Skip to main content
Fulltext search
FILTER RESULTS BY:
RECOMMENDED IN RENT
Moving to NYC after college? Here's how to find a rental apartment
RECOMMENDED IN BUY
How buying real estate in NYC is unlike anywhere else
RECOMMENDED IN SELL
A guide to using a no-fee renovation loan from a NYC real estate firm
RECOMMENDED IN IMPROVE
How to make your NYC renovation more pet-friendly
BEST REAL ESTATE WEBSITE!
National Association of Real Estate Editors
BEST REAL ESTATE WEBSITE! National Association of Real Estate Editors
Brick Underground
Social Links
follow:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Flipboard
  • search
Brick Underground
☰ Brick Underground
Brick Underground
Brick Underground
☰
Brick Underground
  • Buy
    • Buy
    • The Market
    • Investing
    • New Construction + Condos
    • Affordable Housing
    • Co-ops
    • Negotiating + Financing
    • How to Buy in NYC Guide
    Haley and JP move to Prospect Lefferts Gardens
    New Construction + Condos
    From Prospect Heights to Prospect Lefferts Garden: We wanted three bedrooms so we could each have a home office
    An image of the top of a brick New York City apartment building, including its parapet.
    Design + Architecture
    Parapet inspections: What NYC boards and building owners need to know about Local Law 126
    one-bedroom condo at 702 Hancock Street
    The Search
    7 reasons why ground-floor apartments are desirable—instead of dealbreakers
  • Rent
    • Rent
    • Affordable Housing
    • Roommates + Landlords
    • The Market
    • The Search
    • How to Rent in NYC Guide
    Midtown Manhattan seen from Roosevelt Island tramway
    The Market
    Manhattan median rent spiked 6 percent to $4,500 in April
    Tenant protest outside Rent Guidelines Board preliminary vote
    Affordable Housing
    Rent Guidelines Board intends to raise stabilized rents for a fourth time
    A beautiful pink flowering cherry tree next to an old brick residential building with a fire escape in Astoria Queens New York during spring
    The Search
    A wet, hot, broker fee-free summer? A major change to rental broker fees is supposed to start in June
  • Sell
    • Sell
    • Staging + Open Houses
    • Negotiations + Closings
    • Getting Ready
    • How to Sell in NYC Guide
    Madison avenue and East 67th Street, Manhattan, New York City
    Sell
    Median sales price for Manhattan co-ops and condos jumps to $1,165,000
    new condo building and older co-op buildings in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
    Sell
    Brooklyn median price nears $1 million but the spring market is a question mark
    View of NYC condo buildings from New Jersey
    Sell
    Private listings: What NYC sellers and buyers need to know about the off-market controversy
  • Live
    • Live
    • Neighbors
    • Kids + Pets
    • Neighborhood Intel
    • Products + Test-drives
    • Troubleshooting
    FlatRate moving brick underground
    Live
    How to troubleshoot your move in advance
    Sponsored By flatrate
    big apple moving NYC
    Troubleshooting
    How can I save money when hiring a moving company in NYC?
    Sponsored By Big Apple Moving
    Houses and apartment buildings in Queens, NYC
    Troubleshooting
    Mayor Adams is bringing the tax lien sale back. Here’s how to get your property off the list
  • Improve
    • Improve
    • Small Spaces
    • Small Projects + DIY
    • Renovations
    • Design + Architecture
    • Products + Services
    • How to Renovate in NYC Guide
    An image of the top of a brick New York City apartment building, including its parapet.
    Design + Architecture
    Parapet inspections: What NYC boards and building owners need to know about Local Law 126
    solar panels on a small house roof
    Design + Architecture
    Simple Yet Powerful Steps To Turn Your Apartment Eco-Friendly
    Sponsored By Ecoflow
    This is a photograph of a street in the Upper West Side in NYC viewed from the Summit in Central Park through bare tree branches.
    Renovation
    Fewer buyers, steeper rents, and costlier renovations: How tariffs could impact NYC real estate
  • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards
    • Finance
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Property Management
    • Structure & Systems
    • Sustainability
    Burned and Boarded Up Windows
    When should your board hire a public adjuster?
    Manhattan GM
    What should we consider when renewing insurance for our building?
    Facade of NYC buildings
    How much is insurance on a NYC co-op or condo building?
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with us
    • Sponsored Content
    • Experts
    FlatRate moving brick underground
    Live
    How to troubleshoot your move in advance
    Sponsored By flatrate
    Apartment buildings at Grand and Crosby streets in Soho, Manhattan
    Affordable Housing
    Ask Altagracia: My mom is moving out of our rent-stabilized apartment. How do I take over the lease?
    Sponsored By Outerbridge Law P.C.
    big apple moving NYC
    Troubleshooting
    How can I save money when hiring a moving company in NYC?
    Sponsored By Big Apple Moving
  • Brick Report
  • About Us
  • About Us
Email Address
Fulltext search
FILTER RESULTS BY:
New Main menu
  • Buy
    • Buy
    • The Market
    • Investing
    • New Construction + Condos
    • Affordable Housing
    • Co-ops
    • Negotiating + Financing
    • How to Buy in NYC Guide
  • Rent
    • Rent
    • Affordable Housing
    • Roommates + Landlords
    • The Market
    • The Search
    • How to Rent in NYC Guide
  • Sell
    • Sell
    • Staging + Open Houses
    • Negotiations + Closings
    • Getting Ready
    • How to Sell in NYC Guide
  • Live
    • Live
    • Neighbors
    • Kids + Pets
    • Neighborhood Intel
    • Products + Test-drives
    • Troubleshooting
  • Improve
    • Improve
    • Small Spaces
    • Small Projects + DIY
    • Renovations
    • Design + Architecture
    • Products + Services
    • How to Renovate in NYC Guide
  • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards
    • Finance
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Property Management
    • Structure & Systems
    • Sustainability
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with us
    • Sponsored Content
    • Experts
  • Brick Report
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
  • About Us
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER →
Social Links Footer
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Search
Renovation [ SPONSORED ]

