Selective Remodeling, founded by Michael Patti, is approaching its 20-year milestone, celebrating nearly two decades of craftsmanship, innovation, and community. The milestone marks the culmination of a journey shaped by family influence, resilience through challenges, and an unwavering commitment to building homes and a future.
Patti’s inspiration can be traced back to his father, an immigrant from Sicily who was an artisan tile installer. “I spent years mixing mud, cutting tile, and watching my father work with his hands,” says Patti. “But he never once let me install a tile. At the time, I didn’t understand it, but later I realized he wanted something bigger for me. He wanted me to use those lessons and build something that could last.” That vision would eventually take shape as Selective Remodeling.
The company formally became a construction business in 2007, shortly after Patti returned to New York following his father’s passing. Starting with wholesaling tile and countertops, Selective Remodeling quickly evolved to meet market demands. The turning point came when Patti pivoted into full-scale remodeling, which was an area he once resisted out of respect for his father’s hardships, but one that ultimately gave the company staying power and purpose.
Now, Selective Remodeling is a thriving operation with ambitious goals. “Our goal is to transform 2000 homes annually, generate $100 million in revenue, and elevate more than 200 careers over the next decade,” he shares.
Yet for Patti, success has never been just about numbers. “We want to be the most trusted remodeling brand on Long Island,” he explains. “That means creating true partnerships, with our customers, our vendors, and especially with our team.”
That team-first philosophy began during the pandemic, when Patti had rare time to step back and reimagine operations. He used those months to design proprietary estimating software CEPro, which streamlined every aspect of the remodeling process, from calculating material needs to coordinating labor.
He automated these time-consuming tasks, and as he incorporated the system, it offered Patti the time to focus on leadership, mentorship, and company culture. It also opened a new revenue stream called TradeScale Ventures, an entire platform that is now being shared with other contractors to help improve their revenue.
The company’s impact extends far beyond business, seeking to invest in the next generation of tradespeople and leaders. In March, Selective Remodeling will host Festa della Nona, a sponsored fundraiser dedicated to hiring 20 students into the company.
The initiative will give young people the opportunity to enter the trades, building future leaders who will be trained in sales, leadership, and technology alongside traditional hands-on skills. “There are incredible careers to be made in plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and remodeling,” Patti shares. “We also educate these students in entrepreneurship, sales, estimating, and even software. If I had someone showing me a clear path when I was younger, I would’ve jumped on it. That’s why I want to give these students direction, mentorship, and the tools to succeed.”
Nearly two decades in, Selective Remodeling stands as a testament to vision and perseverance. From a small tile shop to a company poised for national partnerships with major distributors, Patti’s embodies grit, innovation, and community spirit.
As Selective Remodeling looks to its next chapter, Patti remains grounded in the values instilled by his father: hard work, craftsmanship, and the belief that every project, whether a home, a career, or a company, deserves to be built with care.