Home › Staten Island
Home repairs in Staten Island: guides and a licensed local pro
Staten Island is mostly one- and two-family houses with yards, driveways, decks and basements. That means owners handle things apartment dwellers never see, from gutters and outdoor faucets to sewer lines and storm prep. Here's where to start.
Get matched with a licensed pro in Staten Island Free for you. Pros pay Five Boro Fix a referral fee. Matching service, not a contractor.
Staten Island housing stock
Detached and semi-detached houses dominate, from older frame houses on the North Shore (St. George, West Brighton, Port Richmond) to newer attached houses and townhomes on the South Shore. Many houses have pitched roofs with gutters, decks, fences, garages and finished basements, and some older homes still use oil heat.
Common problems
- Clogged or sagging gutters that overflow and push water toward the foundation.
- Basement water from heavy rain, sump pump failures or sewer backups.
- Frozen and split outdoor hose bibs after the first hard freeze.
- Storm damage to roofs, siding, fences and trees.
- Outlets and circuits in older houses that can't handle modern loads.
NYC rules that matter on Staten Island
- Sewer lines: the private line from your house to the city sewer is the owner's responsibility. Some older homes were built before sewers reached their street, so confirm what you have before you hire.
- Flood zones: parts of the East and South Shore (Midland Beach, New Dorp Beach, Oakwood Beach, Tottenville) are in flood zones; check the city's flood map before finishing a basement or replacing mechanical equipment.
- Licenses: plumbing and gas need a DOB Licensed Master Plumber, electrical needs a DOB Licensed Master Electrician, and home improvement over $200 needs a DCWP license. Bigger deck or structural work can also need DOB permits.
- Winter prep: DEP recommends shutting off and draining outdoor faucets and insulating exposed pipes before freezing weather.
Utilities
Electricity on Staten Island comes from Con Edison. Gas comes from National Grid (gas emergencies: 718-643-4050, or 911).
Before you hire on Staten Island
Most Staten Island jobs involve a whole house, so describe the problem with photos of the outside as well as the inside: gutters, grading, the sump pump, the electrical panel. Ask whether the job needs a DOB permit (decks, structural work, plumbing and electrical usually do) and who files it. For storm repairs, document the damage before cleanup and check your insurance first. Schedule gutter cleaning and outdoor-faucet shutoff in late fall, before the first hard freeze.
Staten Island guides
Citywide guides that apply in Staten Island
Questions
Who supplies gas on Staten Island?
National Grid. Its gas emergency line is 718-643-4050; you can also call 911.
Is my Staten Island house in a flood zone?
Check the NYC Flood Hazard Mapper for your address. Parts of the East and South Shore are in flood zones.
Is Five Boro Fix free for Staten Island homeowners?
Yes. Participating pros pay us a referral fee. We're a matching service, not a contractor.
Sources
Rules and phone numbers can change. Check the official source before relying on them.
Other boroughs: Manhattan · Brooklyn · Queens · The Bronx · All NYC home repair guides
Get matched with one licensed pro, free
Owners, co-op/condo owners and landlords: tell us the job and we'll introduce you to one licensed local business. We aim to make the introduction within 24 hours. We ask pros to share their license and insurance; verify the license yourself at the DCWP or DOB lookup. Free for you. Pros pay Five Boro Fix a referral fee. Matching service, not a contractor.