I'm looking for a licensed contractor for a gut renovation of a small kitchen in a co-op building in Kensington. Any recommendations? Since I work in architecture and design, they have to know what they are doing and come with referrals. More»
3:35 PM 05/16/2012
My contractor proposes to waterproof my foundation. A trench wil be dug for this purpose. According to the DOB website, a trench 5 feet or deeper requires shoring or bracing. In another section of the DOB website, it is stated that "permits are required for most [excavation] work." My question is, for a trench less than 5 feet (say, 4 feet) is a permit required? More»
2:07 PM 05/16/2012
If you're thinking about remodeling your house then one aspect you should consider would be safety. After you're done choosing new fabrics and matching colors just stop for a second and think how safe your house realy is? Safety is the main reason for installing a basement window well. If there were ever an emergency, the occupants can safely leave the basement, or emergency crews can enter the basement. Here are some examples of basement windows wells: -The Mesh cover is built with an expanded metal top. This pattern makes it perfec... More»
1:56 PM 05/16/2012
I keep seeing houses on my current quest that fall in M1 zones. First they were in East Williamsburg - now I am seeing them crop up in South Slope/Gowanus.For example, I am looking at a listing right now that is M1-2D. It has been residential since it was built circa 1910. The block is about 50/50 light manufacturing residential. The legal FAR listed on OASIS is 2.0 and it currently uses only 0.7 ish. Can I build an expansion to increase the FAR a bit? What about modification to the use? If I build additional space, does it have to be Manufacturin... More»
1:49 PM 05/16/2012
Hi everyone!We live near a supermarket. From 6 AM to midnight, they have A/C or something running that makes a very loud and constant humming sound. I'm going slowly insane from the noise. The noise is so loud that I wonder if it violates some sort of noise ordinance.Any advice on how I can go about getting more information about noise regulations and how to tackle this problem? I've tried searches online, but I don't know exactly what I should search for.Thanks in advance for any help. I'm truly finding myself going mad. More»
10:03 AM 05/16/2012
Hello friends,I am replacing old cabinet pulls, but the previous owners painted the cabinets without removing the pulls first. They are now painted to the cabinets and are almost impossible to remove. How do I remove them without damaging the cabinet doors?Best regardsJohn marrison More»
9:53 AM 05/16/2012
We're contemplating making the move to gas, for our boiler.I can of course go with a straight conversion, or I can explore one of the alternatives such as cogeneration. This would increase the cost and complexity a bit, but on paper at least, shows good savings to be had in the long run. But on paper doesn't always reflect reality, so i'd like to hear any experiences.Is the tech "there yet" or would I be guinae pigging something that isn't ready for prime time? More»
3:56 AM 05/16/2012
Sixteen unit co-op wants to do a conversion from #2 oil to gas this summer. Will be looking for a company that plays nicely with Con Ed and can get the job done with little down-time and get the permits we need. In case it needs repeating, we are a 16 unit co-op and we don't have a massive reserve fund so crucially we need a company that is reasonable. Thank you for your recommendations. More»
10:01 PM 05/15/2012
Hi BrownstonersAnn Brooke, a landscape designer who redesigned, hardscaped, and landscaped my back yard a few years ago, has completed a new recent project in my backyard, which was to create a privacy fence in the back of the yard. I am very pleased with her work, which integrated the new back fence with the older side fences, and I would like to share a photo of the completed fence project. You may contact Ann via her web site - http://www.annbrookedesign.com.... I would also like to recommend Matt Hausmann, the contractor/carpenter who did... More»
12:11 AM 05/15/2012
Can anyone recommend a quite/quality dehumidifier in the 50 to 70 pint range for an 800 sqft basement? Thanks More»
7:46 PM 05/14/2012
Within the next month or two I will begin renovations on a landmarked townhouse in the Bronx. The property has no C/O and the project will likely entail applying for a C/O as a two-family home. If you have experience dealing with Bronx DOB or are otherwise interested, please reply with website or contact info. Thank you. More»
3:22 PM 05/14/2012