New Central Air Issue


Any thought on my issue will be appreciated.

Before getting new tenants into my house, I discovered that although I have duct work, there was no aid conditioning. Since this was during the heat wave in July, it was super difficult to find someone and when I found someone willing to install it asap, I was very grateful but I realize now I made a mistake by not drawing a contract.

So now after virtually 2 months, the newly installed central air unit stopped working as it got frozen. The pipe connecting to the unit just froze. When I called the guy who installed it, he told me to thaw it off and dry it by turning off air conditioning and turning fan and then put it on 75 and it will work. I did that and it worked.

My questions are: why this happened in the first place, can I put it below 75 and how I can prevent this from happening again?. The contractor is not responding to my calls and I don’t how what to do.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thank you.

By | 08/31/2006 7:20 PM | Comment

Kitchen ventilation problem, expert needed


I recently tried to install a range hood in my kitchen because the fan is broken and there is no air circulation. It appears that the pipe to the roof has been covered over by roofers, preventing me from installing any type of ventilation device. I am looking for recommemmdations for a roofer in inexpensive engineer to come over and give and expert opinion about how to fix the matter. I have gotten quotes in the $1000 range which is more than I want to spend to give a recommendation to the co-op board. It appears that at least 3 other units in the house have the same problem. Has anyone else had this issue with no ventilation? Is this a larger housing violation that the co-op needs to fix? Thanks.

By | 08/31/2006 5:50 PM | Comment

looking for a sheetrock person


I have to replace a crappy dropped ceiling in the rental unit of my house, and the plaster above is basically gone. Anyone have a recommendation for a good, inexpensive drywall hanger who can put up a ceiling fast, and is good at painting as well? Doing real plaster here is not an option for financial reasons.

Categories: Plaster
By | 08/31/2006 5:26 PM | Comment

Question for landlords


I would like people’s opinion of this situation.
My husband has been a renter from an owner/landlord for 9 years (in Boerem Hill,). He has had a very good relationship with the landlords (they came to our wedding, even) always paid rent on time and taken good care of the premises.
Over all these years the lease period ended in September, except for last year when the landlord delayed in giving a new lease until January. Now my husband and I are going to move out, and we were surprised that this landlord said he would hold us to this lease. I find this quite odd, and am under the impression that normally under such circumstances ( 9 years, good tenant) a landlord would allow 30 days notice.
In addition, the landlord has told us he is going to raise the rent for the new tenant, by at least $400 a month. So he will profit by our moving. (the area has boomed in the past 9 years and has now become desireable and pricey) But he wants us to find him a new tenant or else he expects us to continue to pay the rent. We need to move soon.
Any opinions on this, esp. from landlords? I am hoping to convince the landlord to just let us out of the lease. It is hard enought to find our own place without having to find new tenants (though it will be easy to rent- really great place) But the landlord needs to do some repairs and paint, doesn’t even know when it will be available to rent after we leave.
Any suggestions on how to approach this landlord in the spirit of fairness?

Categories: Landlord
By | 08/31/2006 3:17 PM | Comment

Fixing wood floors


We left the original (pine?) sub-floors as floors in my parlor floor because of their warm color. Unfortunately, the wood is not very strong and, in some parts, needs replacing. This is scary – if my foot goes through the floor, it would end up going through the downstairs ceiling.

Is there any way to fix just a few floorboards? Who would I contact? Any issues I should consider? I am reluctant to put in a new wood floor on top of the floor because I would then have to readjust doors etc.

By | 08/31/2006 3:01 PM | Comment

Great Painter


I just had MFO Production repair and repaint the walls in my duplex in Park Slope. Matt & Tony did a great job under a time crunch, and we are thrilled with the results. They definitely went the extra mile in providing a great service, and took great care to make sure that we were pleased with the results. I would definitely recommend them – let me know if you have questions about them (meganb@gmail.com).

Categories: Painters
By | 08/31/2006 2:52 PM | Comment

basement reno: permit signoff needed?


So we obtained a permit to do basement work in our home, in brooklyn. we didn’t go exactly by the architect’s plans however, we did more work than permitted by the plans.

But, since our home doesn’t have a C of O, will that matter? Say a few years from now I wish to sell the building, will the new buyers have problems getting a mortgage? No, right, since there’s no C of O anyway?

The permit to do the reno expires in a few months. Should I have the architect sign off on the permit anyway, to keep the city from calling me and finding out that I did more work than allowed by the permit?

By | 08/31/2006 1:33 PM | Comment

homeowner’s insurance companies


so the previous post mentions a few insurance companies that no longer cover brownstones/townhouses (AllState, GEICO, AIG). what companies DO provide coverage? i’m getting quotes right now, State Farm will do it, Liberty Mutual won’t due to the flat roof issue. who do you guys use?

Categories: Insurance
By | 08/31/2006 12:35 PM | Comment

Insurance Amount and Land Value


I read something in a landlording book, but I am not sure if it applies in the “real world” of Brooklyn.
House Price = 800 K
Mortgage = 700 K

The mortgage company is certainly interested in me getting enough fire insurance.
But land does not burn !
The book said if the house is worth 600K without the land, then I should only have to get 600K fire insurance.

But my mortgage company is not buying this they blindly insist on 700K .
Is this a battle I have a small chance of winning?
Should I be switching mortgage companies?

Many thanks!

Categories: Insurance
By | 08/30/2006 10:03 PM | Comment

New Bathtub


I’m renovating my brownstone now and i have brand new Americh Madison II bathtub for sale. Good deep tub 36″x60″x20″. This tub cost $1000 but i’m willing to sell it for $750.

Categories: Plumbing
By | 08/30/2006 8:49 PM | Comment