Tonawanda Home Renovation — Modernize Your Classic WNY Home Without Losing Its Character
You bought in Tonawanda or Kenmore because the neighborhood made sense — good lots, solid construction, walkable streets, and a price that didn’t require a second mortgage. What you didn’t fully account for was the pink tile bathroom, the galley kitchen where two people can’t stand side by side, and the windows that rattle every time a truck rolls down the block.
The house has plenty of life left in it. It just needs to catch up to the way you actually live.
Mid City Home Restoration has completed 380+ home renovation projects in Tonawanda and across Western New York since 2011. We are fully licensed and insured in New York State, with a 1-year workmanship warranty on all labor. 5.0 stars on Google from 18 verified customers.
Call (833) 736-6647 for a free estimate — or keep reading to see what’s possible in your Tonawanda home.
Recent Tonawanda-Area Renovation Projects
Here’s what we’ve completed recently for homeowners in Tonawanda, Kenmore, North Tonawanda, and Grand Island. Every project includes the actual scope, investment range, and timeline so you know what to expect.
1952 Cape Cod Kitchen Remodel — Kenmore (Elmwood Avenue)
Removed wall between kitchen and dining room to create open concept layout. Installed new electrical panel to support modern appliances, added recessed lighting on dimmer switches, replaced all plumbing supply lines and drain stack, installed quartz countertops with undermount sink, semi-custom cabinets with soft-close drawers, and luxury vinyl plank flooring. Homeowner selected mid-range finishes throughout. Investment: $32,000 | Timeline: 5 weeks
1960s Ranch Bathroom Renovation — North Tonawanda (Payne Avenue)
Full gut of 5×8 bathroom down to studs. Relocated toilet to improve layout, installed curbless walk-in shower with glass enclosure and tile surround, added exhaust fan vented to exterior, updated all plumbing to current code, installed vanity with double sinks, and porcelain tile flooring with radiant heat mat. Discovered rotted subfloor during demo and replaced before tile installation. Investment: $24,500 | Timeline: 3 weeks
1940s Colonial Whole-House Update — Tonawanda (Fillmore Avenue)
Phased renovation over 12 weeks while homeowners remained in residence. Replaced all windows (18 total), updated electrical service from 100-amp to 200-amp panel, added insulation in attic and exterior walls where accessible, renovated kitchen and two bathrooms, refinished original hardwood floors, and painted all interior rooms. Coordinated with separate HVAC contractor for new furnace installation. Investment: $87,000 | Timeline: 12 weeks across 4 phases
1970s Split-Level Kitchen & Powder Room — Grand Island (Baseline Road)
Reconfigured galley kitchen to add 4 feet of counter space by removing non-structural partition. Installed new cabinets with pull-out organizers, granite countertops, tile backsplash, and stainless appliances. Updated powder room with new vanity, toilet, flooring, and lighting. Both spaces received new drywall and paint. Investment: $28,000 | Timeline: 4 weeks
All pricing reflects actual completed projects in 2023-2024. Your project cost will depend on your home’s specific conditions, the extent of any structural or mechanical repairs needed, and your material selections. We provide detailed written estimates after the initial site visit — never a ballpark number over the phone.
What Our Clients Say
“Our 1950s kitchen had the original metal cabinets and about 18 inches of usable counter space. Mid City reconfigured the whole layout, moved plumbing and electrical, and gave us a kitchen that actually works for how we cook. They showed up every day on time and cleaned up before they left. The whole job took five weeks exactly like they said it would.”
— Jennifer, Kenmore
“We bought a house on Grand Island that needed everything — bathrooms, kitchen, windows, the works. Mid City walked us through the whole process, helped us figure out what to do first, and kept us in the loop every step of the way. They found some old plumbing issues during demo and fixed them right instead of just covering them up. A year later, everything still looks great.”
— Mark, Grand Island
“The bathroom renovation took three weeks and they stuck to the schedule. No surprises, no runaround. They protected the rest of the house with plastic barriers and actually vacuumed every day. The tile work is perfect and the new exhaust fan finally keeps the mirror from fogging up. Worth every penny.”
— Susan, North Tonawanda
Read all 18 five-star reviews on our Google Business Profile.
What to Expect When You Work With Mid City Home Restoration
We’ve refined our process over 380+ projects since 2011. Here’s exactly how a typical Tonawanda home renovation project works from first call to final walkthrough.
Step 1: Free On-Site Consultation
You call (833) 736-6647 or submit a contact form. We schedule a time to visit your home — usually within 3-5 business days. During this visit, we look at the space you want to renovate, discuss what’s working and what isn’t, take measurements, and check what’s behind the walls if access is available. We ask about your timeline, budget range, and how you actually use the space. This visit typically takes 45-60 minutes and there’s no charge.
Step 2: Written Estimate With Scope & Pricing Range
Within one week of the site visit, we provide a detailed written estimate that includes the scope of work, materials specifications, a realistic cost range (not a single fixed number), and an estimated timeline. We break down what’s included and what’s not. If we anticipate potential issues based on your home’s age or condition — old plumbing, outdated electrical, possible asbestos — we note those in the estimate so there are no surprises later.
Step 3: Project Scheduling & Prep
Once you approve the estimate and we receive your deposit, we schedule your project start date. Depending on our current workload and the scope of your project, this is typically 2-6 weeks out. We provide a prep checklist so you know what to clear out, what to protect, and what to expect during construction. For kitchen and bathroom projects, we discuss temporary arrangements (where you’ll wash dishes, where you’ll shower) so you’re not caught off guard.
Step 4: Construction & Communication
Our crew arrives on the scheduled start date and works through the project in sequence: demo, rough-in (plumbing/electrical), inspection if required, insulation and drywall, finishes (tile, cabinets, countertops, flooring), and final fixtures. We communicate regularly about progress, any issues we uncover, and any decisions you need to make. We protect the rest of your home with plastic barriers and clean up daily. Most kitchen projects take 4-6 weeks; most bathrooms take 2-4 weeks.
Step 5: Final Walkthrough & Warranty
When the work is complete, we walk through the project with you to make sure everything meets your expectations. We explain how to maintain new fixtures and finishes. You receive a one-year workmanship warranty on all labor — if something we installed fails or wasn’t done right, we come back and fix it at no charge. Materials are covered by manufacturer warranties, which we provide documentation for.
Questions about the process? Call (833) 736-6647 or ask during your free consultation.
WNY Home Renovation: The Numbers Behind the Demand
Forty-two percent of Erie County homes were built before 1960, according to the 2020 U.S. Census American Community Survey. In Tonawanda and North Tonawanda — where the housing stock is concentrated in post-war Cape Cods and ranch homes from the 1940s through 1960s — the percentage of older homes is higher than the countywide average. These homes are solid. The bones are good. But they need updating in ways that reflect how people actually live today.
Erie County issued $123 million in residential renovation permits in 2022, according to City of Buffalo building records. That investment reflects a regional pattern: WNY homeowners are staying in their homes longer and investing in them rather than trading up. The renovation pipeline is driven by necessity (failing systems, aging bathrooms and kitchens) and by the math of home equity (updating adds value in a market where supply is constrained).
We work throughout Tonawanda, North Tonawanda, Kenmore, and the surrounding communities. Free written estimates for all renovation scopes.