How the renovation process in NYC has changed because of coronavirus

By Bolster  | June 30, 2020 - 2:30PM
image

Phase 1 guidelines for construction work include physical distancing, face coverings, and reduced capacity on project sites.

iStock

SHARE:
Share to Facebook
Share to Twitter
Print
More...

Earlier this month, New York City met the criteria for Phase 1 reopening, which includes construction, and that means renovations can resume, but the process is drastically different now.

“Covid-19 has changed how we understand risk in the construction industry,” says Bolster Build Manager Julieta Dominguez. “New Covid-19 measures need to be incorporated into the construction process. They create an opportunity to take a fresh look at existing safety policies.” 

Now that renovations across the city are re-mobilizing, here’s what you can expect. 

New rules to keep workers and homeowners safe 

Renovation has always been tightly regulated, especially in New York City, but renovators will find that the rules have gotten stricter, largely to protect workers and homeowners. 

If you’re renovating in an apartment, condo, or co-op, your building may have more specific rules around renovations than a brownstone or townhouse. Some buildings may only allow one renovation at a time, while others will have restrictions around the number of construction-related deliveries to the building or elevator occupancy.

“When renovating in a condo or co-op building, you’re under rules set forth by the building corporation or shareholders,” says Julieta. “On top of the DOB and city rules, you’ll have your own set of rules imposed by your neighbors.” 

Phase 1 guidelines include physical distancing, face coverings, and reduced capacity on project sites. Distancing measures stipulate a limit on one person per 250 square feet for indoor work, excluding supervisors. 

Bolster has also put forth its own set of Covid-19 Remobilization Guidelines, which were distributed to buildings, subcontractors, and homeowners. Understanding risk is at the core of Bolster. Its guidelines were produced and published in April in anticipation of being able to quickly remobilize renovations and to help homeowners have a meaningful conversation with their board.

