Architect Reco


We are looking for an arch for the most basic of work on an alt 2 apartment combo.
We were fortunate enough to purchase the small studio in front of our small one-bedroom.
We are looking for an architect to combine the two apartments under directive 14. All we need is someone to draw the plans to be submitted to the DOB and work with an expeditor. No design help or contractor supervision needed. We are just busting through a wall and removing one kitchen.
It is a small job, but we are nice.

Categories: Architects
By Pstreet | 01/05/2011 9:26 PM | Comment

Unfinished Home


A friend has just inherited a single family attatched home outright with her brother. She would like to get a mortgage to buy him out and they have agreed on a price.

They have been renovating and are not quite finished. Will this hurt her chances of getting a loan? It is mostly indoor cosmetic stuff. Like some missing trim work inside, and debris in the backyard.

Will a bank even care? They seem quite convinced.

Categories: Mortgage
By Pstreet | 11/22/2010 10:45 AM | Comment

Ikea Shelving


How long will it take to assemble 20 Ikea bookshelves.

Who could I hire for such a job?

Categories: Furniture
By Pstreet | 06/27/2010 9:18 PM | Comment

Combining Apartments Fees


I would like to combine two apartments in a brownstone. It would make it a floor through with the same layout as the other floor through in the building.

I have gotten a contractor estimate. What would be a fair estimate of architect fees, expeditor, DOB fees ?

Categories: Renovation
By Pstreet | 03/15/2010 9:04 PM | Comment

Outdoor Temp Sensor Off


My one year old boiler kicked on today at lunch even thought the outdoor temp was 62!!!! The controll said it was reading 52 for the outside temp. It has a warm weather shut off for 50 which didn’t kick it off because I tweeked it the other way last month because it was reading seven degrees too warm.

I am convinced that it is mounted in a bad spot. It is mounted on a brownstone material pillar around eight feet from the building. I see others on the block mounted on the building.

Should it be mounted directly on the stone or would it be better to step it off with airspace behind it or on a block of wood.

I am going off to experiment, just wwondering if anyone has had a similar experience.

By Pstreet | 11/08/2009 2:13 PM | Comment

Roof Party


Can you have people on an apartment roof without a deck. Who would we get in trouble with.

By Pstreet | 07/03/2009 3:37 PM | Comment

Estate Clean Out


Has anyone had an experience cleaning out a house? We have a small house full of furniture and such.

Is there a charity someone has used and would recommend?

Is there someone who would come and make an offer on everything? We are not interested in a garage sale .

Thanks

Categories: Antiques
By Pstreet | 06/02/2009 12:18 PM | Comment

Radiator Vent


Ok, after a balancing my 4th floor brownstone neighbor had a #4 vent on her radiator and said it was colder than comfortable. I had a #C vent on hand and swapped it. I hope it wasn’t too big a jump.

The #4 I pulled off seemed almost filled with water. Is this normal? Also the vent was sort of in the middle of the radiator. Shouldn’t it be closer to the top?

By Pstreet | 01/10/2009 1:57 PM | Comment

Radiator Temperature Fun


So I borrowed a IR Temperature Gun from work. You use it to measure surface temperature. It is quite fun.

My radiator is 89 ice cold. It took about four minutes to heat up to 140 when the boiler kicked on. (This was enough to get the apartment temp to 80). I checked two radiators in the hall and vestibule which are the same level as my apartment. They have bigger vents and maxed at 190 and 174. All three were cooler on the vent size. It still isn’t too cold yet this winter so the heating cycle was very short. In twenty minutes my radiator was back to 89 and the ones in the hall were at 155 and 141. Then it all started over again on the next 30 minute cycle.

I also turned the shut-off valve a few turns and the radiator barely reached 102. It was a short cycle, since it was only 34 outside. I would love to put a small amount of rust and crud in the valve and check performance. I will have to borrow some wrenches.

My window glass was at 70 and a door to the garden was at 71. These are new energy star windows. The window glass in the front door was only 59!!!! and felt cold to the touch in the steamy vestibule. This is a brand new door.

I thought this was all mildy interesting and will try again when the weather drops next week.

By Pstreet | 01/09/2009 8:13 PM | Comment

Floor to Floor Temp Difference


I have a brand new thermometer in my apartment that is currently reading 82 degrees, even on the coldest days, it is never below 78. The floor above me says they are cold. They keep turning up the heat. He says a plumber told him that his radiators are fine. The floor above them also say they are hot. How much of a difference could possibly exist.

I can even make a slice of toast without having to open my window in the dead of winter.

Categories: Heating
By Pstreet | 01/05/2009 11:24 PM | Comment