As a designer and renovator of residential interiors, I hire the architect. I think I give better service to my clients this way. They have legal job, and are assured by a professional that the design is sound, yet their is no misunderstanding between designer and contractor. I am on the job site everyday. Jobs like yours may not get many visits from an architect.

Posted by: Green Mt at April 16, 2009 8:42 PM in response to Architect Recommendation

I am a share holder and a home improvement contractor working a lot in coops. My building switched from AMS to Maxwell Kates. I was please immediately. I had been treated well by Maxwell Kates before, though never badly by AMS, where as the run around I get from some others has delayed my client's jobs. Also, I am about to start a job in a difficult building. Lots of new hoops to jump through. This is not management's fault. Maxwell Kates has treated me very nicely through it all.

Posted by: Green Mt at April 16, 2009 8:21 PM in response to Switching Management Companies

When I think of good "kitchen design," I think first of how the space works best for the cook and for the people the cook wants to be with while cooking or serving. If that aspect of design is not fully considered, it may not matter if the cabinets are well constructed or what they look like.

My initial consultations are all in my client's homes.

Posted by: Green Mt at March 29, 2009 7:19 PM in response to Anyone use "Urban Homes"?

Not crazy. I install tile in shower stalls, bathrooms and kitchens and I restore interiors of all kinds. Many elegant old places have unglazed porcelain tile, restaurants and hotels, not just apartment bathrooms. It is vitrified, so clay particles are fused together during high-temperature firing. It is not porous, but you can stain it, like with a magic marker, or with certain pigments in colored grout. Unlike marble or even granite, it will not absorb much penetrating sealer if any, but sealing the grout will help keep it looking new. Avoid coating it with products that stick to the surface - they make any tile look dingy.

Posted by: Green Mt at March 29, 2009 7:02 PM in response to is unglazed tile crazy??

Did you find somebody yet? I rebuild shower stalls

leakyshowerstall.com
or gmcandd.com

Posted by: Green Mt at November 29, 2008 8:11 PM in response to Referral on replacing or repairing a shower stall

Oh, I did not explain, the old pins will go right back in if the door and hinge leaves are aligned. Don't hit it with a hammer, just wiggle the door and apply gentle pressure. Use a small board as a lever and a block as a fulcrum under the door and operate it with your foot.

gmcandd.com

Posted by: Green Mt at November 29, 2008 8:04 PM in response to old hinge, new pin?

Having assets on paper is one thing, but if you need to evaluate real bricks and mortar, call me.

I would be glad to have a look at any property you are considering buying to give you my comments on condition and renovation issues.

I don't charge for this service, and if you don't like my suggestions, you don't have to hire me to work on the place later.

gmcandd.com

Posted by: Green Mt at November 29, 2008 7:55 PM in response to Evaluating Condos, Coops

I am doing a similar job now as part of a larger renovation. While I might be available in a few weeks to do yours. If you contact me, I will send you photos of an interesting floor I restored recently. I believe you can get my e-mail and phone from my profile.

Posted by: Green Mt at November 29, 2008 7:47 PM in response to Floor refinish.. Vacate property?

Oh yea! I think old hinges like yours are worth saving. You should only try to replace them if they are hopelessly broken, worn-out or undersized for the door. It can be harder than many imagine to replace one pair in a house where all the others match in color, texture, size and shape of finial. Yet, each is uniquely forged, cast, fabricated, gained and eventually worn. It is a bad practice to re-mate antique hinge leaves and pintles. They might squeak, change how your door closes, and wear-out more quickly. Baldwin advises against mixing up the parts of their new hinges.

I use paint stripper (methyl chloride) before removing hinge screws. The screws, especially with brass and bronze hardware, are also hard to match, so a cleaned out screw slot can help prevent damage.

In the butt hinges you have, it is the bottom finial, which sometimes falls out and gets lost, not the one on the pin. I don't have a great solution for that, but I have used a dab of 5-min epoxy. Remember to soak the parts in solvent before hand.

Even steel hinges can be patined. A can of clear spray lacquer will keep them from rusting or tarnishing.

If you go through all that, you will never slop paint over any hinge ever again. And, you will save some money. Good quality new hinges are not cheap.

Posted by: Green Mt at November 29, 2008 7:37 PM in response to old hinge, new pin?

If I can be of assistance, please call me. Aaron, Green Mountain Construction and Design. gmcandd.com

Posted by: Green Mt at August 26, 2008 8:52 AM in response to Love Your Contractor? Please Share...

Your intercom is low-voltage, such as 12, not 110. No danger.

If you can not make your own cover out of metal, you can use thin plywood or any convenient material. Your model may be designed to hook on with a bracket. If no bracket, try making a hook.