“Taking early action on creating remobilization guidelines to protect our team and homeowners was a good decision and set us up for success during Phase 1 reopening,” says Bolster Build Manager Leo DeGuiseppe. “As soon as we completed our demobilization process during the time the city was on pause, I worked with the team to create our own set of guidelines, and predicted with shocking accuracy what the city’s requirements would be. For example, I estimated that we’d have to limit team member occupancy to 250 square feet on indoor sites, and then the city came out with those exact requirements.”

Your renovation partner should carefully schedule their team to adhere with distancing and occupancy rules, and minimize contact amongst themselves and others. The good news is that this working style is normal under most circumstances and will have minimal impact on the project’s overall schedule. 

Lastly, there should be PPE available at every project site. 

“For example, at one of our sites, a 3,000-square-foot brownstone in Park Slope, we have a table with a log book and hand sanitizer set up at the entrance of the property,” says Julieta. “We keep a detailed record of who is present on the property, and take everyone’s temperatures. Additionally, we have signage throughout the property reminding our team to wear masks and appropriate PPE, in accordance with DOB regulations.”  

Pro Tip:

With more than 50,000 square feet renovated in NYC, Bolster understands how to guide New Yorkers through any renovation challenge, from navigating Landmarks to recreating pre-war details, and gives them full visibility into project milestones. "Bolster is the only renovation firm to offer a fixed-price cost up-front. Once we perform due diligence and verify the existing conditions of your property, we absorb unforeseen project costs," says Bolster's CEO and co-founder Anna Karp. Ready to start your renovation? Learn more >>

Neighbors may be more sensitive 

New Yorkers are used to living on top of one another, but with so many people working from home for an extended period of time—or in some cases, indefinitely—tensions between neighbors may be higher than normal. 

This is especially true for buildings, where neighbors are often surrounded on all sides. If some of the residents are elderly or in a higher-risk group, they may be more sensitive to construction, whether it’s noise to having additional people entering the building. 

“The most common complaints I hear from supers and building management are regarding common areas,” says Leo. “Residents will complain about people hanging out in the lobby and whether social distancing is being adhered to in the elevators.”

Informing your neighbors of construction activity in writing, whether in a letter or an email, is a standard practice for Bolster, and has only become more crucial to help alleviate any potential tensions between you and your neighbors. Your build manager should help you address this; most have a template you can use and can facilitate delivery for you. For more information on what the letter should include, check out these tips from Bolster in this Brick Underground article. 

A shift to online workspaces and virtual meetings 

Communication is just as important than it was pre-coronavirus, but if you had in-person meetings or on-site check-ins, those may be scaled back or occur less frequently. Bolster has migrated many communications to Zoom and Slack, and is investing in development of its dedicated homeowner platform. 

Ensuring you are communicating with your team at least once per week is important in helping you stay abreast of progress and updates with your renovation. 

“I recommend that homeowners check in weekly with their build managers to follow up on the status of their project. This will be helpful for them and their own personal understanding of their renovation,” says Leo.

Jeronimo Aguilar Gutierrez, Bolster’s vice president of pricing & procurement, agrees. 

“Build Managers are crucial to the success of the project. In addition to many other things that help keep the process moving, they serve as a liaison with building management, who oftentimes are the project’s gatekeeper.”

Anticipate supply chain delays 

Bolster had a Covid-19 procurement strategy in place early on since it was an easily controllable variable for projects in the design phase. Those who didn’t take this approach are seeing negative consequences and big delays as a result. 

“Almost everything we ordered while pause was in place has arrived, though some of it was one to two weeks delayed,” says Jeromino. “Bolster planned for the worst, and that’s why we were quick to take action on placing all orders in the beginning.” 

Much of the procurement strategy for large-scale NYC renovations relies on other countries, including the UK and Italy. 

“Since every country was impacted by the pandemic, everyone is backlogged,” says Jeronimo. “Imagine if your contractor or your renovation partner became stagnant during that period of time—those homeowners could be seeing delays of six weeks or more. These are the consequences of not taking early and decisive action.”

Your project’s timeline may be pushed back 

Because NYC was on pause, construction came to a halt. Although many renovations in the design phase were able to progress in areas like pricing and procurement, non-essential construction was prohibited.

