Forum: Renovation
November 5, 2009
Housecleaning Cooperative
Apparently Brooklyn is home to a worker-owned house cleaning business called Si Se Puede! (Yes, We Can!), a worker-owned remodeling business called We Can Fix It!, and another worker-owned childcare business called Beyond Care. Anyone ever used any of these?
These kind of structures can be nominal (profit sharing checks of $2 a year) or involve interminable, pointless meetings, but it's gotta be slightly better than minumum wage.
November 4, 2009
DIY Beginner Project?
I'm going to start some DIY projects around and wanted to start easy. What would you recommend as a starter project?
1) install crown moulding
2) replace (but not move) bathroom fixtures (sink, toilet, medicine cabinet)
3) replace flooring (take out carpet, install either wood or cork flooring)
Thanks for any suggestions!!!
November 3, 2009
Rental Renovations
Brownstoners, please help me figure this out! I’m about to have two vacant apartments in the same Center Slope building. I can only renovate one apartment at a time. I’d appreciate your thoughts on which might be more immediately rentable at this time of year, in this market:
1) 1 bedroom, double-parlor apt, 1-1/2 bath, no outdoor space; or
2) 2 bedroom, garden apt, 1 bath, exclusive use of garden.
Both are modestly appointed. Each has washer/dryer and dishwasher.
November 2, 2009
Creative Use of Leftover Floor?
It looks like we're going to have leftover brazilian walnut (ipe) flooring (5/8" thick, prefinished) and besides keeping some on hand for future repairs, would like to try to do something creative with it and thought we might seal the underside and ends and build planter boxes with it to have outside. I see ipe is used outdoors for decks, is this totally a bad idea? I just don't have enough to probably sell or give to anyone, and don't want to throw anything away. Maybe you have other ideas? thanks!
Tenant Compensation?
I am a landlord who recently got a new tenant. When showing him the apartment initially, he asked if we would install a new rainshower shower head in the bathroom, and I agreed to do it, as I like to improve my properties. I informed him of how the renovation would proceed, and he assured me that it was no problem, he could shower at his cousins or the gym and kept assuring me throughout the job that it was no problem. The plumber that I hired took longer than he first said he would (so what else is new??), so the tenant was without water for 1 day, and without a shower for 2 weeks. The cost of the job was essentially 2 1/2 months worth of rent, as I installed a very good waterworks system and it looks fantastic. Now that the job is over, he wants rent reductions for the days without use (even when the water was off, there was a toilet he had access to in the building), and basically, he could use everything except the shower. The job did not have to be done, and this feels so ungrateful to me after doing a major (unnecessary improvement). I have not made a cent off of this tenant since he moved in in July; it has all gone in to the shower renovation. What percentage should he be compensated, if at all, for something that didn’t even need to be done, and is basically an upgrade for him to enjoy?
October 30, 2009
Salem Darrow
Has anyone done a reno with Salem Darrow as g.c.? Pros, cons, opinions?
October 29, 2009
FHA contractor
I'm about to close on a two family home in Red hook. It will need substantial renovation,and I have acquired an fha 203k renovation mortgage. If anyone has any recomendations of general contractors please let me know. I'm aware that some contractors are not interested in dealing with the guidlines of these 203ks . Any input would be appreciated .Thanks
October 28, 2009
First Time Reno Qs
I have a studio in Willoughby Walk and would like to do some renovations, such as installing all new floors, taking down a couple of small walls to reconfigure the layout a little, having closet systems put in, and completely gutting and redoing the bathroom. Also there's something weird going on near the windows with cracks and peeling on the wall, so that needs to be addressed. I've never owned before this apt and never done anything like this. My question is, do I hire a general contractor to do all this? Or do I hire someone to come in and do the bathroom, someone separate to do the floors, someone else to address the problem near the window, etc? I looked at the website for one popular GC in Brooklyn that mostly does brownstones. I love their work, but will I be seriously overpaying if I go that route? Thanks very much, any advice would be much appreciated!
Bathroom Reno - Any Opinions?
Getting one relatively small full bathroom renovated. It's in bad shape and needs a total redo. Does this estimate seem reasonable for an average (meaning not low or high end) reno like this?
Labor:
Prep:
Cover floors, walls, stairs down to exit door, enclose bath hall door, cover furniture in bedroom daily
Demo:
drain, remove, secure toilet, shut off water, remove vanity – cabinets, remove tile(s) in the tub surround, remove shower body, remove floor tiles – 1-2 layers?, remove wallboard from tub – back wall (durock) side wall, remove closet shelving in bath, remove wall studs to open space into small closet/hall, remove cleats/shelves from closet, remove crown molding from hallway, re-route electric, remove tub, remove portion of ceiling (skylight), salvage floor boards in hallway floor outside bathroom, evaluate wall framing and sub-floor, disposal will be set up on an as needed basis
Plumbing:
remove drop down drain, replace drain line, lower lead bend, re-route hot and cold water supply for toilet and vanity, solder in new hot and cold water lines for shower body, install shower body, rough in drains for tub and sink
Finish Work:
re-frame tub surround to accommodate 60 inch tub, install skylight (trim out ceiling), install tub and drain, replace wall board throughout, install sub-strate to floor, install tile around tub, install tile on floor, install saddle, tape and compound walls – (3x), grout tub surround, grout floor, rebuild closets, enclose pipe (heat riser), sand, prime and paint, install sinks, install toilet, install shower rod, install finished plumbing trim, caulk around tub and sinks, install baseboard, install light fixture and GFCI outlet
Total Labor Costs
Total Cost - $17,250.00 (Length of job 4 – 6 weeks)
Estimated Materials:
$4,700 – this includes the three most expensive items which are: 60” vanity (approximately $1,600), disposal of debris (approximately $1,200), skylight (approximately $400)
GRAND TOTAL = $21,950
October 27, 2009
Creepy Crawls in the Walls
Anyone out there that has ever done a restoration/reno this is a questions for you! I noticed that on the This Old House Broolyn editions when they were taking down walls, picking up floor boards there were no sign of either rodents or insects. Was this stuff cleaned up before it went on camera? What's in the walls/floors of a 100-year-old house?