Radiator Valve Rec?


Over the summer we had our floors redone, and the super removed the radiators for us so we could repair some of the boards under the radiators. We’re ready to put them back on, but one of the valves is broken and needs to be replaced.

The super said we should hire a plumber, but the one recommended to me gave me what seemed like an outrageous quote. I’m tempted to do it myself, but the consequences of doing it wrong make me think twice.

So my question is: What should I reasonably be expected to pay for a new valve to be installed, and can anyone recommend a good plumber to do it? Thanks!

Categories: Radiators
By elisbrown | 09/22/2009 1:11 PM | Comment

source for new radiators?


Our apartment is completely overheated in the winter, and our radiators are also large. We’d like to replace them with smaller new (or stripped) radiators. I would love to get them myself, and then have a plumber install them.

Does anyone know where to get new or paint free radiators in Brooklyn? Thanks!

Categories: Radiators
By elisbrown | 07/31/2009 12:44 PM | Comment

painting radiators


We live in a pre-war building and our radiators are old but functional and not too noisy. They are, however, covered in dirty old paint.

We’d like to repaint them, and wonder if there’s a right or wrong way to do it. The paint guy at the hardware store said that you can just use regular latex paint, as long as the radiator wasn’t on and that there was time for it to cure.

Is this true? We’d rather have radiators that at least blended in with the room and weren’t that sprayed on silver color that they seem to come in.

Thanks!

Categories: Radiators
By elisbrown | 08/07/2008 5:01 PM | Comment

Is there a difference in floor stain brands?


My husband and I are planning to have our floors sanded and refinished in the next few weeks. We’ve hired a contractor to do it, but now find ourselves faced with having to decide how to finish them.
The apt is pre-war. The floors are probably oak and currently have acrylic poly on them.
Our contractor recommends that we use an oil based poly, which I’m fine with. But we also need to pick a stain. My cousin, who is an architect, seems to think that Minwax stain is terrible, and that we should use some high end stain that she uses for her clients. Our contractor uses Minwax, but said he’d use whatever we wanted to. I feel torn between the ease of Minwax (which I’ve never heard anything negative about up until now) and trying to find another brand which is supposedly better.
Does anyone have experience (negative or positive) with Minwax or other stains? Since this is probably our only chance to redo the floors, I’d like to it right.

Categories: Floors
By elisbrown | 08/01/2008 2:05 PM | Comment