Old bricks


Does anyone have or know where I can get old bricks for rebuilding my brownstone mantle?

By hegelian | 08/01/2008 9:54 AM | Comment

Boiler exhaust and deck


I have a new gas boiler that is direct venting out the basement in the back about 3 feet above ground level. I want to build a deck 5 feet above it. Does anyone know if this will run up against code?

Categories: Decks
By hegelian | 07/31/2008 10:43 PM | Comment

When is a deck a deck?


In terms of DOB permitting…I put a door in my kitchen and since the yard is only 4 feet below I thought I’d just make stairs going down. I want to make a 4′ X 5′ landing for the stairs. Would that be considered a deck and need permitting? It would be wrought iron.

Categories: Decks
By hegelian | 07/22/2008 11:04 AM | Comment

Solar Thermal – Steel Beams?


Does anyone know if solar hot water panels must be attached to steel beams to meet code?
If this is a requirement, it raises the cost of solar thermal by 40%, I seems to me.
Has anyone installed solar thermal? Do they use it to supplement radiator heat?

Categories: Roofers
By hegelian | 05/20/2008 11:24 AM | Comment

Boilers, efficiency, on demand


Does anyone have experience with an on demand gas system for hot water and heat? It seems from the literature that the efficiency is much higher than a traditional boiler like a weil McClain CG (as much as 97% or 14% higher) and the sticker price isn’t so high on some models (Tagaki is one maker I’ve looked into).
I’d be using the system with cast iron radiators, not radiant heat.

By hegelian | 05/15/2008 11:09 PM | Comment

Solar Water and Electric


I’m probably going to install a 5 KW solar system and a hot water (3 panels – 80 Gallon) system on my brownstone in Boerum Hill. Is there anyone who has either or both systems who I could speak to about their experience with solar?

Categories: Heating
By hegelian | 05/13/2008 12:22 AM | Comment

Steam and hot water heat


Has anyone pulled out a steam heat system in their 4 story brownstone and put in hot water? If so, what was your experience like and how much did you spend?

By hegelian | 04/25/2008 12:25 PM | Comment

Steam heat and reno


I’m beginning a fairly comprehensive renovation on a 4 story brownstone. Currently it has a steam heat system which the previously seller said gave him no problems. My contractor thinks I should change to hot water since we’re opening up all the walls now.
Is it worth 20K to do this. Obviously it will cost more than that later if it proves to be necesary, but why would it be? Would hot water save money in the long run?

By hegelian | 04/22/2008 3:13 PM | Comment

mansion tax


The house I’m buying is listed as a 4 family with the housing dept, but as a 3 family with the finance dept. As a 4 family I shouldn’t have to pay mansion tax, but the title company is saying that only the finance dept records are applicable. Does anyone know if this is right? It has the restrictions of a 4 family but I have to mansion tax to boot…Seems unfair and wrong…

Categories: C of O
By hegelian | 04/15/2008 10:50 PM | Comment

4 family to 2


I’m thinking about buying a four family brownstone. I’ve already had it inspected and my offer accepted.
I want to live it as a one family, and ideally would like to have the C of O changed to two.
Question 1: Is it complicated going from 4 to 2 and what would it cost?
Question 2: would changing the C of O mandate a thorough inspection by the bldgs. dept? and therefore require permitting of any/all changes…

Categories: C of O
By hegelian | 02/02/2008 8:56 PM | Comment