Bronx Renovation Contractors: Gut, Tile, Floors, Paint

The Bronx is the only borough on the mainland, and its housing stock reflects that. In a few miles you can move from the brick row houses and loft conversions of Mott Haven to the Art Deco apartment blocks along the Grand Concourse, from the pre-war walk-ups of Norwood to the tower complexes of Co-op City, and up the hill to the large houses on private roads in Fieldston. A renovation that makes sense in one of those places can be wrong for the next.

This hub brings the main services together for Bronx homeowners, shareholders and landlords as of October 2026: gut renovation, tile, flooring and painting, with planning costs, permit and building rules, and neighborhood notes. Cost figures are typical 2026 planning ranges, not quotes. A written, itemized estimate governs the final price.

1. What Bronx Renovation Work Typically Includes

Bronx projects tend to fall into a few patterns, each with its own priorities.

• Pre-war apartment updates. Plaster repair, new floors, bathroom and kitchen refreshes, and window and trim work in walk-ups and elevator buildings.
• Full apartment gut renovations. Taking a unit to studs and rebuilding layouts, systems and finishes. See gut renovation contractors in the Bronx for the borough-specific guide.
• Row house and two-family renovations. Multi-floor projects, often combining owner-occupied units and rental floors.
• House projects in the northern Bronx. Kitchens, baths, basements, floors and exterior painting in detached and attached homes.
• Co-op and condo work. Projects bounded by alteration agreements, insurance requirements and set hours.
• Rental turnovers. Floors, paint, tile and bath repairs between tenancies.

Our core services line up with those needs: gut renovation, tile installation, flooring and interior painting. For the thinking behind the numbers, see what a renovation costs in NYC in 2026.

2. 2026 Planning Ranges for Bronx Projects

The figures below are typical NYC-area planning ranges. Building rules, access, hazmat, finishes and scope move prices.

Soft costs for design, engineering, expediting and permits often add roughly 15 to 25 percent on top of construction. A 900-square-foot apartment gut at the lower end of the range is still a six-figure project, which is why clear scope matters. Use the gut renovation cost per square foot guide for detail and the renovation ROI guide for paint, floors and tile to decide which upgrades earn their keep.

3. Bronx Neighborhoods and What Each Tends to Need

Neighborhood context drives the plan. Here is how the main areas we serve compare.

Mott Haven, ZIPs 10451, 10454, 10455

Row houses, new waterfront condos and lofts. Row houses often need full systems work and structural attention; condos and lofts have board rules and hours; converted industrial buildings may have heavy floors and exposed masonry. Flood and waterfront considerations can apply near the river, so confirm with the DOB.

Co-op City, ZIP 10475

Large co-op towers with shareholder alteration rules. Work is typically limited to defined scopes, with insurance, hours and materials set by the community. Flooring and wet-room changes receive the most scrutiny.

Fieldston, ZIP 10471

The Fieldston Historic District, with large estates and private roads. Exterior changes may require LPC approval, and access on private roads needs coordination. Our Fieldston co-op and condo gut renovations page covers local specifics.

Norwood, ZIP 10467

Pre-war walk-ups and multifamily buildings. Plaster, old pipes, narrow stairs and multi-unit sound questions are typical. Asbestos and lead testing is common before demolition.

Grand Concourse, ZIPs 10451, 10452

Art Deco pre-war apartments within a historic district area. Original plaster, terrazzo, parquet and detailing are worth preserving, and exterior-facing changes may be regulated.

Kingsbridge, ZIP 10463

Pre-war co-ops, walk-ups and row houses. Board approvals, insurance and freight access matter for co-ops; row houses add structural and systems considerations.

4. Gut Renovation in the Bronx

A gut renovation takes a space back to studs and structure and rebuilds it. In the Bronx it is most common in pre-war apartments with tired layouts, in row houses being reorganized for modern living, and in loft-style buildings converting to residential use.

Typical phases are:

1. Design, drawings and filings.
2. Board approval where applicable.
3. Hazmat testing and abatement if needed.
4. Demolition and debris removal.
5. Framing, rough plumbing, electrical and HVAC.
6. Inspections.
7. Insulation, drywall or plaster, and tile waterproofing.
8. Flooring, cabinetry, fixtures and trim.
9. Painting and final cleaning.
10. Sign-offs and punch list.

Typical timelines for a full apartment gut run about 4 to 9 months including approvals. The renovation timeline planner helps you map your own calendar, and how long an NYC gut renovation takes breaks the schedule into phases. If you are unsure whether you need a full gut, read gut renovation vs. remodel and what to keep during a gut renovation.

