A group of Millstone Township contractors came together to renovate parts of a veteran's home for free.

The exterior of the house had leaks in the roof, decaying steps and a variety of other work.

Contractors replaced the roof, put up a new deck, took care of landscaping and even added some surprise renovations for the veteran.

The cost of the project is estimated to exceed $100,000 but the veteran will not have to pay a dime.

The veteran and his wife are on vacation in Florida visiting friends and are unaware of the repairs done to their house. They will be home next week and will see their newly remodeled home for the first time. Their names were not mentioned in this story to maintain the surprise.

Tony Arpaia, of East Coast Heating and Burner, created a Facebook group to help veterans called Hands Reaching out to Hands. He also led the renovations on the home.

"My father was in the Italian Navy, my youngest daughter just enlisted in the Army National Guard and I've always been fond of the military people," Arpaia says. "Growing up in a military family and growing up in the '70s where I saw veterans coming home from Vietnam and how they were treated always bothered me as a kid. I want to give back and thank them for the services they did in life."

Friends of the veteran say "it's just so special" for the couple to have things that are brand new.

The contractors also installed a 30-foot flagpole and an American flag that was donated for the veteran. The flag was lifted up to honor the veteran's service and to signal the completion of renovations.