Transcend Construction


The brickwork I hired them to do on the facade of my home – which they subbed out – was done so poorly that I am having it torn out and redone. I was unhappy immediately but Nick said the colors would blend in and change to match the existing bricks. I waited 3 years. Total lie!! Beware!!

Categories: General Contractors
By premadas | 06/01/2011 1:35 PM | Comment

Exterior Brick Cracking


I have a 3 story, semi-attached carriage house in Bay Ridge, no basement. I happened to look up at the side of the building yesterday and saw one long, large crack and a few smaller ones running through the mortar. They are between the 3rd floor and roof.

I called two names from old posts listed here to get repair estimates later this week. I also remember a man or compnay named Malik that was discussed in the past. Does any one know his contact info and if the reviews are positve/negative on him? Older forum posts no longer are coming up when I search.

Also I’d like some advice in general about this problem. Should I be worried about these cracks or are they just a normal part of aging? My house was built in the 30′s. When large trucks come up the block the whole house vibrates. Should I gat an engineer to assess the problem and is it OK to just go ahead and have a mason fill the cracks in the meantime?

Thanks,
Prema

By premadas | 09/15/2010 11:45 AM | Comment

Kitchen Reno Hall of Shame


Here is the list so far of companies that made my simple kitchen renovation a nightmare. I will never use or recommend them again:

Marvin Windows, Inc (for telling me I was being sent parts overnight and instead sending them by regular mail. Also told me I could install without the parts but couldn’t send me directions on how to do so. Then told me to go to a hardware store and buy the parts myself!)

Windowrama: Bay Street Store, Staten Island (selling us the above window window without necessary parts and now being unable to locate the parts in any one of their 30 locations!Also promising me an overnight shipment of the parts, which I’m still waiting for 2 days later.)

ES Concepts: Contractor, Yonkers, NY (fired from job for lack of construction skills, and doing the elctric and plumbing himself. All his work, including sheetrock, needed to be torn out and redone)

There are more names I will be adding as the job now continues with a new head of construction.

Categories: Renovation
By premadas | 06/28/2010 2:32 PM | Comment

Thru the Wall A/C


I bought a house last year with an a/c through the wall in the master BR. It works well but makes alot of noise. I called GE and they sent out a technician since it was still under warranty. He said its not the a/c, but that it is not installed properly.

I need to find a company that will come and re-install it. I also have a newer, better LG model that can be installed in its place if its the right size.

I want this done right the first time. Any recommendations?

Categories: A/C
By premadas | 06/26/2009 11:42 AM | Comment

Kitchen Reno


I am looking for kitchen renovation specialists to completely redo my kitchen. I would like a company who can come up with a design and take it all the way to completion. This will be a complete demo and remodel including exterior doors and windows.

I’ve heard of Knockout Renovation but have seen mixed reviews of their work.

Any recommendations?

Categories: Kitchen & Bath
By premadas | 05/12/2009 1:21 PM | Comment

Good carpenter!


I recently had carpentry work done by Gil Holohan (gilholohan@hotmail.com 917-586-9800) who answered my post on this forum last year. He created a beautiful radiator cover to my specifications with a metal grill front and wood frame. He also repaired and replaced sections of oak flooring and put together a large wall tree and free-standing mirror I had purchased online that needed full assembly.

I highly recommend him!

Categories: Carpentry
By premadas | 04/08/2009 10:42 AM | Comment

Radiator Cover


I’d like a cover built for a bathroom radiator.

Can anyone recommend a reliable carpenter who will do nice work on a small job?

Categories: Carpentry
By premadas | 11/18/2008 3:59 PM | Comment

Lawyer for Property Dispute?


I need a recommendation for a lawyer that handles property disputes.

The apartment building next door has a retaining wall that runs along my backyard and is crumbling. If it fails I’m afraid my yard will collapse with it since my yard is higher than the apartment building alley. I would like to build a deck and landscape but I want them to fix the wall first. I spoke to the management company of the building and they told me the trees in my yard are causing the wall to fail so its my responsibility to pay for it and I should get ready and hire a lawyer! I met with an architect who said that the building owns the wall and they are responsible for it no matter what the reason for its failing. He said that my property and trees were there first, their alley was built lower than the pre-existing land and the wall was built up against my property, which all adds up to them having to legally maintain the wall.

So does anyone know a lawyer who can help with this sort of issue?

Categories: Lawyers
By premadas | 11/13/2008 1:13 PM | Comment

Prospect Architecture


I recently called Jeremey at Prospect Architecture and definately recommend him. I wanted to build an addition to the back of my home and make the roof of it a terrace. Jeremy came out to see us (in Bay Ridge) and I found him to be most knowlegable and very easy to communicate with.

He looked into my property records and found that I would not be allowed to build the enclosed addition, but I could build a 2nd floor deck.

If you are getting estimates and ideas from other firms I would highly recommend that you include Jeremey at Prospect on your list.

Categories: Architects
By premadas | 11/11/2008 2:41 PM | Comment

Sessa Plumbing…Diamond Club?


Ok so what the heck is up with having to pay a yearly fee to keep a plumbing company on “retainer”? Is Sessa THAT good???

I have never heard of this before and would like to know if anyone has signed up for it.

I used them to assess my house yesterday and was charged $300. I am happy because he found very little wrong and can easily rough in my downstairs sink’s plumbing to convert it to a laundry area. The sales pitch by the techinician for this “club memebership” threw me off and we are not sure how to respond.

Categories: Plumbers
By premadas | 07/17/2008 9:18 PM | Comment