Nura's Profile
Author's Posts
March 3, 2008
Tipping question
I have people installing windows in my house right now. Do I have to tip them? They're a small crowd - the house has over 30 windows, and the job will take over 2 days. If yes, how much $$ per person?
December 12, 2007
Who sweeps roof gutters?
Hi all,
We just bought a house and were told that our roof gutters need to be "swept" in late fall after the leaves come down. Who can we hire to do this? Any recommendations?
Thanks!
November 20, 2007
Window showroom?
Is there a place where we can see different brands of windows all together?
Thanks!
Window showroom?
Is there a place where we can see different brands of windows all together?
Thanks!
Great Structural Engineer and house inspector
A while ago I asked people on this site to recommend a structural engineer. I got several recommendations, and I ended up using Danny Isla www.IslaEngineering.net, 516-220-6200 because he was also recommended on the Park Slope Parents website. I needed Danny to tell me what was causing the sagging in the floor of my house, and also to determine which walls were load-bearing. In order to find that out, he performed a kind of acrobatic climb into what seemed like a perfectly inaccessible and filthy attic (the woman who sold us the house said that no one has gone up there for at least 30 years). After climbing out of there, Danny told me about the walls and the joists. None of the walls we were intending to remove turned out to be structural, and I assumed that since our reno won't involve structural changes, I'd just pay Danny for this one-time visit (he spent at least 45 mins. in my house - telling me about the floors, the crack in the masonry outside and the walls). But he didn't let me pay him - he just said that if I ever needed him down the road, during construction, to call him up. He seemed very knowledgeable - both my architect and I were very impressed with him. I was also impressed that he was undeterred by that attic (our original house inspector declared it unreachable). I encourage you to call Danny Isla - whether it's for a house inspection or for structural work.
And no, I'm not him - post your e-mail address and I'll e-mail you my phone# for a reference.
November 14, 2007
Structural Engineer recommendations needed
We just bought a semi-detached 2-story house, and there is a sag in the same spot of both floors, with what I think is a corresponding crack in the outside wall. We need someone to figure out what the issue is an if this has to be fixed before the more superficial parts of the renovation begin. Our architect recommended that we get an engineer. We had the house inspected, but the inspector could only make an educated guess as to what's causing the sagging. Could someone recommend an engineer who could tell us definitively what's causing this? (Someone to actually open up the floors or the ceiling to figure this thing out? The house needs complete reno anyway.)
In addition, we need advise about which walls are load-bearing.
We appreciate any recommendations!
Author's Comments
Yes, I wondered if I would give that impression - sorry Danny.
Posted by: Nura at November 20, 2007 10:55 AM in response to Great Structural Engineer and house inspector
I'm scared to climb up on that roof. It has to be done by leaning a ladder on the outside of the building... Does anyone have a phone number for someone we could hire?
Thx!
Posted by: Nura at December 12, 2007 5:41 PM in response to Who sweeps roof gutters?
Yes, I used Danny to determine the cause of my crooked floors and also to determine which walls were load-bearing (we were considering tearing some down) Danny was great. In order to determine which walls were load-bearing in a non-invasive way (by examining the ceiling joists), he had to climb into the attic, which no one had been to in 50 years and which required some serious acrobatic maneuvers to get to (you reach it through a tiny opening under the ceiling. When we had the house inspected, the inspector didn't even try to go there...) Danny was able to tell me everything I needed to know. He was also punctual, courteous, and non-condescending. I would call Danny again in a heartbeat.
Posted by: Nura at December 19, 2007 4:26 PM in response to Did anyone used Danny Isla as an engineer?
Ah, yes, the central issue of the DOB budget cuts is whether or not it will force some "would-be Slope buyers to shell out for private school." Good grief.
My children are at PS 321, and I have nothing to shell out for private school. I think P.S. 321 will be fine, with its fund-raising and involved parent body. However, we have to fight these cuts, so that the families without the ability to "shell out" can have school supplies, MATH TEXTBOOKS, workable class size and ACADEMIC INTERVENTION. Because those things make public schools work.
Kids are the future of this city. Unless you plan for your children, when they grow up, to live in a fenced-in zone for those whose parents were "able to shell out," maybe it's a good idea for you, wealthy Brownstoner readers, to go out there and oppose these budget cuts.
(Yes, the city is cutting the budgets of all its depts. The point is, the DOE can find a way to make cuts without passing them down to the schools.)
Posted by: Nura at February 13, 2008 9:52 AM in response to Budget Cuts Threatening To Cramp P.S. 321's Style
My architect is not incompetent - she is a fellow mom with an architecture degree who hasn't been working much lately because of small kids. The engineer she used to work with retired.
We're not planning to do anything complex, and she has been very helpful in terms of figuring out the space, that was chopped up into weird rooms by the previous owner.
So now quit badmouthin' my architect and give me some recs :-)
Posted by: Nura at November 14, 2007 1:11 PM in response to Structural Engineer recommendations needed