Every Addition Starts With Understanding the Existing Home
Before planning an addition in Manhasset, it’s important to understand the home:
- Is it a pre-war Colonial in Munsey Park with original framing and tighter lot conditions?
- Is it a Strathmore home from the 1930s or 1940s that needs more space and modern layout?
- Is it a post-war Cape or ranch from the 1950s to 1970s lacking a primary suite or open living areas?
- Or a newer or custom home in North Hills, Plandome Manor, or Flower Hill with higher design and structural requirements?
Each scenario involves different planning, permitting through the Town of North Hempstead or village jurisdictions, and construction approach. Our first step is understanding your home, site, and goals before defining scope.
Explore Our Work on Homes Across Manhasset and Long Island
Our portfolio includes renovation and construction projects across Long Island, with homes throughout Manhasset and the North Shore Nassau communities.
Projects include home additions, kitchen renovations, and full-home remodels on post-war homes in Norgate and estate-era properties in Plandome and Munsey Park, all designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing home.
Client Experiences Working With Our Team
Across Nassau and Suffolk County, homeowners point to clear communication, well-defined scope, and results delivered as promised.
PRO New York Remodeler of the Year Awards
Center Island Contracting received three awards at the PRO New York Remodeler of the Year Awards Gala Gold for Residential Kitchen, Platinum for Residential Exterior, and Platinum for Entire House renovation. These reflect evaluated project quality measured against the best remodeling firms in New York State.
Gold
Residential Kitchen
$60,001-$100,000
Platinum
Residential Exterior
$100,001-$200,000
Platinum
Entire House
$750,001-$1,000,000
History and Housing Conditions That Shape Your Addition
Manhasset’s housing spans nearly a century, and each era affects how additions are designed, permitted, and built.
Housing Styles Across Greater Manhasset
1920s to 1930s Colonial Homes in Munsey Park
The Village of Munsey Park was developed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art following Frank Munsey's death in 1925. These homes feature traditional proportions, original wood framing, and smaller footprints require careful structural integration and village-level review.
1930s to 1940s Strathmore Homes
Levitt & Sons developed Strathmore at Manhasset beginning in 1934, their second major Long Island project before Levittown. The Strathmore neighborhoods are well-built but compact homes where second-story additions and primary suite expansions are common.
1910s to 1930s Plandome Heights and Plandome Manor
Plandome Heights was developed beginning in 1909 by Benjamin Duke, a founder of the American Tobacco Company, who commissioned ten homes in a uniform Spanish Colonial style with white stucco exteriors, red-tile roofs, and spacious gardens. Nine of these original “tobacco homes” remain today.
1950s to 1970s Post-War Homes
The unincorporated areas of Manhasset, including Norgate, Terrace Manor, Manhasset Park, and Bayview, were developed in the post-war era. These Cape Cods, split-levels, and colonials often lack modern layouts and require mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades when adding space.
1980s to Present Homes in North Hills and Flower Hill
North Hills was incorporated in 1929 with two-acre minimum zoning, and its residential properties remain among the largest in the area. Homes here are larger with higher finish expectations and more complex structural and zoning requirements.
Manhasset’s housing spans nearly a century, and each era affects how additions are designed, permitted, and built.
What Drives Pricing in Manhasset Additions
Here is a breakdown of the main cost drivers:
Typical ranges on Long Island:
Serving Manhasset and Nearby Communities
Center Island Contracting serves homeowners throughout the Manhasset area and the surrounding North Shore Nassau communities, including:
- Munsey Park
- Plandome
- Plandome Heights
- Plandome Manor
- Flower Hill
- Manhasset Hills
- Strathmore
- New Hyde Park.
Many of these communities share similar architectural eras and fall under the same North Hempstead permitting framework, meaning our established process applies consistently across the service area.
What You Need to Know
Planning and Permitting in Manhasset
Town of North Hempstead Building Department
For unincorporated Manhasset, permits are filed with the Town of North Hempstead Building Department for structural, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work. You can access permit applications, submittal requirements, forms, and FAQs through the Town’s online portal.
Village-Level Permits for Incorporated Areas
Munsey Park, Plandome, Plandome Heights, and Plandome Manor each have their own building departments and zoning boards of appeals. We verifies jurisdiction and prepares all submissions.
Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board Review
Additions that exceed lot coverage limits or encroach on required setbacks require a variance application before a building permit can be issued. In the unincorporated areas, this goes to the Town of North Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).
