So are you stating that you have never broken the law? We all do at some time or another, it simply is a question of our own personal beliefs as to what laws we break and which we don't.
For the record, I would have no problem with a developer doing a minor renovation without a permit if it were safe, didn't inconvenience the neighbors and did not negatively impact the neighborhood. I don't see where the original posters job violates any of my own personal criteria. Your criteria is different. That's why they make M&M's in plain and peanut.

Posted by: Bond at May 17, 2008 11:38 AM in response to do we need a building permit?

There are so many different types of tamper resistant screws on the market that you probably will not be able to get that exact configuration. If you are in too big of a hurry to wait for an online order, buy a screw extractor (you have to drill a small pilot hole in the head and then you thread in the screw extractor which has threads that run counter-clockwise, so while you are threading in the screw extractor, it's actually going to be loosening the other screw).

Posted by: Bond at May 17, 2008 2:36 PM in response to What type of screw is this?

My neighbor picked up a mosquito magnet, but too late we realized that it does not work on tiger mosquitos, which seems to be the primary ones that we have in the back.
I put a bat house on my roof. I followed all the instructions to a tee, positioned it in the right direction, unobstructed approach, set it high enough,blah, blah, blah. Three years later...No bats!

Posted by: Bond at May 21, 2008 5:02 PM in response to Mosquito Magnet Placement

I'm confused, when you say "directly under the stoop area" what exactly are you talking about? There are some really cool options for bringing in more sunlight on the market, but I'm not sure that any of them would work for what you are describing. Is a pic possible? I'm thinking of most brownstone stoops, which have the door under them and I can't picture where you would put a skylight.
You can put glass in any opening, and if you glob enough caulk on, it will not leak, but for how long is always the question.

Posted by: Bond at May 24, 2008 7:58 AM in response to Basement Skylight

Your comments about murders are ridiculous. Obviously you want to look at the number of murders, but someone coming in and murdering a local business person is a lot different than drive-bys. If I were planning on robbing someone, I'd go where the money was,and I thought I could get away with it, not my local corner bodega where the owner pays someone to lurk at the front counter within reach of a baseball bat or machete, who will break my legs for shoplifting a pack of Juicy Fruit.

Posted by: Bond at May 24, 2008 8:15 AM in response to Open House Picks

2:19, You're right, that does sound what I was saying. I was only trying to make a point of why a neighborhood might be relatively safe in some ways, yet still have things like murders taking place. I guess ultimately what I wanted to say is that in my opinion, crime really is a non-factor for anyone who is thinking of buying in either Park Slope or Windsor Terrace. They are both incredibly safe when you think of the number of people living in both compared to the actual number of violent crimes, but I could skew individual cases, or statistics to indicate otherwise.

Posted by: Bond at May 25, 2008 8:08 AM in response to Open House Picks

I installed them years ago in a guest bathroom with a dark grey grout and it wasn't noticibly more difficult to keep them clean. I also didn't notice them being slippery, even though they had a high gloss finish, so I think that there may be something to the more grout equals less slippery theory.

Posted by: Bond at May 25, 2008 8:12 AM in response to Round tiles -- too much grout?

If you think it's about to get violent, call the cops, even if it doesn't help change the behavior of the individuals involved, it will help the co-op board deal with the situation, giving them some ammunition to deal with the problem.
911 responders know better than to give out the information of the caller, the cops who respond won't know who you are unless you specifically state your name and apartment (911 operators have caller ID, but they don't give that info to the responding officers specifically because of cases like yours).
Police Officers have to make out a report of domestic violence everytime they respond to a location, so the reports will ultimately build up and other agencies will become involved. Precincts have a domestic violence officer now who reviews each one that comes in and looks for patterns and make appropriate referrals.
Also try to enlist the support of neighbors. A unified front always helps and it makes it look like less of a "he said, she said" situation.

Posted by: Bond at May 25, 2008 8:21 AM in response to crazy (literally) neighbors

in that case, it's an easy enough job, there are skylights specifically rated for that application (they have to hold a certain amount of weight to qualify). I think there is a place on Smith street and ninth who builds what you are looking for, but I can't remember his name. If you don't go with that, you would have to get a contractor to build up a small curb, install a flat roof skylight and then put a cage of iron bars over it to keep people from walking on it. It would be servicable, but hard to keep it from looking ugly as hell.

