Termite Inspector
Just signed a contract on a home in Bay Ridge. Can someone suggest a termite inspector?
Tips about sanding wood floors?
I’ve been renovating my Carroll Gdns brownstone for about 4 years now and I’m almost done. One of the last parts of the job is sanding and refinishing the 100+ yr old wood floors on the parlor floor. While I’ve never done this before, I’ve done most everything else in the house myself (with help from friends and family, and contractors) and think I can probably handle it. Also, I had a bad experience with a hack who did some other floor sanding for me. So, I have the following concerns/questions, and would love some input-
1. Best place to rent a sander and edger?
2. Is there lead or other harmful things in old wood floors?
3. I’ve seen ads for hepa sander dustbag attachments – any info?
4. Should I paint the walls/ceiling before or after sanding/refinishing?
5. I have a pretty good solution for filling in the gaps between the planks (paintable clear caulk before the last coat of poly) – but wondering if anyone else has bothered with this?
Thanks.
Noah’s Ark movers comments?
Sorry I forgot to click the “allow comments” box.
Fire Hazard?
Hi
We live in 4 story building in Carroll Gardens. The owners live on the ground floor and their son and his wife and kid on the floor above them . We and and another couple are on two top floors. Thing is the son has a pile of stuff- bags, shoes, empty boxes – which seems to get bigger every day outside their door. We often bump into it with our bags or stroller as we come down the stairs. Aside from being ugly and annoying I have a feeling this is against fire code. But how do I complain to our landlords when it’s their son doing it? If we call the fire department I fear for our safety – or at least fear we’ll be kicked out.. I’m not joking – it’s an old school family. Any advice what we should do? Thank you!
Oh those rusty window grilles
Our 3-story house on 6th st came with decorative iron grilles over the windows and doors of the parlor and garden floors. They have not been cared for in at least 50 years and are caked with brittle paint and pock marked with rust. We are replacing the windows soon which means that the contractor will cut off the grilles to pop out the windows. (Does this sound right?) He said if we want to keep the grilles, he will weld them back on (Does THAT sound right?). It seems to me that there is a brief window of opportunity in between to fix up the grilles assuming we want them back on. Here’s where you can help: 1) VOTE – do you like or hate the round, curved decorative grilles? 2) How would you clean, rust proof, and paint them most efficiently? DIY or pro? Thanks a lot.
Finding marble mantle parts
We have a mantle made of white marble that has been vandalized and needs repair.
1 – It is a white marble that was once painted. Someone used a stripper on it. The marble is now streaked with mustard yellow stains. Anyone have recommendations for bleeding this color out?
2. someone broke the top piece of the mantle and stole half of it. We removed the remaining half and would like to replace or repair it. Do you advise we try to find a pre-existing piece or have one fashioned? Any places you would recommend to accomplish either?
3 – The “keystone” or front marble design that hangs above the grille was also stolen. Same question as #2, I suppose. Can these be purchased piecemeal from salvage places? Any good ones?
Thanks a lot.
Noah’s Ark moving experience?
I am getting ready to move and have gotten estimates from the companies Flatrate, Moische’s and Noah’s Ark movers – all three were recommended from friends so I felt confident I was calling reputable companies.
I got a considerably more affordable estimate from Noah’s Ark movers, so I thought I would post to see if anyone had used them and had good or bad stories to relay…I have checked them in the BBB and they have a clean record, but I have heard such moving horror stories I think one cannot be too careful when choosing a company.
Any info is appreciated – thanks!
Architect references
We recently bought a brownstone in Brooklyn Heights that will require significant work. Fortunately the plumbing and electrical are in good shape but it will be a significant project as we are putting in a new kitchen, 5 new bathrooms, French doors leading from rear dining area to backyard, and adding an extension to a stairwell. We are going to start interviewing archiects and build/design firms and wonder if anyone has an opinion on any of these firms and their ability to do high end work on a large project. The firms are Perfect Renovation (Brooklyn based), John Hatheway Architects (Brooklyn based), DeLaCour & Ferrara (Brooklyn based), Baxt|Ingui (Manhattan based). Any and all feedback appreciated. Thx
Month to Month rights
New again to the rental market, after a separation, I moved into a Park Slope garden apartment which I found through a broker and signed a lease for one year. When the lease was up, I asked to extend it but my landlord who does not live in the brownstone, told me he wanted to make it a month to month. Also in an oral agreement he raised my rent $100.
I was uncomfortable with that since I have children but trusted him when he told me that was the way he handled it with all his tenants. Now, three monts later, he has asked that I look for another apartment and I reluctantly agreed to move during the summer. I am a responsible tenant and invested a lot in moving and fixing up this apartment and I’m unclear about his reasons for asking me to move. Part of it stems from the fact that I asked him to do some repairs in a friendly letter and I know the upstairs tenants have an unspoken agreement with him to leave him alone. I knew this and thought I was low key and put up with a lot since I like the location and garden. Whatever his agenda, I am wondering what legal recourse I have in this situation and what I can do to prevent this from happening again. Thanks
Radiators (a bunch)
All have nice scroll work but to appreciate
they should be sandblasted and repainted.
Width x height x depth
26 x 38 x 9
30 x 38 x 9
36 x 38 x 9
42 x 38 x 9
28 x 38 x 13
24 x 38 x 13
20 x 26 x 9
40 x 26 x 9
Make an offer.
daroogle@gmail.com
May 21, 2012 | 02:16 PM