LCSR's Profile
Author's Posts
September 28, 2008
Where to Buy New Clawfoot Tub
Can anyone reccomend places to buy a new clawfoot tub? Any places to avoid? Thanks.
July 22, 2008
Post-Construction Cleaners
The plaster ceiling in my daughter's room collapsed a few weeks ago. She, very luckily, was not in the room at the time, and we are now in the process of having it fixed, but dust from the collapse has gotten into almost everything in our house. I'm assuming that there is lead paint involved here, and am hoping that someone can recommend a good post-construction cleaning service. I want to make sure everything is as safe as it can be before we move back in.
June 11, 2008
exterior brownstone repair
Our brownstone has peeling lead paint on the brick in back, and a contractor has recommended lightly wet scraping and then essentially painting over it with Thorocoat paint. Any thoughts, opinions or experiences that would shed light on this process? It has been almost impossible to get any information or advice from anyone so far...
September 23, 2007
Wood Floor Replacement
The floor of our garden apartment is in terrible shape. It is the original pine sub-floor and has enormous cracks in it, through which you can see straight down to the basement. We have had a significant amount of flooding in our basement this summer, and recently had to remove moldy sheetrock, etc. Needless to say the air quality in the apartment is not good as the air from the basement travels straight up through the cracks. It has become clear to us that the floor needs to be replaced, and I am wondering if anyone has had positive experiences with contractors/companies who do this type of work. Also, we would ideally like to install a wide-plank floor, and would love to hear from people who know of companies who can supply and do a good job installing something like this, rather than the usual, generic type of hardwood flooring that many apartments have.
September 21, 2007
Lead Paint Removal
We've just been told by a tester that the entranceway to the garden apartment in our brownstone is filled with lead paint dust (it has a lot of old peeling paint on the walls). Could anyone recommend a contractor/painter who is trustworthy and certified to do this kind of job? Thanks.
Author's Comments
Unfortunately, we can't strip and repoint because the paint is lead-based. We are looking for a way to safely contain it without causing damage to the interior or exterior of the house. I was told that Thorocoat is different from Thoroseal, which we have been advised against..
Posted by: LCSR at June 12, 2008 8:25 AM in response to exterior brownstone repair
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
If the brick and mortar are stable and there are no moisture problems, Thoroseal is okay. I've just found Thoroseal jobs to be as prone to failure as ordinary house paint.
As someone else said, masonry needs to breath. One of the worst things you can do to brick is to seal it. A waterproof coating sounds like a great idea until you get moisture trapped underneath it, which could come from a leak or something as simple as humidity from inside the house. Then the brick and mortar starts to decompose.
A better solution is something like WallCoat, a permeable, flexible sealer. I'm having the back of my house done with it next week.
Posted by: Steve at June 12, 2008 2:59 PM in response to exterior brownstone repair
And who's doing it? Anyone want to reccomend a good mason?
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 6:44 PM in response to exterior brownstone repair
thorosealing isn't a bad thing, and when it comes down to budget many opt for it in the rear of their homes. Of course brick should be allowed to breathe, but when a home owner is faced with repointing or repairing bricks the costs can be high, and in the rear they often opt for the cheaper route of using thoroseal or another waterproofing material. So ask yourself why your contractor is recommending thoroseal? If money is no object and you've let them know that, you may find they have a different opinion.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 9:18 PM in response to exterior brownstone repair
8:40 here. Yes, stripping and pointing costs more than painting but it is a one shot deal and no maintenance, likely for your lifetime.
On every brick building that has been stripped of paint, the paint is lead based. Why do you think yours cannot be stripped ?
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 11:00 PM in response to exterior brownstone repair
A few years ago I looked into my options for the brick rear facade of our brownstone.
We wound up just having repointing done but the peeling paint on the brick is indeed lead paint. The mason recommended removing it with a high-powered hose system. I was concerned about the family with children living next door but the mason assured me that the rear would be tented. Anyone heard of this approach?
Posted by: guest at June 13, 2008 10:16 AM in response to exterior brownstone repair
9:42....
you don't have damp issues but you have moss growing up your wall...
sounds like you have a dampness issue
Posted by: guest at June 15, 2008 11:44 AM in response to exterior brownstone repair
Sorry, I meant no apparent damp issue INSIDE, which is why the obvious damp outside, and the idea we may be sealing it in the brick so it has to move inside, is my concern with the thoroseal.
Posted by: guest at June 15, 2008 1:21 PM in response to exterior brownstone repair
can someone recommend a GOOD masonary to restore and maybe point my home in brooklyn which was built in1923. My husband and I have considered so many options regarding the exterior of the house but now we are trying to restore the bricks which add a lot of characcter to the house along with its stained glass windows- Perhaps a restorer of old homes???
Posted by: guest at June 17, 2008 6:06 PM in response to exterior brownstone repair
If there is a trap... which you say there is (I don't doubt you!) I wonder if nybk01 is on to something. Some bleach to kill something rotting in the drain.
But if you are "feeling air" then.... umm... i would have to go back to the no trap theory. You see something similar to the following coming from the bottom of the tub?
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/how-to-replace-a-drain-trap-1.jpg
You can clearly see the plumbing from the downstairs closet?
I really wouldn't think a licensed plumber or ANY halfway intelligent person with a pipe wrench would bypass a trap, but ya never know. The only drain that doesn't have a trap is the toilet drain (because the trap is in the toilet itself... that's why you stuff the hole with something or cap it when you remove a toilet.
Seems strange.
Posted by: tybur6 at September 13, 2008 5:39 PM in response to sewer smell coming from tub???
As Tybur6 already pointed out, sewer gas can be toxic. Why try to diagnose this yourself (except for it being a weekend)? Call Donato's emergency number and ask them to come back and check their work. This link has some info that might be useful, and some that is far afield from Brooklyn: http://www.askthebuilder.com/599_Sewer_Gas_Smell.shtml
Posted by: vinca at September 13, 2008 9:57 PM in response to sewer smell coming from tub???
On a slightly different topic, are you happy with the tub, and if so, where did you buy it? We are interested in buying a new clawfoot tub to replace the very old dilapidated one we currently have, and aren't sure where to begin looking.
Posted by: LCSR at September 13, 2008 4:53 PM in response to sewer smell coming from tub???