Demolition and hazmat

Demolition is where older Bronx buildings reveal their age. Disturbing suspect asbestos-containing materials requires a survey or assessment and certified abatement when asbestos is present; buildings from before about 1987 commonly trigger this. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead paint. Our guides cover interior demolition in NYC, apartment demolition permits, asbestos surveys before demolition, lead paint and demolition rules and construction debris removal.

5. Tile, Flooring and Painting in Bronx Homes

Tile

Bathrooms and kitchens in pre-war buildings often sit on old mortar beds or uneven floors. Good tile work starts with substrate repair and waterproofing. Planning ranges are roughly $20-$45 per square foot for floors and $30-$80 for showers and walls, with waterproofing adding about $3-$10. See tile installation in the Bronx for contractors and costs.

Flooring

Hardwood installed typically runs $12-$28 per square foot, refinishing $4-$10 and luxury vinyl plank $6-$15. Many Bronx apartments have original oak or parquet that can be restored. Co-ops often require sound-rated underlayment.

Painting

A well-prepped interior repaint ranges from roughly $1,500 for a studio to $12,000 for a three-bedroom. Pre-war walls often need plaster repair and skim coating; pre-1978 homes need lead-safe practices. Our guide to painting contractors in the Bronx is a closer look at interior and exterior work in the borough.

Kitchens and baths

These combine tile, flooring, paint and plumbing. A full bathroom typically runs $30,000-$60,000 or more; see bathroom remodeling for the process.

6. Permits and Approvals in the Bronx

Most construction work in NYC needs a Department of Buildings permit. Alterations are filed through DOB NOW: Build by a New York State-registered Professional Engineer or Registered Architect, and the DOB explains the process on its how to obtain a permit page. Cosmetic work such as painting generally does not need a permit, but your building or landlord may have rules.

For a quick check, use the Do I Need a Permit? tool. Then, depending on your property:

• Co-ops and condos. Alteration agreement, drawings, insurance certificate and board approval before work.
• Landmarks and historic districts. The Landmarks Preservation Commission handles exterior work on designated properties; its permit applications page lists approval types.
• Contractors. Residential remodeling in NYC requires a Home Improvement Contractor license from the DCWP.
• Code changes. A new Existing Building Code takes effect July 17, 2027 and will govern alteration applications; current rules apply until then.

7. Neighborhoods and ZIP Codes We Serve in the Bronx

We serve the full borough. These are the areas highlighted in this guide, with ZIP codes:

• Mott Haven: ZIPs 10451, 10454, 10455. Row houses, new waterfront condos and lofts.
• Co-op City: ZIP 10475. Large co-op towers and shareholder alteration rules.
• Fieldston: ZIP 10471. Fieldston Historic District, large estates and private roads.
• Norwood: ZIP 10467. Pre-war walk-ups and multifamily buildings.
• Grand Concourse: ZIPs 10451, 10452. Art Deco pre-war apartments and a historic district.
• Kingsbridge: ZIP 10463. Pre-war co-ops, walk-ups and row houses.

Planning something across borough lines? See our gut renovation guides for Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn.

8. Co-op City and Large Complexes: How the Rules Differ

Large co-op communities operate like small cities, with detailed policies on what shareholders can alter. If you own in Co-op City or a similar complex, expect:

• A defined application form and approval process.
• Restrictions on structural changes and sometimes on layout changes.
• Rules for flooring materials, underlayment and uncovered floor area.
• Approved work hours and specific rules for contractors.
• Insurance certificates with prescribed wording.
• Inspections by the community's own staff in addition to city requirements.

The best approach is to obtain the written policy first, ask what has been approved in similar units, and build the schedule around the approval cycle. Our guide to co-op and condo renovation rules details the typical package.

9. Mistakes Bronx Owners Should Avoid

• Skipping hazmat testing in older buildings. Surprises mid-demolition stop the job.
• Hiring an unlicensed contractor. Residential remodeling requires a Home Improvement Contractor license, and unlicensed work leaves you exposed.
• Starting before approvals. Stop-work orders and board penalties follow.
• Choosing the lowest bid without comparing scope. Missing waterproofing, leveling and haul-away often explain the gap.
• Ignoring flooring sound rules. Hardwood in a co-op without proper underlayment can be ordered removed.
• Painting over lead without protocol. Pre-1978 homes need lead-safe methods for paid work.
• No contingency. Old buildings hide problems.

10. Why Hire a Licensed Contractor Instead of a Handyman

11. How We Work in the Bronx

12. Next Steps: Get Your Free Bronx Renovation Estimate

James - Lead Renovation Editor. With over 20 years in renovation and construction, James writes and edits our guides. More about James