Home builders of Nassau County.

A lot of Nassau County was built in the postwar years. Capes, ranches and split-levels on tight lots. When a family outgrows one of those houses, there are three ways to go. You build up, you build out, or you start over.

Building up usually means a dormer or a full second story. A shed dormer can turn a cramped Cape attic into a real bedroom floor without changing the footprint. That matters on lots where the setbacks leave no room to expand.

Building out means a home addition on the side or rear, like a bigger kitchen, a first-floor primary suite or a family room. Lot coverage and setback rules decide how far you can go.

Starting over is the job for a custom home builder. When the old house can't carry the space you need, a tear-down and rebuild on the same lot is often the better value. Our new home construction page covers how a ground-up custom home works, from demolition and permits to the final walkthrough.

Permits depend on where the house sits. Unincorporated areas file with the Town of Hempstead, North Hempstead or Oyster Bay building department. Incorporated villages such as Garden City, and the cities of Glen Cove and Long Beach, run their own. We confirm which one applies before any drawings go in.