Brownstone Shaft Noise Issue


We have a 3 story brownstone with the shaft running from the first floor to the roof. There are windows that open up into the shaft and there is a vented skylight at the top to the shaft.
This vents the bathrooms fine as long as the window is cracked in the bathroom.
However, we have a rental on top floor and this is a privacy problem because of the noise. Even when the windows are closed, the noise is a problem.
Has anyone encountered this problem? What have you done? I was thinking of installing ducted fans vents in all three bathrooms. Any advice?

Categories: Kitchen & Bath
By lincolnlimestone | 03/29/2010 3:29 PM | Comment

new floor over old hearth stone problem


We are attempting to put in a new floor over pine subfloor planks. Everything is fine with the subfloor except the area near the old chimney. We are keeping the chimney in place. However, the hearth in front of the chimney is about 1/4 higher than the rest of the subfloor. Does anyone have any ideas how we can fix this problem so that we can lay our new floor over a level surface? BTW – we are putting in 3 1/2″ by 3/4″ maple.

Categories: Fireplace/Mantle
By lincolnlimestone | 10/23/2008 10:37 PM | Comment

Refrigerator repair


I am having problems with the fridge in our rental. The freezer is not staying frozen. The problem is that I do not know how old it is.
Can anyone recommend the pros/cons of hiring a repair person come out vs. buying a new one for $400?

Categories: Appliances
By lincolnlimestone | 04/14/2008 1:55 PM | Comment

Pocket Doors


We just bought a limestone that has two sets of double pocket/sliding doors and one single pocket/sliding door. Two of the doors are completely stuck in their off-the-track position in walls where we weren’t planning on opening up the plaster.

Does anyone know if it is possible to put the doors back on their tracks without taking out the wall? I assume they run on a bottom track but am not certain.

Also, we would like to strip them of their years of paint. Is this also possible to do in place? I’m skimping here to help pay for the kitchen we need to put in (there isn’t much of an existing one to speak of).

Thanks for any information!

Categories: Doors
By lincolnlimestone | 11/12/2007 12:02 AM | Comment