Delmer Home Improvements & Services builds kitchens that actually fit the way you cook, eat, and live. We handle full gut renovations, open-concept conversions, cabinet replacements, and everything in between for homeowners across Howell, Monmouth County, and Ocean County. One crew runs your project from demo day to the last piece of trim — no subcontractor handoffs, no finger-pointing between trades. Call (732) 905-2064 for a free estimate.
Most kitchens we tear out have the same story — they were built for a different decade. Closed-off layouts with a wall between the kitchen and living room. Builder-grade cabinets that were never meant to last 30 years. Countertops that stain, flooring that peels, lighting that makes everything look yellow. If that sounds like your kitchen, you’re not alone. It’s what we see in the majority of homes across Howell, Freehold, Jackson, and Manalapan.
We’ve remodeled over 500 kitchens and bathrooms throughout Monmouth and Ocean County since 2015. Our owner, Antonio Merino, grew up in Howell and has spent 20+ years building and renovating homes in this area. He knows the housing stock — the ranches off Route 9 with galley kitchens, the colonials in Colts Neck with formal dining rooms that nobody uses, the split-levels in Jackson where the kitchen sits half a flight up from the family room. That local knowledge shapes how we approach every layout.
We’re fully licensed (NJ HIC #13VH08726800), insured, and we pull every permit ourselves. Our team handles plumbing, electrical, framing, tile, cabinetry, and finish carpentry — all in-house, all under one roof.
From full-scale gut renovations to single-scope upgrades, we manage the entire job with our own crew. Here’s what a kitchen remodel with Delmer can include:
Strip it down to the studs and rebuild from scratch. New layout, new plumbing lines, new electrical, new everything. This is the route most of our clients take when the kitchen is 25+ years old and nothing about the current setup is worth saving. We handle structural modifications, load-bearing wall removal, subfloor replacement — the heavy work that turns a cramped, outdated kitchen into something completely different.
Taking down the wall between your kitchen and living area is one of the most requested projects we do. In most Howell and Freehold homes built before 2000, the kitchen is boxed off from the rest of the house. We engineer and install the necessary support beams, reroute any plumbing or electrical inside the wall, and finish the space so there's no trace the wall ever existed. The result is a single, connected living space with better sightlines, more natural light, and a layout that works for how families actually live today.
When the bones of your kitchen are solid but the surfaces are shot, a cabinet and countertop swap is the most cost-effective transformation. We install semi-custom lines like Fabuwood and Wolf as well as fully custom builds. For countertops, we template on-site and install quartz, granite, marble, quartzite, and butcher block — whatever fits the look and the budget. New hardware, new hinges, soft-close everything.
If the problem isn't the cabinets or the layout — it's the square footage — we build kitchen additions that extend your footprint. Bump-outs, rear extensions, and side additions designed to match your existing roofline and exterior materials. This is common in Holmdel and Colts Neck where the original kitchen was undersized relative to the rest of the house. Foundation work, framing, roofing tie-in, and full interior build-out — handled as one seamless project.
After 500+ kitchen and bathroom remodels, we can give you ballpark numbers that actually mean something. These are fully installed costs — materials, labor, permits, and cleanup. Your final number depends on the size of the kitchen, what materials you choose, and how much structural work is involved. We break it all down in a written estimate before anything starts.
| Remodel Type | Typical Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet & Countertop Replacement | $15,000 – $30,000 | Semi-custom or custom cabinets, stone countertops, hardware, installation |
| Mid-Range Full Remodel | $35,000 – $55,000 | Cabinets, countertops, flooring, backsplash, lighting, plumbing fixtures, paint |
| High-End Gut Renovation | $55,000 – $90,000+ | Complete demo, new layout, custom cabinetry, premium finishes, full electrical & plumbing |
| Open-Concept Conversion | $60,000 – $100,000+ | Structural beam, full layout reconfiguration, all finishes, mechanical rerouting |
| Kitchen Bump-Out / Addition | $80,000 – $150,000+ | Foundation, framing, roofing tie-in, full kitchen build-out |
Ranges based on typical projects in Howell, Freehold, Manalapan, Jackson, and surrounding towns. Material selections — especially cabinetry and countertops — have the biggest impact on final cost. Call (732) 905-2064 for a detailed estimate specific to your kitchen.
A kitchen renovation touches every trade — plumbing, electrical, carpentry, tile, paint. Coordinating all of that is our job. Here’s how it works, step by step.
We come to you. We look at the existing kitchen, talk about what's bothering you, what you want to keep, and what needs to go. We measure the space and discuss layout possibilities, material preferences, timeline, and budget. No sales pitch — just a straight conversation about what makes sense for your home.
This is where the kitchen takes shape on paper. We help you select cabinetry, countertop materials, tile, hardware, fixtures, and lighting. If you've already got inspiration photos or a clear vision, we work from that. If you're starting from zero, we walk you through the options that make sense for your budget and your kitchen's size. You get a written scope of work and detailed estimate before we touch a single cabinet.
