Where can I buy clay chimney tiles?


I am looking to purchase one terra cotta chimney tile in the South Slope area. Any address? Thanks!

Categories: Chimney
By Dean5th | 04/06/2011 9:17 AM | Comment

Blower Door Test in Brooklyn?


I would like to perform a blower door test to our house to find out where are the problems to be fixed. Anybody know how much it is this test? Any recommendation of somebody who has the fan and the tools?

Categories: Renovation
By Dean5th | 03/07/2011 6:58 PM | Comment

Best Place to Purchase Metal Framing in the Brooklyn Area?


I will be doing the supervision of a minor interior renovation at home and the contractor is from out of town and he asked me to find out where is the best place in Brooklyn/Queens to purchase the metal framing. Any help will be appreciated.

Categories: General Contractors
By Dean5th | 03/02/2011 11:52 AM | Comment

PVC or Cast Iron in NYC?


I am getting some estimates for a renovation and I have a question. Do you know if NYC permits to install PVC for the sewage pipes or they all must be cast iron? Any experience with PVC? Is it really that noisy?

Categories: Plumbing
By Dean5th | 02/23/2011 7:51 AM | Comment

Are We Permitted by DOB to Work on Presidents Day?


Anybody knows if I am permitted to work on Presidents Day? Do you know if next Monday we can do construction work? We do have a work permit.

Categories: DOB
By Dean5th | 02/16/2011 4:13 PM | Comment

Hydronic Radiant Heat


I am a homeowner working on a renovation of a house and preparing the radiant heat system. I have spoke with two contractors and the two offer completely different approaches. The two have been well recommended in the Brownstoner.

I would like to hear more opinions, to help me decide the right way to go.

The two discussions:
– What to use under the hardwood, aluminum plates to reflect and expand the heat?

– The most efficient heating system. Also, one of them tells me the high efficiency water tank (Polaris type) will save me money and the other one is telling me that a high efficiency boiler (Buderus type) will be better. Any opinions?

Categories: Radiators
By Dean5th | 01/20/2011 11:45 AM | Comment

Paint Stripping Contractor


Just a quick recommendation. I am very pleased with the work of a paint stripping contractor: well priced, clean, easy to work with and very professional.
He works on marble as well as wood and uses heatgun and chemicals.

His contact:
Emiliano
chavezlazaro@live.com
347-338-7321

Categories: Stripping
By Dean5th | 04/01/2010 10:54 AM | Comment

Cellar Heating?


Anybody has converted part of the cellar into a working space? How do you heat it? I am thinking about converting the front part of the cellar into my office and would like to know how usually people heat the space. Also, any recommendation about tiles or cement? Or wood on top of the cement? I have to do a full renovation of the cellar, anything would work. Any experience converting part of the cellar into office space?

Categories: Cellar
By Dean5th | 01/19/2010 4:06 PM | Comment

Solar Heating and Photovoltaic


I am working on a renovation and I am seriously considering installing a Solar Heating System and Photovoltaic. I would like to get tin contact with other brownstone owners that have the same idea. Perhaps we could do a bargaining agreement together. I think if we could approach a company with a group of projects, the prices would just be more affordable. Anyone interested?

By Dean5th | 01/12/2010 5:20 AM | Comment

Chimney and fireplaces


Yesterday I posted some questions and some were answered and most of them not. I am thinking about fixing some of the fireplaces of a brownstone. I have read many opinions but I couldn’t find an answer to some of my questions:

– Anybody has purchased the stainless steel liner and installed it with the help of a good mason instead of going to a ‘chimney contractor’?

– What kind of damper do you recommend?

– Where did you purchase the firebricks and the refractory cement?

– Any recommendation about the best stainless steel liner company?

– Apparently the ‘chimney contractors’ recommend the round stainless steel liner but the companies that sell liners are recommending the square chimney liners to reline a brownstone chimney because originally were square and they say that you shouldn’t make it much smaller… Anyway, the more you investigate the more you know the amount of choices that contractors don’t even tell you about.

– Any additional recommendation?

– The last question: Anybody has ever asked a permit to the DOB to fix a fireplace or to reline a chimney?

Categories: Chimney
By Dean5th | 10/16/2009 12:13 PM | Comment