After we posted about the New York Times’ article on restoring non-existent stoops, a reader sent in these photos and the story of his own amazing stoop restoration. When he moved into this house in Park Slope, it was stoopless, and a window had replaced the main front-door entrance. Rumor has it that most of the houses in his row lost their cast iron railings during a WWII scrap metal drive, he said. He’s been renovating the whole house little by little as time and money has allowed.

The stoop was a big project about eight years ago.  After I had the paint stripped and the facade repointed, the additional brick that closed up the door opening (it was converted to a window when the house was de-stooped) was removed and I built the new door frame and installed a vintage door.  Still, it was “a door to nowhere” until the stoop arrived.

He found a suitable contractor nearby, Bay Ridge Iron Restoration, which is actually in Gowanus, and brought them sketches and photos of dozens of stoops around the area. The railing is new, and the newel posts were cast from a mold made of an original post in the neighborhood.

I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted; a metal frame that would allow light and air under the stoop as most under-stoop entrances looked dank and dark.  But I also wanted brownstone treads for a warmer look and more of a suitable profile… I showed him the newel posts I wanted in one photo, and he said “let me show you what I’ve got” and led me to the shop’s loft where he had sets of original and cast iron repros of almost exactly what I wanted!

While he was at it, he ordered new, matching window bars for the garden level.  A cement subcontractor set the base, and a company in the Bronx cast the treads to exactly match the house’s existing stone. This was eight years ago, and the whole thing cost $19,000. Our reader is now restoring his living room!

 


Above is the stoop in its full glory with cheery pots of red flowers.

 


A close shot from the side showing the beautiful newel posts and new window bars.

 


Above, you can see the stoop in context with the other nearby facades. We are so impressed with how this project turned out. Does anyone else have photos or a story to share about their stoop?

 


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. @Stargazer; planting in the front was attempted, but since there was previously a storefront extension most of the front yard is a basement vault or concrete 2 ft thick. And yes, that fence is crap, but as with any piecemeal renovation, you prioritize. The fence should be upgraded when time and cash allow.

  2. I’m in total agreement about that dank “storage space” under stoops. As for planters: that’s the plan. But right now the renovation is ongoing, and (although you can almost make them out in the photos) there are 2 rolling dumpsters in the front. They get dragged around a lot, and they can be partially hidden by potted bushes. Once they’re gone for good there won’t be a need for everything to be moveable in the front yard.

  3. Dumpster diving! In a row of (originally 15) identical homes, in the past 12 years 3 families have ripped-out some original details. The door was from 2 houses over. Besides that, I also got my pocket door replacements and lots of moldings from neighbors’ trash heaps. If you want a door like this one try Clinton Hill’s Eddie’s Salvage at 222 Greene Avenue. It’s as messy as a junkyard, but Eddie, although a bit eccentric, is a great guy and his prices are affordable. Be prepared to scrape & refinish.

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