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September 18, 2008
Closing Up a Dumbwaiter?
Hi,
I live in a four story, 40 unit co-op built in 1927. Our building has dumbwaiters and we are interested in closing them up and using the space within each apartment for closets. I'm trying to figure out what we would have to do for this to be a safe and legal alteration to our building. Can anyone point me to a place to start? Thanks in advance.
Lauren
Comments
we have the same situation in our building. Our engineer says we would have to install fire proof barriers (as ceilings and floors), and we would have to do the whole building at the same time. (Price would be approx 5k per conversion, we were told)
We don't have the money for it right now, but it's definitely possible and has been done many times. I'd start with your building's engineer and have them take a look at the dumb waiters.
Posted by: Bolder at September 18, 2008 1:47 PM
I used to supervise mgt. of 1600 units. Bolder's comment is right on! All units must be done, the job must be filed at the Building Dept., each floor must be properly framed to sustain the same live load as regular joist construction (I believe 60 lb./s.f., the bulkheads removed and closed with proper framing as below, the basement doors must be removed and the openings blocked with masonry. You are probably talking about $300. per d.u. + filing and engineering costs. All of this work will get you an extra 16 s.f. per kitchen. Weigh the costs versus the benefit and remember you need 100% cooperation in the building.
Marion
Posted by: MarionG at September 18, 2008 3:20 PM
Dumbwaiers have been removed and converted to closets in thousands and thousands of apartments all over Brooklyn. You are the first person to ask "how is it done?". If you have to ask that question, you may never be able to do it.
Posted by: Inigo at September 18, 2008 3:39 PM
"Dumbwaiers have been removed and converted to closets in thousands and thousands of apartments all over Brooklyn. You are the first person to ask "how is it done?". If you have to ask that question, you may never be able to do it."
Not only are you nasty, but WTF is a "Dumbwaier"? Dumbass...
Posted by: GHB at September 18, 2008 4:19 PM
GHB, relax, it's just a blog, you'll blow a gasket, and everybody makes typos in their posts now and then. Are you new to this?
Besides, You have someone saying that you need 100% of the cooperation of a building to turn your dumbwaiter into a closet, and you are calling me a dumbass?
Posted by: Inigo at September 18, 2008 4:48 PM
Inigo --
You would be a happier person if you stopped entertaining yourself by posting insulting remarks on the internet.
Thanks to everyone else who responded.
Lauren
Posted by: SPer at September 18, 2008 5:04 PM
Bolder --
May I ask, was that 5K per apartment unit or 5K per line (ie, per dumbwaiter shaft)?
Thanks again,
Lauren
Posted by: SPer at September 18, 2008 5:06 PM
It is surprising how some people are allergic to the truth, and sage advice. You do not need anyone in your building (much less 100%) to approve the conversion of your dumbwaiter into a closet, unless of course your building actually still uses the dumbwaiter in which case you should be part of the smithsonian. Honestly, it is not bad enough to be so ignorant and naive, but also to be so rude, tsk tsk Lauren.
Posted by: Inigo at September 18, 2008 8:15 PM
The first response is right. They need to be fire rated (4 hours, I think) and have some structural improvements so that if you step into the closet you don't fall through.
Posted by: superstooper at September 19, 2008 12:32 PM
Oh, the pointing part -an engineer is what you need.
Posted by: superstooper at September 19, 2008 12:34 PM
Look, it's not rocket science. If there were no co-op board involved, any handyman could do it in a day. Obviously the issue is when you do it to permit, it's more complicated.
If superstooper is correct about the fire-rating, it's ironic that the dumbwaiter shaft, as originally installed, is a great chimney for fire and is OK; if stopped up, it has to have 4-hour rating??
Posted by: cmu at September 19, 2008 3:56 PM
Price was 5k per unit. But we only have 10 units. Would probably be less for a bigger building.
that was assuming we kept the frame and just turned the dumb waiters into pantries. To completely rip out the whole structure I imagine would be substantially more.
The cost would probably also depend on what an engineer found upon inspection, i.e. phone and gas lines running the shaft, for instance, a not-uncommon occurrence.
Posted by: Bolder at September 19, 2008 8:23 PM
I must agree with Marion and Bolder, its pricey but yet all worth it. Contact my Contractor and ask him. They also have there own Architectural firm or someone from his family is, I cant remember.
IEB @ 718.204.2552
PK
Posted by: Bklyn1 at September 20, 2008 4:12 PM
Wow, inigo you aren't very polite. I hope the rest of your day is better, after your anger management class.
Posted by: bklyn_girl at September 20, 2008 7:51 PM
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