Frequently Asked Questions

RAMP is a licensed, insured, and registered New York general contractor offering the capacity of a larger firm, leaner pricing, and a level of design, craft, and strategic guidance most contractors do not provide. Consider us your in-house construction team, shaping each project to your vision and budget with senior leadership and a deep bench of experienced trades.

If you value a construction team that brings care and rigor to your design and budget, we’re a strong fit for projects from $250K to $5M. Efficiency and craft are the order of the day, every day.

Check any contractor’s DOB registration and disciplinary history on the DOB License Search and, for residential work, their DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license. RAMP holds DOB GC #627243 and DCWP license #2127987-DCWP, and we provide certificates of insurance up front.

We typically offer fixed pricing based on well-developed drawings, giving clients clarity and confidence in the cost upfront. For smaller projects, troubled projects, design-build work, or projects with evolving drawings, we offer cost-plus pricing with careful estimating and itemized invoicing.

Most of our projects are in New York City, though we have also built for clients in New Jersey, the Hudson Valley, and the Catskills. We are well versed in the site conditions, permitting processes, and code requirements unique to each of these regions, and bring the same level of thoughtful planning, craftsmanship, and accountability to every project.

Often, yes. Cosmetic work like painting, flooring, cabinets, and fixture swaps usually do not need a DOB permit. Moving plumbing, gas or electrical, changing walls or adding kitchen exhaust does. Restaurants also need FDNY and DOH approvals. Landmarks occasionally needs to sign off. We coordinate every filing with expeditors to avoid costly Stop Work Orders.

Yes. Most NYC co-ops and condos require board approval and an alteration agreement before work begins, typically with drawings, insurance certificates naming the building, a schedule and limits on work hours. Approval can take weeks or months, so we prepare our documents early and work with your managing agent.

We bring a deep bench of talented and collaborative specialists to every project, backed by dedicated supervision and labor to keep the jobsite safe, clean, and closely managed.

As early as possible. Finished drawings are not required. Early involvement helps us reduce risk, identify savings, and accelerate your timeline.

Once permits are in hand, full restaurant renovations usually take 16 to 24 weeks and retail fit-outs 8 to 14 weeks. Long-lead equipment and finishes are often the critical path items that set the schedule more than the build itself. We map these at the start so your opening date is realistic.

Cost per square foot is a useful check, but alone it’s unreliable. Finish level, new build versus renovation, kitchen and MEP complexity, and building access all move the number. The fastest path to a real budget is an early review of your space and design intent where we can then give a rough order of magnitude budget.

Often, yes. BUT be prepared for daily disruption and added cost. Occupied renovations require extra protection, dust control, daily cleanup, phased work, and close coordination to keep the space safe and usable. This added complexity also makes delays more likely. That said, we can usually budget for these measures upfront and help you weigh whether temporarily relocating or closing would, in fact, save time and money and avoid frustration.

Value engineering is the disciplined process of reducing a design’s cost while preserving its delicate concept, function, operations, and brand intent so the space still performs beautifully for owners and guests. Getting it right takes a builder with sensitivity and design vision.

Design must be complete before permits can be filed, and that takes time. Depending on scope and complexity, planning often needs to begin as early as three months before construction for straightforward infill or renovation projects and up to six or eight months in advance for high-concept restaurants and luxury residential projects.

Often more than first-time clients expect. The professional services needed to design, approve, coordinate, and close out a project, including architecture, engineering, expediting, filing, and related compliance work adds up. 20% can be a reasonable planning rule of thumb for design driven projects but varies greatly.

We don’t like them! Early involvement, thoughtful pricing, and careful planning help minimize unexpected costs. That said, a contingency in every budget is recommended to provide breathing room.

We structure every project so clients see the full picture without carrying the daily weight. Weekly check-ins keep decisions, approvals, costs, and timing clear while our team manages the field coordination, trade oversight, and problem-solving that high-end work demands.