Help! Churches and Noise


We bought a house in Flatbush about two years ago now and have been haunted ever since by the church next door. We expected there would be music/noise during service hours, but this church allows LIVE BANDS to reherse all at night throughout the week. In a room with no sound proofing that’s right next to our living room (and wall of windows).

Sometimes the rehersals go late into the night. More often, they start around 8:00 pm and go right until 11:00. It’s driving us crazy…never mind that the music is terrible (not church music, it’s more like bad, loud jazz): we can’t just hang out in our living room a few nights a week. Forget about summer evenings when the windows are open.

We’ve spoken to the pastor several times–he maintained they were here before us (yes, gentrification plays a role here) and have never bothered anyone before us. He also insisted they aren’t breaking any laws. We had one police officer out who said they had to limit music to service times…and told them so. But then last night a precinct officier called us (after a desperate 311 call) and told us the church isn’t violating any codes or laws.

Could this be true? Could churches be subject to other noise codes than the rest of us? Could it really be legal to have live bands playing loudly a few times a week?

Any advice would be MUCH appreciated. In addition to our sanity, we’re worried about losing our tenant who lives in a small apartment in the back of the house, even closer to the church.

Thanks.

Categories: Quality of Life
By lah | 03/24/2010 9:42 AM | Comment

Anyone used Lincrusta Panels?


We’re thinking of using Lincrusta Dado panels in the entry way of our victorian house. Does anyone have experience with these? We’d like to paint them to look plaster-ish. But we worry they’ll just end up looking cheap. Has anyone out there used them? Pleased?

Categories: Decorative
By lah | 02/23/2010 1:40 PM | Comment

Water Leak from Roof Pipe?


We’ve been grappling with water leaking through the walls of our three-story victorian. Today our roof guy came out and discovered that, in addition to a few small holes in the roof, one of the pipes on the top of the roof was clogged.

He didn’t seem to know what those pipes are for–we have two, one on each side of the house, they are open on top–and all the houses around us have them. Anyway, he suggested capping the drain in case that’s where the leak is coming from. My worry is that those pipes are there for a reason–and that capping them will create problems for our drainage or sewer system.

We’ll call a plumber out for advice, but does anyone here know what the purpose of those roof pipes are? Or knowledge about what capping them might do?

Thanks so much for the help!

Categories: Plumbing
By lah | 08/02/2009 4:23 PM | Comment

Sprinkler Inspections??


Can anyone clarify what the current NYC rules are for sprinkler system inspections? I’ve spent the last few hours going through all the different incarnations of the rules to see if we need monthly inspections of our system: we live in a 2-family house that used to be a 2-family plus doctor’s office. When we bought the house last year, we inherited the sprinkler inspector, who literally showed up (unexpected) once in a while to go down and stare at the main sprikler valve for 30 seconds and then leave. He now want $500 to renew the inspection contract.

We’ll obviously do it if we must by law. But we’d much rather have our plumber look at it once a year when we checks the boiler. Does anyone know what the guidelines are here? Thanks!

Categories: Plumbing
By lah | 04/01/2009 9:43 PM | Comment

Yikes..Could this Heating Bill be Right?


We moved into a large victorian house last spring, so this is our first winter in the house. We were expecting to pay a ton for winter heating, but we just got our National Grid bill for Nov…it’s over $700.

We replaced the boiler last month, so I can’t imagine that eating up gas. We also keep the thermostat at 68 degrees…often to the dismay of our office tenants on the first floor.

Is this what others pay for heat in the winter? Or are we out of whack? Granted, the house is big (4000 square feet), three stories, detached, and drafty. But $700/month??? I shudder to think of what Dec and Jan will look like. Tell me it ain’t so…

By lah | 12/17/2008 11:18 PM | Comment

Someone to Install PVC Fence


I know this is out of season, but we just bought a pvc fence that we need installed in our front yard–9 sections, each 8 feet long. Would go in the ground (i.e., not concrete), which makes the installation easier.

Anyone know of someone who could do this for a reasonable rate? The place we bought the fence from just increased their install rate to way beyond our budget.

Thanks

By lah | 12/10/2008 11:27 AM | Comment

Whistling Radiators


We recently had our boiler replaced (steam heat) and since then many of our radiators are whistling when the heat goes on, especially at night. Not too loud, but just loud enough to wake up our 2-year-old. So we need to address it. Does it sound like a problem with the valves (that’s where the whistle comes from)? Or something worse (I shudder to think…)?

Thanks.

Categories: Heating
By lah | 11/22/2008 11:42 AM | Comment

Someone to Install Attic/House Fan?


Anyone know of a good person to install a whole house fan? After reading all the posts on this, we’re going to put one in the attic of our 3 story detached house and need someone good to do it. Thanks

Categories: Roofers
By lah | 07/03/2008 2:10 PM | Comment

Someone to Install Attic/House Fan?


Anyone know of a good person to install a whole house fan? After reading all the posts on this, we’re going to put one in the attic of our 3 story detached house and need someone good to do it. Thanks

Categories: Roofers
By lah | 07/03/2008 2:10 PM | Comment

Licensing Agreement vs. Lease?


Does anyone have experience using licensing agreements over leases? We’re in the process of renting 4 office spaces on the first floor of our house and someone suggested it would be better to do licenses rather than leases–mainly we’re renting out small rooms that can’t be lived in and thus shouldn’t come with the same legal guarantees as a lease.

Any opinions about these agreements? Does anyone know of a lawyer who specializes in them?

Categories: Renters
By lah | 07/01/2008 2:51 PM | Comment