In incorporated villages, each village has its own Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)
Nassau County Home Improvement Contractor Licensing
Center Island Contracting holds a valid Nassau County home improvement contractor license with full insurance, ensuring all work meets local requirements.
Visit Our Design Studio & Showroom
Center Island Contracting operates a design center and showroom on Long Island where Manhasset homeowners can review materials, finishes, and selections in person before construction begins. Rather than making decisions from a small sample chip or a website photo, you can see how materials relate to one another, evaluate quality differences between finish options, and move forward with real confidence in your choices.
By Appointment Only - Every visit is scheduled in advance to ensure focused, uninterrupted time with our design team.
What Sets Center Island Contracting Apart
A More Streamlined Approach to Home Additions
Center Island Contracting is a design-build general contractor that manages architecture, permitting, material selection, and construction under one team for home additions.
The result is an addition that looks and functions as if it was always part of the home.
The Types of Home Additions Available in Manhasset
Every addition we design starts with the existing structure, the lot conditions, and the zoning requirements of the applicable jurisdiction - whether that's the Town of North Hempstead or one of Manhasset's incorporated villages. From there, the project is designed to solve a specific space problem without compromising the character of the home.
Second-Story Additions
Ideal for ranch-style and Levitt-built Strathmore homes where expanding upward is more practical than building out. Requires structural assessment and, frequently, reinforcement of the existing first-floor framing before design can be finalized.
Primary Suite Additions
One of the most frequently requested project types in Manhasset. Pre-war and post-war colonial and Cape-style homes were typically built without en-suite bathrooms or adequate primary bedroom square footage. These additions can be ground-level or second-story depending on site and zoning constraints.
Kitchen Expansions
Post-war and pre-war homes often have compact, closed-off kitchens. Extending the kitchen footprint, combined with an open-concept conversion, is consistently among the highest-ROI projects in this market.
In-Law Suite / Accessory Living Space
Multigenerational living arrangements are increasingly common among executive household demographic. In-law suites typically include a bedroom, bathroom, and small living area, either attached to the main structure or above a garage.
Family Room or Great Room Addition
For homes that lack a casual gathering space, a ground-level rear or side addition creates the open, livable layout most families are looking for without touching the existing structure unnecessarily.
Home Office Addition
Dedicated, acoustically separate work-from-home space built as true conditioned square footage, not a converted garage or finished basement, with proper HVAC, electrical, and technology infrastructure.
Areas Served Near Manhasset
Center Island Contracting serves homeowners across the North Shore of Nassau County and into western Suffolk County. Communities near Manhasset where we regularly work include Great Neck, Port Washington, Roslyn, Roslyn Heights, Roslyn Estates, Mineola, New Hyde Park, Garden City, Floral Park, Albertson, Williston Park, Herricks, Carle Place, and Westbury.
Whether a project is in an incorporated village or an unincorporated Town of North Hempstead community, our permitting process and design-build model remain consistent.
Other Services We Provide
Additions by Home Style
Cape-Style Additions
Cape Cods are common in post-war neighborhoods, including Norgate and Terrace Manor.
They suit rear additions or dormered second-story expansions, with the main challenge being maintaining the roofline while increasing livable space.
Ranch-Style Additions
Single-story ranch homes are well-suited for second-story additions, though structural reinforcement is often required. Rear additions are also common where zoning allows, especially in unincorporated areas under the Town of North Hempstead.
Split-Level Additions
Split-level homes in mid-century neighborhoods have more complex structures that require careful engineering for additions.
Expansions are typically done one level at a time, adding spaces like a primary suite or family room while maintaining the existing layout.
Our Process for Home Additions in Manhasset
Pre-construction defines every detail upfront, making the build phase structured and predictable for homeowners.
Consultation & Site Assessment
We assess your goals, your budget parameters, and the specific conditions of your home, lot, and governing jurisdiction.
Design & Planning
Architectural drawings, layouts, and all material selections are finalized, including a showroom visit.
Permitting
We prepare and submit all required documentation and follow up weekly until approvals are secured.
Construction
Work proceeds in scheduled phases with coordinated trades, weekly updates, and a single point of contact throughout the build.
Completion
All finish details are reviewed against the original specifications, inspections are closed out, and certificate of occupancy requirements are met before completion.
Schedule a Consultation for Your Manhasset Home Project
If you are considering a home addition in Manhasset, whether you are exploring options or ready to move forward, the first step is a straightforward conversation about your home, goals, and budget.
We start with questions, not a sales pitch.
Phone
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday- Closed
About Home Additions in Manhasset