roof hatch security?


had a couple break ins back to back. 1st time i think something was left open. 2nd time i think it was one of 3 things:
Either he unlocked the roof hatch the first time so he could get back in
he just wriggled the roof hatch open somehow
or he defeated this new lock that was recently installed:

http://www.codelocks.us/mechcl400.html

I’m hoping it was something with the roof hatch, any ideas on how to better secure it?

Categories: Skylight
By reno911 | 08/02/2008 5:18 PM | Comment

williamsburg low rent projects


Lived in williamsburg, well, forever, rarely had a problem.

I see condos going up everywhere, oftentimes they are across the street from low-rent projects. Will these low-rent projects remain forever you think or be moved elsewhere as the surrounding buildings become luxury. How does it work?

Last night went to pick up some chinese take-out and the girl i was walking with got hit with a bb gun from one of the project windows. I looked at her ear and saw the bb stuck in there.

Made me realize as safe as i feel and as much as the neighborhood has changed, these project buildings haven’t changed at all so its hard to say that its any safer even with all the new additions

Categories: Quality of Life
By reno911 | 07/16/2008 1:44 PM | Comment

brick fireplace arch rec?


Need someone to brick up the fireplace arch seen here. There is a steel support there already and i have old bricks to use.

Categories: Masonry
By reno911 | 05/31/2008 1:54 AM | Comment

Garden access


What is more typical for a 4 storyish brownstone with a garden and different people living on the different floors.

Everyone shares the back garden, or the people with the garden floor (the floor that has the back door which opens on the garden) have mostly exclusive access.

Categories: Garden
By reno911 | 05/23/2008 11:19 PM | Comment

soundboard vs. furring (firring) stips for ceiling


Renovation in progress.
The contractor has pretty much gutted the place – ceiling has been taken down in most of the rooms (the picture is of the inside of one of the ceilings that was left intact because it had no cracks etc.)
As you can see in the picture, there was no insulation in the ceiling – for sound reasons (every footstep, and even sometimes the cat can be heard from the upstairs apt) the contractor suggests putting insulation in since the ceiling is open in most of the rooms. Should I request any special insulation for sound? Or is it all pretty much the same.
I have researched soundproofing and I don’t believe the insulation will do much. It is designed to insulate heat not sound. To quiet footsteps and voices from upstairs I was looking into “green glue” (home theater DIY stuff) but it’s not available in stores and most people have never heard of it. So i was going to go with either Celotex soundboard or furring strips. Anyone know if one is better than the other? Or do you suggest something else.

Categories: Insulation
By reno911 | 05/05/2008 6:56 PM | Comment