As such, your renovation partner may ask you to acknowledge updates or new policies that may impact your renovation project and/or delivery date, and what to expect should the project have to shut down again in the future due to the ongoing pandemic.

Some final advice 

It’s important to recognize that, despite all of the progress NYC has made in flattening the curve, we are still in the middle of a pandemic. 

“Homeowners should be looking out for the current state of the pandemic. We’re in Phase 1 now but we recognize that there is likely to be an uptick in cases,” says Jeronimo. “It’s important for homeowners to monitor channels we’ve been posting to and keep in touch with their renovation partner.”

Above all, recognize that we’re all in this together. 

“We’re all living through an adjustment at every level,” says Julieta. “Our homeowners are aware of what’s going on and they understand the steps we have to take to ensure that their renovation is delivered safely. Transparency in the handling of every channel has been key in operating as a partnership with our homeowners as we have included them in the solution of each problem they have faced during the pandemic. At the end of the day, we are building their home and we want them to enjoy them as safely and as soon as possible. That’s our mission.”

The Bolster Smart Renovation Zero-Risk Guarantee

How can a design-build firm guarantee a Zero-Risk renovation?

Bolster has pioneered Smart Renovation. We apply quantitative analysis along with our proprietary technology solution to identify and quantify the performance risk on every renovation project. The result is a personalized strategic approach to each renovation that allows us to absorb 100 percent of the homeowner’s risk. Your home will be beautifully designed, and delivered on-time and on-budget. That is our guarantee.

Smart Renovation & Zero-Risk means that Homeowners are now free to dream.

To start your major home renovation project visit bolster.us

The Bolster Promise video

You Might Also Like

image
Improve A first-timer buyer on finding and renovating a Chelsea studio on a budget: Part I
image
Renovation Should I go through with my renovation during the coronavirus outbreak?
image
Renovation How we found a Clinton Hill townhouse and tamed a scary gut renovation: Part I

 

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.

topics:

Co-ops condos construction Coronavirus health & safety Neighbors pricing Renovation
SHARE
TWEET
BRICK’S PICKS
Historic brick facades of NYC apartment buildings
Getting overcharged by a landlord? Here’s how the Tenant Protection Unit helps rent-stabilized tenants
Apartment buildings in Soho
New Rent Guidelines Board report justifies a rent freeze, tenant advocates claim
Brooklyn apartment buildings
Understanding net effective rent: Here's how to calculate your real monthly rent
image
How much should you renovate your NYC apartment or house before selling?
Council Member Shahana Hanif hold press conference before the City Council vote on Arrow Linen spot rezoning.
City Council signs off on 10-story towers for Arrow Linen site
couple standing close, only jeans-clad legs showing
Can my boyfriend claim ownership of my condo if we break up?
Follow Brick on Instagram
@brickunderground | #brickunderground
Brick UndergroundBRICK UNDERGROUNDREAL LIFE. REAL ESTATE. REAL NEW YORK.
Social Links Footer
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Search
Main menu footer
  • Buy
    • The Market
    • Investing
    • New Construction + Condos
    • Affordable Housing
    • Co-ops
    • Negotiating + Financing
    • How to Buy in NYC Guide
  • Rent
    • Affordable Housing
    • Roommates + Landlords
    • The Market
    • The Search
    • How to Rent in NYC Guide
  • Sell
    • Staging + Open Houses
    • Negotiations + Closings
    • Getting Ready
    • How to Sell in NYC Guide
  • Live
    • Neighbors
    • Kids + Pets
    • Neighborhood Intel
    • Products + Test-drives
    • Troubleshooting
  • Improve
    • Small Spaces
    • Small Projects + DIY
    • Renovations
    • Design + Architecture
    • Products + Services
    • How to Renovate in NYC Guide

Get more news you can actually use...

The subscription service is currently unavailable. Please check again later.

Delivered to your inbox weekly - for free.

*By signing up you agree to receive occasional emails on behalf of our sponsors

Footer Menu
  • About Us
  • Advertise

Copyright 2009-2024 by BND Ventures Inc | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices | Login