Thursday Blogwrap

Hey, I have a fake brownstone; a brick townhouse concreted over to look like everybody else's.

Yeah, me too!

Is your floors uneven by 6 inches or more and saggy and can you hear your neighbors passing gas in the bathroom?

Yeah, me too!

Does your old middle aged neighbor and her fat ugly husband stick their unwanted nose into your business when it comes to your property?

Yeah, me too!

Posted by: guest at February 28, 2008 5:07 PM

Hateration.

Posted by: guest at February 28, 2008 5:52 PM

5:07 = Renter

Posted by: guest at February 28, 2008 6:00 PM

I'm glad we own a brick rowhouse...we won't risk being accused of haivng "a brick townhouse concreted over to look like everybody else's"...

The writer of that comment should know that the "brownstoning" is done over the existing real brownstone which is a type of sandstone.

The reason so many houses need treatment is that the builders of these houses, though apparently knowing better, were cheap. They laid stone incorrect ways to make the most of the materials they had. When brownstone is laid so the layers of sediment that formed the stone remain horizontal, the stone does not spald easily. If the stone is laid with those layers being vertical, the stone spalds with sheets and flakes popping off, shearing off in sheets, etc.

Most townhouses seem to have much of the stone laid with the sediment layers vertical.

Many more expensive, articulated, grand buildings such as churches have the stone laid correctly...not always...but often perfectly. There are many brownstone buildings from the 1840s and 1850s.

Now...the "brownstoning" thing has to be studied closely. Portland cement is not porous enough for this permeable stone and basically seals in the water that the stone and masory draws up from the ground or needs to draw out of the house. Doesn't breathe. The bricks from the era of these houses REALLY need to breathe.

Posted by: guest at February 28, 2008 6:15 PM

what stones?

Posted by: guest at February 28, 2008 9:58 PM

5:52 pm If your rant is a misguided effort to dispel the allure of brownstones so that the prices come down to a level you can afford, then I completely and full-heartedly support you. I HATE THEM TOO, THOSE BORING UGLY FUSSY SILLY STUPID BUILDINGS WITH UGLY OLD PEOPLE AND um . . .TREES IN FRONT OF THEM AND STOOPS AND STUFF.

If, however, you sincerely hate what you see in that picture, you're one masochistic m.f. for being on this site. Your cry for help falls on deaf ears, my friend.

Posted by: guest at February 29, 2008 9:20 AM

5.07 here. Been gone for a few days. Actually, I own a rowhouse and just being honest about it. I didn't think anything I said was hateful, mostly light hearted mocking which I find to be very truthful regarding my situation. I love my home... except for those three mentioned items but especially the last one. Nothing like busy bodies in your business at home.

Posted by: guest at February 29, 2008 8:35 PM