C of O Application in DOB Sink Hole


I know the C of O process is supposed to be horrendous, but I feel our experience is getting out of hand. We passed all electrical and plumbing inspections in the spring. Final DOB inspection was in May, and all objections were resolved and logged by DOB as resolved by mid May. Since then, our expediter claims to have tried to see the Deputy Commissioner and now the Commissioner at least 30 times in order to have the last stated requirements waived since they don’t apply to us. However, expediter can never get a meeting with any of these characters because of some lame excuse on their part in order to complete this step. What are we missing? What other alternatives are there? Are other people experiencing this problem? This whole thing sounds absurd, should I write my Council Member? I don’t know, I’m at a loss. We are desperate to get this C of O, since our bank refi’d us on condition we have one….

Categories: C of O
By beatlife | 09/02/2010 9:45 AM | Comment

5 Gallon White Thorocoat for sale


Bought the Thorocoat this spring for a project that never materialized. Actually, decided on different color. Anyway, container has never been opened, color white, texture smooth. Sell for half price, $50. Thorocoat is a waterproof masonry sealant. If interested, email kurtdwill@gmail.com.

Categories: Exterior
By beatlife | 09/01/2010 10:35 PM | Comment

Wood shutters free for the takin


I posted about this last fall and had a huge response, but then people flaked out and never showed up. Anyway, I’m putting about 7 of 8 sets of shutters in my front yard, folks you can help yourselves. 29 Second St between Smith and Hoyt. They’ll be gone by tomorrow PM.

Categories: Windows
By beatlife | 05/18/2009 4:40 PM | Comment

Installing new wood floor


I’m trying to get an idea what we should expect to pay for an installation of new wood flooring. The job would include installation of approx 1600 sqft solid wood 5″ width random length toung and groove boards, sanding, staining, and 3 coats finish. I’m hoping I can do the job for $8-9 sqft, excluding wood. Sound reasonable?

By beatlife | 04/28/2009 7:20 AM | Comment

Brownstone wood shutters for free


I have 14 pairs of wood shutters that I am trying to salvage before the dumpster arrives. They re bi-fold 1/4 louvered. They are painted, but the wood seems to be in good condition and I am sure could be restored. From what I’ve seen, it would cost about $170 to restore each set. Email me at kurtdwill@yahoo.com if you are interested. dimensions on request.

Categories: Windows
By beatlife | 07/08/2008 10:00 AM | Comment

Solar hot water and radiant floor heating


Following a recent post on solar water and electric, it seems a lot of people are interested in pursuing solar energy options and are having a hard time finding reliable information and real-life experience. Anyway, that’s been my impression as I’ve been doing research on installing a solar hot water system coupled with radiant floor heating throughout a 3 story brownstone.

Here’s what I found: even though solar hot water would SEEM to be the ideal match for a radiant floor heating system, the engineers my architects have retained are adamantly opposed to pursuing this. The rationale is that, ironically, in summer you end up producing way too much hot water, and if you don’t have a way of dumping it into a pool or hot tub, for instance, you just have to dump thousands of gallons of hot water down the drain. Instead, we have scaled back the hot water system to produce enough water for domestic use only, and will install a high efficiency condensing boiler (whatever the hell that is) to heat water for the radiant floor system.

As for a PV installation, I have been advised on many fronts that now is not the time for that (despite the on-again off-again federal and state incentives). In the near future, rapid technical progress on PV panels may alter that calculation. So we are preparing for an eventual PV installation by reinforcing the roof and putting in an electrical junction box (or something like that).

Anyway, that has been my experience to date in the world of solar solutions. I am curious if anyone else has attempted or actually installed a solar hot water and radiant floor system.

Categories: Heating
By beatlife | 05/14/2008 1:49 PM | Comment

Free salvage – take my house apart, please ..


I am gut renovating a three story brownstone in Carroll Gardens. I have stripped and sold most everything of any value, but in the interest of keeping as much as possible out of the landfill – if anyone wants to have one last go at anything left that is salvageable, pls contact me. There are doors, molding, kitchen appliances, washing machine, etc., that might be of interest.

And to all my “green” friends, don’t worry: anything left of any use will go to Build it Green or Rebuilder’s Resource. Kurt – 917-886-9323 or kurtdwill@yahoo.com

Categories: Demolition
By beatlife | 05/13/2008 9:10 AM | Comment

Need advice on whole house fan


We are planning on installing a whole house fan on a three story brownstone. As several previous posters have observed, almost all whole house fans are designed to vent into the attic. However, given the nature of Bklyn brownstones (flat roofs, no attic), we need a fan that mounts on the roof.

What have people trying to install whole house fans on brownstones found out? We have 3600 sq ft of space we are trying to ventilate, so it needs to be a powerful fan. I don’t think other solutions previously mentioned such as turbines would work in this case.

Can anyone recommend an HVAC engineer that might be able to consult on this?

Thanks for any advice.

Categories: A/C
By beatlife | 04/07/2008 9:54 PM | Comment

What can I do with old tin ceilings?


I am gut renovating a 3 story brownstone, and sadly the tin ceilings will have to go, It’s basically 9 rooms worth of ceilings, and I am trying to find a solution other than simply chucking them into recycling. Can they be reused by someone? Does anyone need pieces to patch a ceiling. Can I sell as scrap metal?

thanks for any advice

By beatlife | 04/03/2008 10:22 PM | Comment

Fees for expediting


I’m just beginning work on gut renovating a three family brownstone and making it into a one family. I have two proposals for expediting services, both are in the vicinity of $10,000. The scope of work is for filing an Alt Type I permit and a change of C of O. I may be cheap, but this seems twice as much as I expected, at least. Thanks for any input on this.

Categories: Expediters
By beatlife | 03/04/2008 3:35 PM | Comment