We file for all required construction permits with your township — Howell, Freehold, Jackson, wherever you are. We confirm material lead times, schedule deliveries, and lock in your construction start date. You'll know the full timeline before demo day.
We seal off the kitchen from the rest of your home with dust barriers and floor protection. Then we gut the space — old cabinets, countertops, flooring, drywall as needed. If walls are coming down, this is when we install beams and handle structural modifications. All rough plumbing and electrical gets run and inspected before we close anything up.
Cabinets go in first — leveled, shimmed, and secured. Then we template for countertops (stone fabrication typically takes 2–3 weeks after template). Flooring, backsplash tile, fixtures, and appliances follow in sequence. Every piece is installed by our crew.
Crown molding, baseboards, trim, caulk lines, paint touch-ups, hardware installation — the finish details that make a kitchen feel complete. We walk through the finished space with you and address anything that needs adjustment before the job is closed out.
You’re handing someone the keys to the most important room in your house for weeks at a time. That requires a contractor who shows up, communicates, and delivers work that holds up — not just one who gives a good first impression. Here’s what working with us actually looks like.
We're not learning on your project. Twenty years of remodeling across Monmouth and Ocean County means we've handled every cabinet brand, every countertop material, every layout challenge, and every surprise behind the walls. That experience shows in the speed and quality of the finished product.
We don't lowball to win the job and make it up with change orders. Your written estimate is itemized and detailed. If something unexpected comes up during demo — old plumbing, structural issues — we bring it to you with options and pricing before we proceed.
Our carpenters, tile setters, and finish guys are Delmer employees — not subcontractors pulled from a rotating list. That means consistent quality, no scheduling gaps between trades, and one phone number to call if you have a question.
When Antonio or our project lead says they'll call you back, they call you back. When we say the tile guy is coming Thursday, he's coming Thursday. This sounds basic, but if you've ever hired a contractor before, you know how rare it actually is.
Whether you’ve got a full plan or just know the kitchen needs to change, we’re happy to come take a look and talk through your options. Estimates are free, detailed, and come with zero pressure. Most consultations are scheduled within a few days of your call.
It depends on scope, but here are realistic ranges for the Howell and Monmouth County area: cabinet and countertop replacements typically run $15,000–$30,000. A mid-range full remodel with new flooring, lighting, and fixtures lands between $35,000 and $55,000. High-end gut renovations with custom cabinetry and structural work start around $55,000 and go up from there. We give you an itemized estimate before any work begins so there are no surprises.
A cabinet and countertop swap with no structural changes takes about 3–4 weeks. A full gut renovation with layout changes, wall removal, and new plumbing/electrical typically runs 8–12 weeks. The biggest variable is material lead times — custom cabinets and stone countertops can take 3–6 weeks to fabricate. We lock down all timelines before we start.
Yes — open-concept conversions are one of our most common projects. If the wall is load-bearing (and in most cases it is), we design and install an engineered support beam that carries the load. We handle the structural engineering, township permits, and all the finish work so the result is seamless. This is especially popular in Howell ranches and Freehold split-levels where the kitchen was originally closed off.
Any kitchen renovation that involves plumbing changes, electrical work, or structural modification requires permits from your local township. Even some cabinet-only remodels need a permit depending on the scope. We pull every permit, schedule every inspection, and keep the paperwork current — that's included in our process, not an add-on.
We install stock, semi-custom, and full custom cabinetry. Most of our clients go with semi-custom lines like Fabuwood or Wolf — they offer strong quality, solid construction, and a wide range of door styles and finishes at a price point that makes sense for most budgets. For clients who want fully custom sizes, wood species, or specialty finishes, we build to spec.
Quartz is our most-installed countertop right now — it's nonporous, doesn't need sealing, resists stains, and comes in hundreds of color and pattern options. Granite is still popular for homeowners who want a natural stone look. Marble is beautiful but requires more maintenance. Butcher block works well for islands or secondary prep areas. We'll help you choose based on how you use your kitchen and what fits your budget.
Yes — nearly all of our kitchen remodel clients stay home during construction. You won't have access to the kitchen for the duration, so we recommend setting up a temporary station with a microwave, coffee maker, and cooler somewhere else in the house. We keep the work zone sealed off with dust barriers and clean up at the end of every day.
We're based in Howell, NJ and remodel kitchens throughout Monmouth and Ocean County — including Freehold, Colts Neck, Middletown, Holmdel, Manalapan, Monroe, Jackson, Brick, Wall Township, Red Bank, Rumson, Little Silver, Belmar, Asbury Park, and Spring Lake. If your town isn't listed, give us a call at (732) 905-2064 — chances are we work there too.
We serve homeowners in the following areas. Don’t see your town? Call (732) 905-2064.
