Cobblekrill's Profile
Author's Posts
November 13, 2007
Leak in the walls
For several months I have been hearing the slow trickle of water behind the wall of my third floor bathroom in my Cobble Hill brownstone. I had Weiss plumbing come once to check it out and the guy basically leaned close to the wall and said 'I don't hear anything'. SInce I wanted to believe he was right, I let it go. This was about eight months ago. In my experience, however, it's not a good idea to let small bad things grow into big bad things. I still hear the water so I tried again today with Gateway plumbing, mostly because the plumber from there sounds so smart on this sight. Once again, the guy stood close to the wall and said 'I don't hear anything'. Now I was beginning to feel like a character from Gaslight. It's subtle but I swear it's there. We went downstairs to the basement and, finally, he heard it. "Oh yeah!" he said, "it's like a 'Drip, drip'." Sadly, he could not tell where it was, if it was in the pipe going up or the pipe coming down. His proposal--start opening walls--gave me a pounding headache. I did get his boss on the phone who sounded knowledgeable and agreed that 'leaks can be tricky'. He is coming in two weeks to take a look. I won't even mention what these diagnostic visits are costing. My point (and I do have one!), has anybody ever dealt with this situation before? Insight (and aspirin) welcome.
Author's Comments
stephen peck. a little crotchety but talented
Posted by: Cobblekrill at November 7, 2007 8:18 PM in response to custom cabinets
Apropos of absolutely nothing, that corner brick building on Congress and Hicks used to be a factory that made Christmas ornaments. For years, a tubby Santa sat on the roof slowly listing left as the grime of the BQE collected on his red suit. It lent an air of perverse whimsy to what is actually a pretty desolate stretch--see broken glass from smashed car windows and piles of dog poop nobody bothers to clean up.
Posted by: Cobblekrill at November 13, 2007 3:52 PM in response to A Look at L&M’s Big Plans for Columbia Street
The NYT real estate section did an article on central vacs about a year, or two or three, ago. They claimed they cost about $1,000 to install. THat seems unrealistically cheap but maybe that was for new constriuction. that said, i have one in a house i own and i think they are FANTASTIC. the motor is ten times stronger than anything you can get in a regualr vacuum. including a dyson. (as you can see, I am a little obsessed with vacuum cleaners). i don't see how you put one in a brownstone, however, as the walls are solid. try a roomba instead. i just bought a reconditioned one on amazon. fantastic for the 1/2 hour it worked. sorry for punctuation--i do knwo better i just have a three year on my lap..
Posted by: Cobblekrill at November 21, 2007 7:24 PM in response to why no central vac?
This is not an indictment of you or your taste since the painting was left to you, but, um, that painting is utter crap.
Posted by: Cobblekrill at December 13, 2007 3:47 PM in response to Art appraiser?
I have used premier roofing and can highly recommend
Posted by: Cobblekrill at December 13, 2007 3:50 PM in response to roofer
Go back and re-read your Karl Marx. Capital decides all. Geographically, Dumbo is a TINY neighborhood. To have it make economic sense Walentas had to build HIGH and build CLOSE. So, a tiny neighborhood packed tight. Disparaging people who can afford it is ridiculous--are they lesser human beings for being able to pay $5k for a two bedroom rental? What bums me out are the for-sale-politicians (Marty Markowitz-- "Blessed are those who bought early" ) who say yes to every development without providing extra schools/transportation for the thousands of newcomers. Most of us who have lived in Brooklyn for 20+ years came here for the breathing space. Increasingly, that seems gone and soon so will people like me, pocketing my profit but sad, too, for the disappearing feel of a sparsely populated neighborhood not too far from Manhattan. Then again, grow up. Because change is the only constant....
Posted by: Cobblekrill at December 27, 2007 12:35 AM in response to Dumbo’s Growing Pains
"Interesting flora and fauna"? Um. Can you say "weed choked lot"? THe people protesting this development live right next door. I am sympathetic-- I wouldn't want a year of construction and my backyard ruined but at least it's not a high rise adding thousands of people to a neighborhood where the schools are already filled to the brim and it's impossible to park. Yeah, yeah, I know I am an evil capitalist pig for owning a car in New York City.
Posted by: Cobblekrill at January 7, 2008 5:17 PM in response to Cobble Hill Association: 110 Amity Plan ‘Unacceptable’
Excellent post. As a resident of the neighborhood, I appreciate a builder/architect who takes the time to be transparent about the process. Let's be honest, all construction is deeply annoying when it's next door. But when the doctor explains "why" he's drilling a hole in your head, it helps.
Posted by: Cobblekrill at January 31, 2008 12:45 PM in response to Strong Place Church Construction Update
I've been contemplating this issue for years as I have a C of O for a four family but use my building as a two family. People who tell you the taxes are lower on a two family aren't always right. My neighbors have a two family c of o on a building that is EXACTLY the same as mine and their taxes are higher by $1,000 per annum. Wacky, I know. But the tax system in this city is wacky, which is why you want to draw as little attention as possible to yourself at all times.
Posted by: Cobblekrill at February 5, 2008 1:18 PM in response to 4 family to 2
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
We are using Custom Metal Products, 718 443-2676. They came last week-end to measure and give a quote. We need a cover for the front and back and another for the roof. It's running us about $1500 for all three. Didn't price anyone else b/c they came on a referral, so not sure how they stack against others. Installation isn't for a couple of weeks, so can't fully vouch for them yet. However, they did return my calls promptly and showed up for the estimate when they saiad they would.
Posted by: jurist at May 14, 2008 11:33 AM in response to Please recommend an Iron Works Company??!!
thanks so much!!! will try both!
Posted by: gemini10 at May 14, 2008 2:44 PM in response to Please recommend an Iron Works Company??!!
Kenneys Iron Work
347 371-3286
Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 10:06 PM in response to Please recommend an Iron Works Company??!!
We just laid sod in our backyard. We got the sod from Dragonetti Landscaping. They delivered it along with 100 bags of topsoil. We knew that the soil in our yard would not sustain the sod so we got the topsoil to put down first which also helped us to grade the area better for drainage. Three weeks later and it is still beautiful. Just make sure to water it every day for the first month and cut it after two weeks, but not too short or too long.
Posted by: valeriehymas at May 15, 2008 3:21 PM in response to Where to find grass sod?
probably the smell of the key food garbage in the summer...nasty..and the rats it attracts
Posted by: guest at May 16, 2008 8:40 AM in response to Altantic Ave by Clinton St
buy those d-con bags at any hardware store and toss them behind the stove. total cost..about $6.
Posted by: Cobblekrill at November 7, 2007 8:16 PM in response to Moving Enormous Gas Range For Mouseproofing