Cheap Backyard Ideas


Hi, We have a 10×10 shady patch of dirt and weeds that we would like to actually use this summer. Grass will never grow there. What would be the cheapest, quickest way to get started? Wood deck, pebbles, brick, concrete? Can it be done by clutzy DIYers or hire out? Any ideas would be welcome!
Thanks.

Categories: Decks
By brookelen | 05/11/2010 11:48 AM | Comment

Wall guy?


Hi, we’d like to close off one doorway in the kitchen and widen another by about 2 feet. The walls are not load bearing, but they are messy plaster/lathe so I’m very hesitant about DIY. What type of contractor would I need? Are there wall specialists? A GC? A handyman? (I don’t think I would need any permits since there is an additional doorway in the room that we won’t be touching so there are still 2 egresses).

Categories: Plaster
By brookelen | 01/05/2010 4:25 PM | Comment

FREE butcher block cutting board


FREE to good home. Heavy butcher block cutting board available. Pick up in Prospect Heights. Leave your email in comments and I’ll contact you. I tried to post with a picture, but got an error message. Aprox dimensions are 20″x28″x1.5″.

Categories: Architectural Salvage
By brookelen | 08/12/2008 11:20 AM | Comment

refacing facade permits


Hi,
I can’t tell if we’ve been duped or just had a misunderstanding with our contractor. We thought we were all ready to reface the facade of our 4 unit, 4 story brownstone coop. We got a loan, interviewed several contractors, called references, read archives and compared bids. Just as we were all set to begin, the contractor tells us that we need to file a permit with the DOB. We thought all along that this was something they would do. I looked on the DOB website and an engineer or registered architect needs to file the permits for refacing. Has anyone hired one of these professionals, separate from your refacing contractor, just to file the permits? Any recommendations or advice (aside from “we’re idiots”)? Thanks!

Categories: Facade
By brookelen | 07/17/2008 2:18 PM | Comment

anyone used Fred Becker painter?


Hi,
We have to make some quick decisions about hiring a painter, but have never done this before. We found him in the Park Slope Coop newsletter where he’s been a member for 30+ years (we’ve been for 6). His painting business is almost as old. Long standing roots in the community, seemed nice and knowledgable, showed up at noon on the dot for our appointment and gave 2 recs. All good right? Has anyone used Fred Becker? Price slightly higher than expected but he’ll tape and skimcoat all our plaster cracks too. We don’t want to lose him nor have time to interview many contenders. Thanks for any thoughts!

Categories: Painters
By brookelen | 07/15/2008 10:41 AM | Comment

DIY bathroom tile?


Hello all. We are finally ready to begin some simple (not gut) reno work and am looking for opinions. We think we can rip out our old bathroom tile floor and replace with new hex mosaic tile in a 5×9 bathroom ourselves. I’ve read lots of books and have been reading other’s reno stories and we’ve even replaced the toilet before. But we are definitely novices. To those who have been through this process: what was your skill level before embarking? Does 3 days seem adequate? Any special advice? Thanks to all!

Categories: Tile
By brookelen | 06/23/2008 12:56 PM | Comment

regrout vs. retile


Hi,
We need to do some minor renovation on our 1980′s era, 5′x9′, falling apart, solo bathroom. We’re thinking of a simple IKEA sink/cabinet and have already replaced the toilet out of necessity. The big question is the floor. It’s large white hex tile (seems like a standard size I’ve seen before) which is fine (but not my dream tile). Only 2 tiles are cracked and the grout is awful. I read a bit about regrouting and realize it is a pain, but it seems way easier than ripping up all the tile, leveling the floor, retiling, and then grouting. How easy do y’all think it would be to replace the 2 broken tiles, bleach/scrub the existing tiles, and regrout without removing the toilet? Has anyone done this as part of a smaller reno instead of a bathroom gut reno. I can live with the icky bisque colored tub if everything else is gleaming white and shiny looking. Thanks for thoughts and advice!

Categories: Tile
By brookelen | 03/28/2008 11:08 AM | Comment

building over an air shaft


Hi, We would like to possibly build out over our building’s airshaft to add a utility closet and laundry. We’re on the 2nd floor so there is no rough-in floor. But, the wall is a shared wall with the bathroom so we at least know there are some plumbing lines nearby. I know this is possible, but can’t begin to guess on what it would cost how it would work. We’d need to build a ceiling too. And what would the floor actually sit on?? Should we try to find an architect since some structural would be necessary? Overall, it is a fairly small space (~4′x4′) so would it really be worth all the money and effort? Has anyone done this before?
Thanks!

Categories: Renovation
By brookelen | 02/05/2008 5:28 PM | Comment

paint and pregnancy


Hi! Just found out that I’m pregnant, but we still have to paint our 100+year old apartment. I had originally wanted to strip all the moldings and doorways to remove many layers of paint and get rid of the lead, but those stripping chemicals seem like they would be as bad as the lead. So if we just coverup the old paint (like everyone else has for the past 100 years) it won’t look as nice, but I think that there would be less chemical exposure. I’ve been reading about low VOC paints too. Does anyone have any experience painting (or renovating in general)while pregnant? Thanks!

Categories: Painting
By brookelen | 01/02/2008 8:36 PM | Comment