Remodeling Contractor in Putnam Lake, NY
Westchester & Putnam Home Remodeling Service Serving Putnam Lake
Bungalow conversions, additions, kitchens, baths and roofs for Putnam Lake homes in the Town of Patterson. Small lots, old foundations and septic limits planned for by a Putnam County contractor since 1980.
A Summer Colony That Became a Neighborhood
Putnam Lake didn’t grow slowly like most hamlets. It was created all at once, in 1930 and 1931, when developers dammed Morlock Brook to make a 200-acre lake and mapped thousands of small lots on 1,111 acres straddling the Connecticut line. The lake flooded the old hamlet of Valleyville. By 1932 about 2,000 summer homes had gone up, most of them simple bungalows with outhouses and hand-dug wells.
Over the decades, the colony turned into Patterson’s most populated neighborhood. Bungalows were winterized and enlarged, or replaced. Septic systems took the place of outhouses, and deeper wells were drilled as the water table fell. Today the Patterson side has about 1,230 homes around Fairfield Drive, Haviland Drive and Lake Shore Drive.
What We Find When We Open the Walls
- Additions on additions. Many houses were expanded several times by different owners, so framing, rooflines and floor levels don’t always line up.
- Light foundations. Original bungalows may sit on piers or shallow block. Before adding a second floor, we check what is underneath.
- Old wiring & plumbing. Undersized electrical service and mixed piping from decades of updates.
- Septic limits. Small lots leave little room for a larger septic field, which caps new bedrooms.
None of this stops a good renovation, but it has to be priced honestly. We open questionable areas early and give you options in writing.
Popular Putnam Lake Projects
Year-round conversions
Insulation, heating and the systems that make a seasonal house comfortable all winter.
Second stories
Going up instead of out on a narrow lot, with the foundation checked first. See home additions.
Roofs & siding
Roofing with a 10-year workmanship warranty.
Basements
Basement finishing in Patterson where the groundwater allows.
Rebuilds
Teardown-rebuilds when a cottage isn’t worth saving.
Working on a Tight Street
With houses close together and narrow roads, deliveries and dumpsters take planning. We schedule larger deliveries, keep the street open and protect the neighbors’ property. A Guardian project manager runs the job, and licensed, insured electricians and plumbers handle the trade work, with Patterson inspections at each stage.
Putnam Lake Renovation FAQs
Who handles permits in Putnam Lake?
Putnam Lake is a hamlet of the Town of Patterson. The Patterson Building Department at Town Hall issues building permits and does inspections, and Putnam County’s Health Department reviews septic systems.
Why are the lots so small?
When Putnam Lake was laid out in 1930 and 1931, the developers mapped about 11,000 lots, many just 20 by 100 feet, and sold them for summer bungalows. Many homes there still sit on much less land than a typical Putnam County house.
Can we turn our cottage into a year-round home?
Many owners have. The work usually involves insulation, a new heating system, updated wiring and plumbing, and sometimes a new foundation. Septic capacity is often the limit on adding bedrooms or bathrooms, so we check it first.
Do lake rights affect a renovation?
Deeded lake rights are protected by the Putnam Lake Park District under the Town code. They don’t usually affect work on the house itself, but projects near the shoreline or on district land need extra attention.
Nearby Towns
We also work throughout Patterson, Brewster and Southeast.
Updating a Putnam Lake Home?
Tell us about the house. We’ll look at what’s there and send a written estimate.
Guardian Remodeling Corp · 143 Lake Shore Dr W, Carmel, NY 10512 · 914-912-0385 · Frank@guardianremodelingcorp.com
