, relocating plumbing, and opening up walls, you’re looking at the higher end. If you’re refreshing finishes, updating fixtures, and working within the existing layout, costs come down. Permit requirements also affect the budget—electrical upgrades, structural changes, and anything involving gas lines or load-bearing walls requires permits in Nassau County, which adds time and cost.
The best way to know what your project will actually cost is to have someone walk through your home and give you a real estimate based on what’s there. We do that upfront so there are no surprises later.
Most whole house renovations take anywhere from three months to over a year, depending on the size of the project and whether you’re doing structural work. A first-floor renovation with a kitchen and bathroom remodel might take three to five months. Adding a dormer or extension pushes that timeline longer.
Permitting affects the schedule too. If your project requires approvals from Port Washington or Nassau County, that can add weeks before work even starts. Then there’s the actual construction—demolition, framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, finishes. Each phase has to happen in order, and some can’t start until others are complete.
We set realistic timelines upfront and keep you updated as the job progresses. If something changes—a delayed material shipment or an unexpected issue we uncover—we let you know right away and adjust the plan. You won’t be left guessing when things will be done.
It depends on what you’re doing. If you’re making structural changes, relocating plumbing or electrical, adding square footage, or doing anything that affects the home’s footprint or systems, you’ll need permits from the Town of Port Washington and possibly Nassau County.
Cosmetic updates like painting, flooring, or replacing cabinets without moving plumbing usually don’t require permits. But the moment you start opening walls, moving gas lines, upgrading electrical panels, or building additions, permits are required. Inspectors will need to sign off at various stages of the work.
We handle the permit process as part of the job. We know what Port Washington requires, we submit the applications, and we schedule inspections. You don’t have to deal with the town or figure out what forms to fill out. It’s part of what you’re hiring us to manage.
Older homes in Port Washington often have outdated electrical systems, old plumbing, inadequate insulation, and structural issues that aren’t visible until you start opening walls. You might find knob-and-tube wiring that needs to be replaced, cast iron pipes that are corroded, or framing that’s settled or rotted over time.
Asbestos and lead paint are also common in homes built before the 1980s. If we find either, it has to be handled properly—that means abatement by licensed professionals, which adds cost and time. Foundation issues, roof leaks that caused hidden water damage, and outdated HVAC systems are other frequent surprises.
The key is working with a contractor who’s done this before and knows what to look for during the initial walkthrough. We flag potential problems upfront so you’re not blindsided halfway through the project. And when something does come up, we explain what it is, why it matters, and what it’ll take to fix it.
It depends on how much of the house is being worked on and your tolerance for noise, dust, and disruption. If we’re renovating one floor and you can live upstairs, it’s possible. If we’re gutting the kitchen and bathrooms, it gets harder—you won’t have running water or a place to cook.
We do everything we can to minimize the mess. Job sites are cleaned up every day, and we contain dust as much as possible. But renovation is still loud, messy, and disruptive. Some homeowners choose to stay with family or rent a short-term place during the heaviest phases of work.
If you’re planning to stay, we’ll talk through the logistics upfront—what rooms will be unusable when, where we’ll need access, and how we can work around your schedule. The goal is to make it as manageable as possible, but you should know what you’re signing up for before the work starts.
Because we actually answer the phone, show up when we say we will, and treat your home like it matters. That sounds basic, but it’s not common in this industry—especially on Long Island where the market is packed with contractors who overpromise and underdeliver.
We’ve been doing this for over 40 years. The owner is on the job site every day, not just managing but working. When you call or text, you get a response. When something needs to change or a problem comes up, we handle it without the runaround. And when the job’s done, it’s done right.
You’re hiring a licensed, insured general contractor with a network of skilled tradespeople across Nassau and Suffolk County. We’ve completed whole house renovations from top to bottom—roofing, siding, kitchens, bathrooms, additions, you name it. Our clients keep calling us back for more work, and their families hire us too. That doesn’t happen unless you’re doing good work and treating people right.
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