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Best way to remove vinyl floor tile
We’re looking at a large coop where the floors of every room but one are covered with 24 X 24″ vinyl tiles. Judging by the untiled room, there are beautiful parquet floors under all that hideous stuff. To save money, we’d like to try to do the work of removing the tile ourselves, before having the floors refinished. Any recommendations about the best method to use? And are we crazy to think of doing this ourselves?
05/12/2011 2:47 PM
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Change of C of O from One to Two Family
We’re seriously considering making an offer on a detached 3-story house. I wrote last week about whether it would be advisable to try to rent out the existing third-floor apartment in this legally one-family house, without changing the C of O. The consensus of opinion seemed to be, “Don’t do it!â€
The zoning permits 2 family dwellings. The question is: If we buy this house, what is involved in changing the C of O from 1 to 2 family? I understand that we have to hire an architect to file the paperwork, but would like to get an idea of what alterations usually have to be made to bring a second apartment up to code. There is already a separate exterior entrance and enclosed separate stairway to the third floor. There is a full bath, and a full kitchen. What required changes would we have to make, if any? Last: How long does it usually take to get a change of C of O through the city’s bureaucratic maze? We would be losing the rent for this apartment until it was approved.
All these issues will affect what we might be willing to offer for the house. Your advice is greatly appreciated.
02/15/2011 1:40 PM
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Thinking of Buying A House with A Mother-Daughter Apt.
We’ve fallen in love with a spacious, detached, one-family house (not landmarked) in Brooklyn that has what the realtor describes as a “mother-daughter†apartment on the third floor. It seems clear that the apartment has been rented in the past (it has a stove, which I understand is not permitted in a mother-daughter), though the house is listed as a one-family. The apartment has a separate entrance and separate staircase. There is more than enough room for us on the other two floors of the house, and unless we can rent out the “mother-daughter†apartment, we can’t afford to buy this place.
Two questions: First, what might be the consequences of renting out this apartment (in Flatbush), given that it doesn’t seem to be legal? What are the penalties if an owner is caught renting an illegal apartment? We have seen so many houses with illegal apartments, it seems the city doesn’t really enforce these rules, but we’re not used to being lawbreakers.
Second, if we were to upgrade the kitchen of the “mother-daughter†apartment, in order to rent it out, not moving plumbing or anything, just replacing old cabinets and appliances and flooring, would we need to get a permit, and if so, would THAT cause us problems with the DOB?
Thanks for your help.
02/07/2011 12:55 PM
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Heating/AC for Garage Workshop?
I’d like to use my detached garage workshop all year round. Now it’s stifling in summer, and mostly unusable in winter. Is there a combination heat/air conditioner unit that I could maybe mount on the roof, or in the wall, that would make the space at least more comfortable? Or is my only choice to go with a space heater and window air conditioner? The garage is about 20 X 22, made of cement block.
12/08/2010 1:45 PM
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Can’t Get a Conventional Loan: Should We Pay Cash?
We’ve found a one-family house that we like, but the agent tells us it won’t qualify for a conventional loan, because of the work that it needs. Since we won’t be living in it for a while (plan to rent to a family member until we move back to NYC), we can’t get a 203K loan. The only other kind of loan we could get would be an “Acquisition and Home Improvement Loan,†which I understand is much more complicated, and more expensive, than a conventional loan.
We could pay cash for the house, but are reluctant to do that, since it would wipe out all our reserves, and we wouldn’t have enough for renovations. A mortgage broker suggested paying cash, and then getting a home equity loan in the amount we would have put down on the house, plus extra for the necessary renovations. So instead of a mortgage, we’d be paying off a home equity loan. Is this doable, or a really bad idea?
10/11/2010 5:25 PM
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Advice Needed on New Garage Roof
Just had an inspection of a house with garage we’re thinking of buying. We knew that the shingles on the garage needed replacing, but the inspector tells us that the whole framework of the roof—rafters, etc– is riddled with termite damage and must be completely replaced (walls are cement block). Problem is, the garage is attached to the garage of the next-door house, and the inspector says it almost certainly has termites, too. The people next door may not be willing to do anything about the problem on their side. Is it possible to replace the wooden framework with a metal one (termite-proof)? And if so, how would the price compare with wood? The garage is 17 X 17.
09/28/2010 9:45 AM
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Garage to Studio Conversion
My son is a professional musician/composer who is looking to buy a Brooklyn house with a space such as a basement or garage suitable for conversion to a sound-proof home recording studio. In addition to using it to record his own music, he would like to occasionally record other musicians—for a fee, of course.
He’s now found a detached house with a double garage in the back that he thinks could be converted. Two questions: First, is it legal to run this kind of small-scale business out of your home? He is hoping it qualifies as a “home occupation†under NYC zoning laws. (Zoning of the house is R-5—not commercial).
Second: Will he need an architect and plans to get a permit to convert the garage? He and his carpenter girlfriend will be doing most of the work except for electrical wiring and the outside of the garage will not change except for maybe a couple of vents on the roof.
Thanks for your help, everyone.
09/13/2010 9:45 AM
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mopar
May 21, 2012 | 02:16 PM