Engineered Wood Floor?


We’re thinking about buying a house that we think has engineered wood floors installed in the living, dining rooms and hallways. They are a very dated looking pickled white and in some places cherry, with a very thick varnish. If we get the place, I would like to refinish the floors and do a darker color.

The thing is that we can’t really tell if they are in fact engineered wood. The boards are short lengths and have beveled edges, but from the photo attached, you can’t see the layers of wood that make them look like they are engineered.

My questions: from this photo, do these look like engineered floors? If so, does anyone have any experience refinishing these types of floors? I’ve read that you can refinish them once but that you have to be very careful. Thanks for any help.

Categories: Floors
By kimmc | 12/06/2010 11:50 AM | Comment

Managing Agent – Board Secretary


Question for any co-op owners who are familiar with the make-up of their co-op board: is it very common for the managing agent of a co-op to also be the board secretary? I know that managing agents do a lot of the paper work for apartment sales, and are often present at closings, but I’m interested in knowing if it is common for the managing agent to also be able to sign documents as an officer of the co-op board (secretary or president). Any numbers anyone can provide would be helpful.

Categories: Co-Op Related
By kimmc | 03/25/2010 7:15 PM | Comment

Recs for Property Managers


Anyone have any recommendations for decent Property Managers in Brooklyn? We are a 70+ unit co-op in Brooklyn and are interested in speaking to different management companies. We would prefer companies located in Brooklyn if possible.

Categories: Management
By kimmc | 09/28/2009 1:11 PM | Comment

Aluminum baseboard vs. cast iron


I’m considering replacing my old aluminum baseboard heaters (hot water heat) with cast iron baseboards – partly for looks and hopefully for some efficiency. I haven’t priced it out yet, but I’m wondering if the cast irons really will be more efficient and will be worth the switch. Something like this by slant/fin http://www.slantfin.com/product-rhino-cast.html. Anyone have experience doing this?

Categories: Heating
By kimmc | 04/14/2009 3:13 PM | Comment