Forum Archive: Monthly Archives: June 2006

I have 3-story brick row house with cellar soon to be renovated. Unfortunately I will have to reside there during the process and was looking for some suggestions as to safely live in my residence with a teenager and 2 toddlers during construction.

My thoughts were to reside in the 1st floor apt. fully livable. The apartment is closed from the rest of the house by a wall and door. While having the 2nd & 3rd floor worked on. The work will entail having several walls knocked down, 2 chimney-breasts removed, 2 new bathrooms, electrical, plumbing, painting and having parquet floors refinished and polyied.

The 2nd phase would be a total cellar renovation while still residing on the 1st floor.

The final faze of the 1st floor involves knocking down several walls, electrical, plumbing, new parquet flooring and sub flooring. During that stage I thought to reside on the 2nd & 3rd floor, yet at that time will be open to the rest of the house.

Can anyone inform me as to what safety procedures a construction company does during a situation like this? What can I do or not do to make it a safe environment?

Thank you

Once you’ve gotten the new boiler installed, whats the best way to control the boiler?

I recently had my hot water oil burner replaced. Like most homeowners my heating controls were pretty ancient. ie. push-pin timer relays coupled with your regular round thermostat. The installer put in one of those programmable energy saving thermstats. However, i’m looking for a litle more.

For example, when its really cold, I find that i get better heating results if i run the boiler for 30 mins every 4 hours(6 cycles a day or 180min/day). The push pin analog controls made this possible. However, the programmable thermostats only have 2 cycles a day. Are there thermstats that offer more programmable options?

The boiler supplies heat to 4 apartments. The upper apartments get much hotter than the parlor and ground floor levels. I’ve even noticed opened/cracked windows in the winter. And all i can think about is $$$ out the window. What type of controls are available for the upper apartments? Is there way for them to moderate the temperature without having to open the window?

my apologies, i didn’t allow comments on my previous post of the same title. Please bear with me, here it is again:

Does anyone know anything about this area? I’ve primarily been looking at townhouses in Bed-Stuy, many of which are promising, but will require much restoration. Yesterday a broker showed me a limestone in East Flatbush — an area I had not previously considered. It is admittedly pretty far into BK, but the limestone was in good condition and about 100k-150k cheaper than a comparable house in Bed-Stuy. I realize people are skeptical about even Bed-Stuy being a neighborhood on the rise. Is East-Flatbush not a sound investment for a move-in condtion, 3-family limestone at a negotiable 585k? I’d greatly appreciate any insight/advice. Thanks in advance.

Does anyone know anything about this area? I’ve primarily been looking at townhouses in Bed-Stuy, many of which are promising, but will require much restoration. Yesterday a broker showed me a limestone in East Flatbush — an area I had not previously considered. It is admittedly pretty far into BK, but the limestone was in good condition and about 100k-150k cheaper than a comparable house in Bed-Stuy. I realize people are skeptical about even Bed-Stuy being a neighborhood on the rise. Is East-Flatbush not a sound investment for a move-in condtion, 3-family limestone at a negotiable 585k? I’d greatly appreciate any insight/advice. Thanks in advance.

Has anyone had a good experience with a man with a van (for a small move of a few pieces of furniture) whom they would recommend? Thanks.