A kitchen and bathroom renovation is considered a capital improvement rather than a maintenance repair. From my understanding(you can confirm this with department of finance) you should not be charged sales tax on any capital improvements. A repair or maintenance item will be charge sales tax(painting, fixing a leak, repairing a boiler, you get the point).

Posted by: GabeS at August 28, 2007 8:37 PM in response to Discount for paying Cash to contractor?

Hi,

Maybe this site might help you a little.

http://www.tenant.net/Other_Laws/zoning/zontoc.html

Posted by: GabeS at August 28, 2007 8:23 PM in response to Building Classification Question

Hi,

I looked into it a little bit. Here is a link that you can spend hours reading about it. If you are serious I would read the entire website(knowledge is power). http://www.oag.state.ny.us/realestate/conversion.html#3

Good Luck. Maybe after you read it, I'll be asking you the questions.

Posted by: GabeS at August 28, 2007 8:18 PM in response to Splitting a Property then Co-op'ing

I agree with you. Maybe you should speak to an architect. They will probably be best able to advise you.

I agree with seniorbrownstone. If there is no C of O and when looking at the house, it is obviously a 2 family they will grant it. If it's a one family being used as a two(basement apartment or some other wierd setup) then they may object.

Posted by: GabeS at August 28, 2007 8:13 PM in response to What is a Letter of No Objection??

It may be that your duct size is 4" diameter and the diameter on your bath fan is 3". A 4" to 3" reducer should do the trick like quest said. Use a lot of aluminum foil tape on all the joints to prevent leakage. It grabs much better than duct tape.

Posted by: GabeS at August 26, 2007 11:18 AM in response to bathroom exhaust fan installation?

Considering that the ducts will be completely concealed, use at least a couple of sheet metal screws for mechanical fastening, then the alum. tape.

Posted by: cmu at August 26, 2007 11:24 AM in response to bathroom exhaust fan installation?

We have 6 inch duct and the fan duct diameter is also 6 inches, so it's not a question of mismatched sizes. The flexible aluminum duct measures a bit bigger (6 1/4, actually, although it was sold as and is labelled 6 inch duct. We got it from Grainger.

CMU: the screws are to hold it in place? Puncturing it won't cause, I don't know, condensation to drip?

And this aluminum foil tape stuff, does it have an adhesive?

Thanks all!

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at August 26, 2007 3:07 PM in response to bathroom exhaust fan installation?

Place the screws towards the top of the vent or sides. Just insurance since tape will eventually weaken. Alum. foil tape is like more expensive duct tape.

Posted by: cmu at August 27, 2007 11:46 AM in response to bathroom exhaust fan installation?

Place the screws towards the top of the vent or sides. Just insurance since tape will eventually weaken. Alum. foil tape is like more expensive duct tape.

You might be able to crimp the larger duct since it's flexible stuff. If done carefully and taped, there will be no leaks.

Posted by: cmu at August 27, 2007 11:48 AM in response to bathroom exhaust fan installation?

you could get a hose clamp ring that fits around your felxible aluminum then tighten it around the 6" vent.

Posted by: tomgee at August 27, 2007 4:10 PM in response to bathroom exhaust fan installation?

There is a crimping tool that puts ripples into the now smaller fitting, allowing (2) 6" fittings to join. Work around the circumference carefully. They do have it at Home Depot if you know what to ask for.

Posted by: guest at August 27, 2007 11:23 PM in response to bathroom exhaust fan installation?

...or you could have a "roommate" who has a separate kitchen, bath and entrance.

Posted by: slick at August 28, 2007 9:51 PM in response to Building Classification Question

don't know who told you a ceiling needs to be 8 feet, but they're an idiot. 7'-6" is ceiling height. you are renting an illegal apartment. nice. you're an idiot for not figuring this out before you bought your apartment. I hope you lose your house when your tenant sues you.

Posted by: guest at August 28, 2007 10:09 PM in response to Building Classification Question

great thanks for your reply - not an issue to us as we only want a 1 family home but i think the broker was being shifty about what it meant (and refused to provide the letter to us as well).

Anyway we finally got to see the building last Monday - lol could have saved everyone the trouble it's a major dump. filler caulking around all the bad workmanship etc toilets and kitchens in the middle of no where etc.

If it was a true brownstone I might have made a lowball offer but it was a brick masonry add on to a row of brownstones that had been rendered so more hassle than it's worth - nice neighbourhood on Macon street though.

thanks anyway.
Dean

Posted by: deanc at August 29, 2007 7:43 AM in response to What is a Letter of No Objection??