West New York Restoration of CT Inc.

In the world of high-end residential and exterior facade renovation, there are few better places in the country to find work than New York City. With more than 30 years of experience in the business, West New York Restoration of CT Inc. is one of The Big Apple’s most experienced facade restoration experts.

Founded in 1984 by owner and president Alfred Gallicchio, West New York Restoration of CT completes extensive exterior restoration, roofing and waterproofing projects throughout New York City. Based in the Bronx, West New York Restoration of CT is conveniently located right next door to some of the country’s most historic and expensive building facades. From 5th Avenue to Central Park West, the expertise of West New York Restoration of CT can be seen across the city.

“We do everything from the sidewalks to up the facades and across the roofs,” says Kevin Crawford, chief estimator at West New York Restoration of CT. From masonry and welding to roofing systems ranging from shingles to copper and slate, there are few aspects related to the exterior of a building that West New York Restoration of CT isn’t familiar with.

With around 200 employees, West New York Restoration of CT is one of the larger players in the New York facade restoration market. A non-union shop, the company relies on a strong management structure to keep its reputation intact.

“Alfred oversees everything and knows everything that is going on in all the projects,” says Crawford. With five project managers running as many as two dozen projects at a time, there is a lot to oversee at West New York Restoration of CT, but Gallicchio is just the man for the job. “He’s a demanding character, but it is his character that makes all the difference in the quality of the work.”

High-end and high-profile in New York City

Specializing in high-end residential and religious facade restoration, often of a historic nature, West New York Restoration of CT has had to earn the trust of its clients. A recent project in downtown Manhattan gave West New York Restoration of CT a chance to show off its chops when the company was selected to install new terracotta sculptures at a 150 Nassau Street, just south of New York City Hall. “It was an older building and they hired us after a competitive bidding process to tear down the old, damaged terra cotta and install these new, extraordinary angel sculptures,” says Crawford.

Working on such high-end residential restoration in projects in New York City inevitably means working with cooperatives. “Co-op ownership is different from sole ownership,” says Crawford, who understands its influence on the New York metropolitan market. “It drives the industry.”

West New York Restoration of CT knows how to deal with co-ops, and the project at 150 Nassau was completed with minimal disruption to tenants. “It was difficult for everyone involved and the scaffolding is around for longer than anyone wants, but in the end it was a nice, successful project,” says Crawford.

The firm also restores facades and roofs on small owner-occupied properties such as 1199 Bergen Street in Brooklyn, New York, and 129 West 78th Street in Manhattan, for which West New York Restoration of CT was recently honored with a Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award.

Labor and materials are among the biggest costs at West New York Restoration of CT, and site safety can be a big, costly concern when working high above the most densely populated cities in the country. “There are strict regulations for safety here in the state. In any building over a certain height you have to have a site safety plan and site safety manager, and that has to be a third party because we can’t manage it ourselves. That’s a big issue,” Crawford says.

The cost of insurance can also represent a big expense, especially in New York City. “The cost is tremendous,” Crawford says. “This is one of the only places where you have scaffold laws and the contractor and owner are 100 percent responsible for any injury.”

Friends in high places

While the company subs out plumbing and electrical work and does not deal with hazardous waste or remediation, West New York Restoration of CT is well-versed in all other aspects pertaining to exterior restoration work. “We have a good reputation and we handle everything in-house, including scaffolding,” says Crawford.

That reputation often precedes the company when the team comes in to do a bid, says Crawford. “When I walk into a room, it’s pre-sold, to a degree, says Crawford. “They are usually acquainted with the company and will say something like ‘Oh, here’s West New York, they are one of the best in New York,’ I have an easy sell.”

For West New York Restoration of CT, reputation is everything. Crawford places it right next to safety and maintaining good relationships with suppliers, clients and representatives as the most important metrics for the company.

In the next few years, Crawford would like to see the company experience some small growth while managing its sustainability. On his end, he is doing what he can to realize that goal, arriving at work by 7:30 each morning and leaving “no earlier than five,” he says.

With a dedicated team of experienced restoration experts on staff and the biggest city in the U.S. under its thumb, West New York Restoration of CT will continue to lead the New York market in residential exterior facade restoration.