Posted by: Bond at May 26, 2008 9:13 AM in response to Basement Skylight

10:59, either you missed my point, or I'm missing yours. Two neighborhoods (neither of which I live in) were being compared using crime statistics. I felt (and continue to feel) that this is foolish. They are both relatively great neighborhoods, as are many other neighborhoods in New York. Those neighborhoods weren't being discussed, so I didn't feel the need to defend them or list them.

Posted by: Bond at May 26, 2008 9:22 AM in response to Open House Picks

You can absolutely do this. I'm doing my smallish (about 6'x8') bathroom for about 10k. None of the super high-end stuff, but who needs it? A shower stall or tub with sliding doors; a simple, small toilet; a sink and vanity; and simple, bright subway tiles all around.

I think the trick is finding a contractor first and letting them ghet materials, rather than starting with fancy fixtures from a retail place like NYKB and trying to find someone to install them. A good local contractor will know the best and cheapest places to get materials... e.g. I always use Mondial Tile, which is here in Brooklyn.

Don't have too specific an idea of what you want - i.e. these particular tiles or this particular sink. Don't try to control the process too much. For 12k your bathroom isn't going to be in any magazines. Let the contractor know what you generally want, and let them sweat the details. Quality of the installation matters more than the particular fixtures. If you just roll with things you can have a cheap, stress-free and beautiful result.

Posted by: sdrubbins at September 16, 2008 5:12 PM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?

sdrubbins
If people roll with things that is asking for trouble. Your living situation is serious and you are spending hard earned cash to get what you want.
Contractors can barely manage money on a job. It is their worst subject.
Most contractors do not have a formal business set-up.

Posted by: madamlee at September 16, 2008 5:23 PM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?

I would definitely pick the fixtures yourself and pay separate for labor. If not, you will get run of the mill lower quality fixtures and it won't really save you any money anyway.

Posted by: cortnyc at September 16, 2008 7:09 PM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?

We did a similar sized bath for slightly unde 10, but we didn't gut it and kept the original tub. New fixtures and tile all around, but we went high mid-range on fixtures. We lived in an elevator co-op so it probably cost a bit more than it should have. So yes, I'd say 12k is doable, especially in this economy. Also, agree with sourcing your own fixtures. And don't roll with things. You're goign to have to sweat the details yourself for that price.

Posted by: Bolder at September 16, 2008 9:07 PM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?

We totally gutted and rebuilt a bathroom from scratch (converted half to full). The total job, including our contractor, designer (who admittedly was very inexpensive since she was new) and materials, was only about 12K. We used pretty nice materials - not top of line, but not home depot/lowe's either. Granted, it was a small space, and the contractor was cheaper than many others - but it turned out beautifully!

Posted by: Miss Muffett at September 16, 2008 10:59 PM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?

You can absolutely do this yourself. Just have to get the materials yourself. Check at home depot,lowes,weismans on mcdonalds ave,bergen tiles on flatbush ave and certified lumber in williamsburg for sheetrock,wood , etc. Good luck.

Posted by: iluvclintonhill at September 17, 2008 12:42 PM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?

we can handle your budget sensative job. alot of it depends on the amount of money you want to spend on your tile/vanity/fixtures ect.
give us a call for a free estimate, and check out our website.

http://colonialconceptscorp.com/

steve
516-792-5772

Posted by: steve79 at September 17, 2008 12:43 PM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?

Hello there,

I just had my bathroom redone. Taking out the extensive plumbing work I had to install, I was able to easily do this under $12K. Contact LBK Contracting and ask for Larry. I swear he is the easiest guy to work with, incredibly reliable and they do a great job.

His number is 917-531-4947. Tell him that Faye recommended him.

Posted by: feelyng at September 17, 2008 1:45 PM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?

I am interested in taking a look at this project for pricing. Please contact me at (917) 573-3304. Below are pictures of a similar in size bathroom renovation in progress in SOHO, for under $12,000 all new walls, ceilings, tiles, floors, if interested you can call me at the above number or email me for updated photos @ acrcontracting@optonline.net.

Regards,
Al Rosario

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h286/istaylookensexy/88%20Bleecker%20Street/DSCF0315.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h286/istaylookensexy/88%20Bleecker%20Street/DSCF0316.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h286/istaylookensexy/88%20Bleecker%20Street/DSCF0431.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h286/istaylookensexy/88%20Bleecker%20Street/DSCF0432.jpg

Posted by: alrosariojr at September 17, 2008 10:11 PM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?

I just wanted to shout out a huge thank you to everyone who responded to my post here. You've given me lots of great ideas and I feel encouraged again that this can be done.

Thanks again.

Posted by: TJR at September 18, 2008 7:46 AM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?