Ipe Deck Over Subway Grate


I’m about to build a steel deck with subway grate decking and am planning on attaching ipe over the subway grate after inspection in areas 3 ft away from the house. The ipe will be flush with the subway grate as we will raise the subway grate that will remain 3/4 inch. Question is what is the best way to attach the ipe to the subway grate? My contractor suggested attaching the ipe with screws from the bottom of the deck using heavy duty washers spot welded to the subway grate to hold the screws. The screws will be sized to penetrate the ipe from the bottom about 1/2 inch (not enough to come up through the top of the board I hope). I am not sure this seems as secure as typical method of screwing down from the top but dont think that is an option as the ipe will be floating about an inch over the joists. Any thoughts???

Thanks in advance

Categories: Decks
By apb233 | 03/24/2011 4:18 PM | Comment

fire-rated light fixtures


I am in the midst of renovating the bottom duplex of my townhouse and my architect just informed me (unfortunately after the sheet rock is up) that my recessed light fixtures need to be fire rated. I have done quite a bit of research and found that the cheapest way to do this will be quite costly…cutting out the sheet rock and replacing each fixture (which are non-IC rated) with an IC rated fixture covered by a fire rated light cover made by a company called Tenmat.

Has anyone heard of this requirement that recessed lights in NYC be fire rated? I questions this because the existing fixtures in the space were not fire rated and also the contractor and electrician (both local shops with lots of business) say they never do this.

Pertinent information: my house is under a 4-family CO (although it will in fact be 3-family once we finish the renovation though we are not changing the CO as part of the permitting for the renovation). The floors being renovated are the garden and parlor level (being combined as a duplex). Permit is under the 1968 code. Construction is steel joists with concrete subfloor.

Thanks all!

Categories: Building Code
By apb233 | 12/22/2010 9:53 AM | Comment

landmarks deck approval


Just want to report back on my earlier post…i was building a deck in my rear yard and got caught up on landmarks review. they would not let me build out to the size i was allowed as of right under the building code because of concern that i was encroaching into the “green way” of the block (basically the donut formed by the buildings). Jim Hill of Urban Pioneering Architecture helped me make my case (that there were several other encroachments into the green way on my block) to landmarks and got my deck approved. Thanks Jim!

Categories: Landmarks
By apb233 | 12/16/2010 12:32 PM | Comment

Architect Fees


Question: I have an informal agreement with my architect to pay him a fee based on a % of the construction costs. We never specified whether this would include the cost of finishes but I gather that is pretty standard. But what if the architect has no part in helping to pick the finishes — is the cost of finishes still included in calculating the fee? And how is the fee actually calculated — based on a list that i prepare? And finally would the fee just include finishes that constitute fixtures — so for instance a through the wall AC but not a window box AC or TV for that matter?

Categories: Architects
By apb233 | 10/07/2010 11:45 AM | Comment

Landmarks Approval of Deck


Hi, I am trying to build a deck in my rear yard which is not visible form the street but my architect is telling me that landmarks is restricting the size of the deck in order to preserve the “green belt”. I have never heard of this and thought that decks that were not visible form the street (and allowed under zoning regs) were approved by landmakrs as a matter of course. has anyone heard of this “green belt” concern from landmarks or more generally have any other experience with landmarks not approving something that is 100% not visible from the street and permitted under zoniing regs? Thanks in advance for your input

Categories: Landmarks
By apb233 | 09/24/2010 3:53 PM | Comment

Cost of Installing Split Ductless AC


I have receieved a couple quotes in the $19K to $23K range for installing a split ductless system with 6 indoor and 2 outdoor units. There is nothing tricky about the installation (walls are open for running lines, outdoor units to be installed in garden directly in back, electric to outoor unit not included) and I have priced the units online for $6K to $9K including all accessory items. So it looks like the cost of installation is north of $12K. I know this is something you want done by a pro and that there is a fair bit of work involved but this still seems ridiculously high. Does anyone have some input on whether the prices quoted are reasonable? Better yet, can anyone recommend a reasonably priced installer? Thanks

Categories: A/C
By apb233 | 08/19/2010 11:29 AM | Comment