Tipping Contractors?


Contractors are working on our kitchen. This is my first experience doing a project like this at my home. These guys are doing an okay job. Not perfect, above-and-beyond, but pretty good. They show up every day, work, and go home. Don’t think that you can ask for more than that. There’s a little bit of an “internal disagreement” about whether or not we want to tip these guys. On one hand, we’re paying thousands of dollars to their boss. On the other hand, the money goes to the boss, and they get only a cut.

If we just wanted to tip for the karma, how much is appropriate? Would a couple of six packs be an alternative?

Categories: Renovation
By SubwayKnitter | 07/16/2008 10:22 AM | Comment

Threshold/Saddle from Tile to Wood Floor


We’re about to replace the tile floor in our kitchen. The new tile floor will be lower than the existing, eliminating the step from hallway to kitchen (see photo). Our contractor has asked us to get a marble saddle as a transition between the tile and the wood.

I want a wood saddle, or threshold, but I can’t seem to find one that’s made for a wood floor to tile transition. I can find only carpet to tile and carpet to carpet.

It also doesn’t help that I really don’t know exactly what I’m looking for, and the people at Lowe’s weren’t very helpful. I know that I’ve seen this type of transition done in wood. Maybe I don’t know the correct name of the item that I want.

Can anyone tell me where I can go to get something like this?

Thanks!

Categories: Floors
By SubwayKnitter | 06/24/2008 10:08 AM | Comment

Length of Time for your Rehab/Renovation


I had an interesting situation posed to me today. Someone is looking to rehab/renovate a rowhouse in Crown Heights. I inferred from the conversation that she wants to complete the all the work, by hiring a contractor to do everything, before she occupies the house. She was shocked with the price tag of that scenario.

While what she was describing is probably the ideal scenario (for me, at least), I suspect that most people of modest means (including the woman to whom I was speaking) can’t afford it. So, for my own curiosity:

1. How long did your complete renovation take, and did you phase it? If so, how?
2. Did you live in the house as the work was in progress?
3. What percentage (estimate) of the work did you do yourself?

Thanks!

Categories: Restoration
By SubwayKnitter | 11/29/2007 3:03 PM | Comment

Good Moving Companies


We’re soon moving to Brooklyn (yay!), and I’m busy getting quotes from moving companies. So far I know of Wong Family Movers and Park Slope Movers/Moving Your Way. Does anyone know of any other companies to recommend (or ones to avoid)?

Categories: Movers
By SubwayKnitter | 10/18/2007 10:49 PM | Comment