What Started As Summer Work With Dad Became A Career Helping Homeowners Bring Their Renovation Dreams To Life
For Josh Levy, learning the construction business alongside his father eventually led to a career of his own. Now, he’s bringing his passion for bathroom renovations closer to the Sayreville community.
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SAYREVILLE, NJ — When Josh Levy was a teenager, spending his summers working alongside his father was an opportunity to learn a trade.
His dad was a contractor, and those summer jobs gave Levy an early introduction to the renovation business. What started as helping his father during high school eventually grew into a full-time career and, later, a business of his own.
Today, Levy owns J&M Home Renovations, where he helps homeowners turn ideas for their bathrooms into finished spaces they can enjoy every day.
And while his business originally served homeowners in Ocean County, it was another important relationship in his life that brought him closer to Sayreville.
After meeting his wife, Levy moved to Laurence Harbor. Already established in the renovation business, he began looking for opportunities to work closer to home.
Now living in Hazlet, Levy serves homeowners throughout Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties, along with parts of Union County.
A Career That Began With Dad
For Levy, the path into home renovations began with the example his father set.
“My dad was a contractor my whole life,” Levy said.
He began working with his father during summer breaks in high school, gradually gaining experience before making renovation work his full-time profession as an adult.
Eventually, he decided to branch out and start his own business.
Over time, he discovered that bathrooms were where he wanted to focus his work.
Today, his projects are divided almost evenly between complete bathroom renovations and converting traditional bathtubs into showers.
For homeowners, that might mean replacing a bathroom that hasn’t been updated in decades or changing the layout to create a space that better fits their needs.
For Levy, it’s the kind of work he chose to specialize in after years in the construction business.
Every Bathroom Has A Story Of Its Own
A bathroom renovation often begins with something simple.
Maybe the shower has seen better days. Maybe the tile is outdated. Or perhaps the bathroom’s layout just doesn’t work as well as the homeowner would like.
But bringing those ideas to life can require solving problems that aren’t obvious at first glance.
Levy said water damage is one challenge he encounters. Another is finding ways to make a homeowner’s plans work around plumbing or electrical wiring hidden behind the walls.
One recent project he’s particularly proud of was a bathroom renovation in Eatontown.
The job involved stripping the bathroom down to the studs, replacing a window and changing the bathtub layout.
It was the kind of project where the finished result required more than simply replacing fixtures or installing new tile.
And every home brings its own set of circumstances to work through.
Making The Process Personal
For many homeowners, renovating a bathroom is a major decision. There’s the cost, the disruption to daily routines and the uncertainty of what workers might discover once construction begins.
Levy said he believes it’s important to keep homeowners involved and informed throughout the process.
It starts with a consultation, when he listens to what they’d like to change, offers suggestions and talks through what’s possible.
He then prepares a proposal and works with the homeowner to schedule the project.
Before work begins, he also discusses some of the unexpected issues that can arise when walls are opened, so customers have a better idea of what to expect.
But one thing he especially wants people to understand is that they won’t be dealing with a different person at every stage of the renovation.
“From the consultation to the very end they work with me every step of the way,” Levy said.
Communication, he explained, is something he wants homeowners to be able to count on throughout a project.
And when asked what he hopes people remember about working with him, he didn’t point to a particular renovation or design.
“My attention to detail and my communication,” Levy said.
A Few Things Homeowners Should Know Before Renovating
Having spent years in the renovation business, Levy also has advice for people considering work on their bathrooms.
Before hiring a contractor, he recommends asking about registration or licensing credentials, bonding and insurance, as well as the products being used and the warranties offered.
He also encourages homeowners to ask about the contractor’s waterproofing process.
That’s particularly important in bathrooms, where water damage can develop behind walls and beneath floors.
Levy said it’s also worth asking how a contractor handles a project from beginning to end.
Understanding the process ahead of time can help homeowners know what to expect before the first tile is removed.
From Summer Jobs To A Business Of His Own
Looking back, Levy’s career began with the summers he spent learning from his father.
Those early experiences eventually led him into full-time renovation work, then to starting his own business and finding a specialty in bathrooms.
His move to Laurence Harbor after meeting his wife also helped shape the next chapter, bringing his work closer to Sayreville and the surrounding communities.
Today, through J&M Home Renovations, he continues to focus on bathroom renovations, tub-to-shower conversions, tile work and flooring.
And for homeowners who have been thinking about changing a bathroom but aren’t quite sure where to begin, Levy offers free consultations to discuss their ideas and explore what might be possible.
Residents can learn more about J&M Home Renovations at www.jmhomerenovations.com or call or text Josh at 732-288-8293.
This local business spotlight features J&M Home Renovations, an advertiser with The Sayreville Insider.
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