Posted by: Green Mt at August 26, 2008 8:28 AM in response to Intercom backplate

As a tile contractor, I would never say anything bad about a tile dealer, but isn't Bergen Tile closed?

In Brooklyn, I use A & K, 336 9th.

In Manhattan there are several more that I like.

I suggest my clients pick out stone or other dominant materials or fixtures first, where the choices are fewer. Finding tiles to go with that will be easier. Than the question is what are the other qualities required of the tile?

The question of where to get the tile is secondary. Ask your tile contractor.

Aaron
Green Mountain Construction and Design, GMC&D, Inc.

Posted by: Green Mt at August 5, 2008 3:32 PM in response to Tile shops in Brooklyn

Spend a little more and be safe. Oil based often leads to fires. Not only is the solvent flammable, but oily rags spontaneously combust. Many have found this hard to believe, until too late. We had such a fire in my building. So don't be cheap and hire somebody who knows what they are doing.

Posted by: Green Mt at July 30, 2008 8:44 PM in response to Oil-based poly, how bad?

Here in the Navy Yard there are many who do that work. I can recommend Richard Weinstock 917-202-7123. He would have it upholstered in the same building. Come to think of it, I could do this for you too.

Posted by: Green Mt at July 30, 2008 8:36 PM in response to custom banquettes

Well, I would have to recommend myself, but I can provide other ref's if you like what you see at gmcandd.com

Aaron
Green Mountain Construction and Design
718-858-1853

Posted by: Green Mt at July 30, 2008 8:26 PM in response to Bathroom Renovation

True the selection is not great in the big boxes, but the price is low. The good stores offer great service and you can see it and get explanations for everything, but you pay more and get better quality. My clients often go on line, with mixed results, but I prefer they go to Grand Central Plumbing. Ask for Michelle Makress.

Posted by: Green Mt at July 30, 2008 8:22 PM in response to Kitchen & Bathroom lighting / fixture supply

I would start by asking my expediter, but seems like moving all that would change what the city just established as the current conditions during any application re c of o. You might get inspected.

Posted by: Green Mt at July 30, 2008 8:14 PM in response to Reno on TEMP C of O ?

Two companies come to mind- Academy mailbox in queens can make anything (custom) and Lee Dan Intercom on Long Island for replacement. 95% of all the intercoms I have seen are from one of these two.

http://www.leedan.com/IN-233.htm

http://www.academymailbox.com/serv02.htm

Posted by: southslope at August 26, 2008 12:49 PM in response to Intercom backplate

Ortov Electric on Union St. between 4th & 3rd has a lot of misc. LeeDan parts - I'd ask there first.

Posted by: Arkady at August 26, 2008 5:02 PM in response to Intercom backplate

Thanks for your help, everyone

Posted by: Melissa809 at August 26, 2008 10:28 PM in response to Intercom backplate

Thanks, everyone

Posted by: Melissa809 at August 26, 2008 10:29 PM in response to Intercom backplate

I also recommend Nemo Tile. The showroom is kind of a pain and they are always swamped... but for more basic things like small glass tiles or slate tiles, etc., I go to their warehouse which is just around the corner and they have the basics on display. They will sell you individual tiles if you need a few more tiles. As opposed to the Complete Tile Collection that sells you an entire box of tile if you need only a couple of additional tiles and if tiles arrive broken, they insist you did it because it's sidewalk delivery and therefore you can not prove that it arrived that way. I also agree with the poster above that Nemo is honest. Fast delivery and fairly priced.. next day if it's in stock.

Posted by: janeinteriorsnyc at October 29, 2008 10:58 AM in response to Tile shops in Brooklyn

Oh, I did not explain, the old pins will go right back in if the door and hinge leaves are aligned. Don't hit it with a hammer, just wiggle the door and apply gentle pressure. Use a small board as a lever and a block as a fulcrum under the door and operate it with your foot.

gmcandd.com

Posted by: Green Mt at November 29, 2008 8:04 PM in response to old hinge, new pin?

I have had great luck finding old hinges on ebay.

Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at December 1, 2008 8:28 PM in response to old hinge, new pin?

We did our floors a while back and had to vacate, but it was pretty fast - just a couple of days with water based products.

Posted by: jb312 at December 1, 2008 11:52 PM in response to Floor refinish.. Vacate property?

I installed unglazed tile and it was a big mistake. Starting with the fact that I could never clean the grout stains off of the tile.

Posted by: kirbykat at March 30, 2009 7:58 AM in response to is unglazed tile crazy??

We did the same thing in a bathroom, unglazed white hexagons. They really hugged the dirt and scuff markes, so I had to scrub those floors frequently. I also used to seal them at least once a year to try and mitigate the problem. It wasn't terrible, but I wouldn't do it again.

Posted by: cornetor at March 30, 2009 9:44 AM in response to is unglazed tile crazy??