NEW YORK, NY · Member since 2018 · 1 post · 1 vote
Hi,
I am looking to do a gut renovation of a 2 family (3 story) townhome in Brooklyn. It's my first gut renovation and first townhome purchase and am wondering what the approximate cost of doing such a reno would be. The townhome would need full gut as the floors, roof and walls are in terrible condition. There is also some water damage on the top floor and some water pooling in the cellar. We'd ideally like to preserve some of the original detail like fireplaces and crown molding but only if the cost is not prohibitive.
Depends on your finished and how much needs to be done in basement but in my experience it’s 200-300+. With out knowing your scope of work and your building size it’s hard to give you an estimate. Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions or if you would like some contractor referrals.
My suggestion (coming from someone who just gutted his first home at the start of 2017) is to expect almost double what you think it will cost, plus triple the amount of time.
I'm a go getter, and very motivated. I don't mind getting dirty or working hard late at night. BUT, I have hit a wall and I'm exhausted. I gutted my home to the studs, and found more problems than I had anticipated. I actually found more problems than a builder of 40 years anticipated!
Make sure you have capital to last. Because if you don't, you will be in over your head. Luckily I was able to get it livable and up to code in time. That took me 9 months though! I had to get a couple extensions from my insurance company to come and inspect the property.
In the end, all I have left is trim and paint and its been about a year. But there was a lot of late nights, stress, frustration, and even times I was scared. In the end I have no doubt it will be worth it, and if your up for the challenge it will be worth it for you to. But be prepared, over prepared.
@Erica C. Hey Erica, I would recommend starting with the roof and seeing if it is something that could be patched or needs to be replaced. That is most likely the reason water is pooling in the basement and can cause damage to beams as well. Most likely you are looking at a wooden deck and would need to have a cold process roof installed. If you need to tear out the roof, you should have it tested it for asbestos and obtain an certificate that it is clean.
My suggestion (coming from someone who just gutted his first home at the start of 2017) is to expect almost double what you think it will cost, plus triple the amount of time.
I'm a go getter, and very motivated. I don't mind getting dirty or working hard late at night. BUT, I have hit a wall and I'm exhausted. I gutted my home to the studs, and found more problems than I had anticipated. I actually found more problems than a builder of 40 years anticipated!
Make sure you have capital to last. Because if you don't, you will be in over your head. Luckily I was able to get it livable and up to code in time. That took me 9 months though! I had to get a couple extensions from my insurance company to come and inspect the property.
In the end, all I have left is trim and paint and its been about a year. But there was a lot of late nights, stress, frustration, and even times I was scared. In the end I have no doubt it will be worth it, and if your up for the challenge it will be worth it for you to. But be prepared, over prepared.
-Brian
Brian, I am going through that now.. I think staying diligent and committed has been the hardest test. Seems like you find one thing after another. Glad I came across your post.
My suggestion (coming from someone who just gutted his first home at the start of 2017) is to expect almost double what you think it will cost, plus triple the amount of time.
I'm a go getter, and very motivated. I don't mind getting dirty or working hard late at night. BUT, I have hit a wall and I'm exhausted. I gutted my home to the studs, and found more problems than I had anticipated. I actually found more problems than a builder of 40 years anticipated!
Make sure you have capital to last. Because if you don't, you will be in over your head. Luckily I was able to get it livable and up to code in time. That took me 9 months though! I had to get a couple extensions from my insurance company to come and inspect the property.
In the end, all I have left is trim and paint and its been about a year. But there was a lot of late nights, stress, frustration, and even times I was scared. In the end I have no doubt it will be worth it, and if your up for the challenge it will be worth it for you to. But be prepared, over prepared.
-Brian
Brian, I am going through that now.. I think staying diligent and committed has been the hardest test. Seems like you find one thing after another. Glad I came across your post.
Yes, being disciplined and keeping my focus is the hardest part. Try and remember, why did you start in the first place? Because it would be worth it! Don't get discouraged like I have, especially when plans change. What I'm learning to do now is roll with the punches, and use a little bit of down time to actually use the stove I put in. I believe a lot of our success comes from a sharp mind, and if we aren't taking care of ourselves physically, and mentally.. we will go backwards. When I'm working on fumes, and get stressed out, nothing goes as planned. When I am happy and enjoying what I do, everything falls into place.