SenatorStreet's Profile
Author's Posts
August 5, 2008
Federal Pacific
I own a two family brownstone. One of the circuit breaker boxes is Federal Pacific. I have a new GE Box and breakers and just need them installed.
Does anyone have any idea of a ball park cost to have this done?
I'd do it myself, but have no way of cutting power to the meter.
July 29, 2008
Tankless Water heaters
Has anyone installed a tankless water heater for a whole house application ??
I would like to have a plan to act on when my current water heater decides to fail. I currently use a 75 gal tank heater.
I have a two family rowhouse with a total of 4 adults. My concern with a tankless heater is the gpm capacity during the winter months.
I had also thought about chaining the incoming water line into a small tank heater then into the tankless heater. Keep the tank set to a cool temperature (~60 degrees F). In this way in the winter the tank will heat the outside cold water to 60 then the tankless will take over to heat to use temp. In the summer however, the water coming in from the street would be warm enough so that the tank heater will never need to kick in. This way there would be enough hot water for all.
Any comments, Ideas?
June 16, 2008
Florex Glass
I have been trying to find 2 small pieces of Florex Glass (about 9" x 48" each).
I can't seem to find anyone who has this stuff. (It's the old glass that old rowhouses used in pocket doors, transoms and glass panel interior doors.)
If anyone has any or a lead to someone who may have some, please let me know.
Thanks
Ron
Ron@SenatorStreet.com
Author's Comments
If it's a brick wall, it might not be so small a job.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at June 18, 2008 11:26 AM in response to Thru the Wall AC Installation
Those don't look like 'emblems.' I'm sure that they are the overflow drain.
And btw, going to China because our economy is in the toilet, certainly is not the way to help 'fix' it.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at June 19, 2008 11:03 AM in response to Buy building material directly from China
It looks to me that, long ago, when the fireplace was no longer used, the flue was modified as a chimney for a boiler or water heater in the basement.
It actually may be currently in use.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at June 19, 2008 3:45 PM in response to Uncovered fireplace with homemade chimney
Window A/C units are not designed to be used through the wall. The venting is different.
Through the wall units are sold with sleeves.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at June 26, 2008 12:25 PM in response to AC + sleeves needed
Try www.plumbingwarehouse.com
I found that their prices for Grohe fixtures were the best.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at June 30, 2008 1:41 PM in response to Website/store to buy kitchen/bath products
It is certainly not legal for them to block off the parking. It is difficult to get any official enforcement. One thing that you can try is to contact the local community board or city councilmember's office The staff there may contact the developer on your behalf and request that they not take up so much parking.
Without a DOT permit all of this reserving of parking is done only by intimidation. I am constantly moving cones and baricades in order to park. I have had my car scratched however and it is impossible to prove who did that (short of a live video).
Not a good situation for all involved.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at July 7, 2008 4:00 PM in response to Construction crew taking up street parking?
Affordable housing in NYC is anything but. The formulas used to qualify as affordable housing is biased assisting the developer with tax advantages and giving the rest of us, for the most part, a very small break from market rate.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at July 21, 2008 1:31 PM in response to "Winning" HPD Lottery for the Toren
I think you can assume that you should be able to get back about 80% of the cost of the new kitchen.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at July 21, 2008 3:38 PM in response to How much will a new kitchen increase the value of my house?
The 80% figure that I used earlier was a low guestimate based on a report from Builder Magazine back a few years ago when I redid my Kitchen. The report back then reported that in the Northeastern US a Major Kitchen Remodel would return about 93%. My gut feeling with regard to the current state of the real estate market is that that figure is no longer as high- therefore 80%. A minor kitchen remodel was projected as returning much less - it was somewhere in the 60-70% range back then.
Hope this helps a bit.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at July 24, 2008 1:43 PM in response to How much will a new kitchen increase the value of my house?
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
We laid our stone in a mix of quik-crete and sand. After laying, we then soaked the entire thing to set it. Haven't had a problem with drainage in 5 years.
Posted by: crowlish at October 6, 2008 8:18 AM in response to Patio - Cement or not?
Great thread topic Vanburen. Thanks. As I am just joining the wild and wooly world of home ownership I am anxious to figure out what my monthly expenses are going to be. I will study all of your answers and then post my own when I know.
Don't feed the What!
Posted by: wasder at October 6, 2008 4:00 PM in response to Utility Bill Comparison
Past rate comparisons from around these parts ...
Water/Sewer:
http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2008/09/watersewer_bill.php
Gas Heat:
http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2007/12/replace_the_boi.php
http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2008/07/oil_to_gas_conv_4.php
http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2008/01/heating_costs_s.php
http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2008/01/pricecheck_on_g.php
Oil Heat:
http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2008/04/oil_bills_this.php
It'd be kind of nice to structure this a little, create a database of square footage, oil v. gas and what you're paying. Because it is useful, not just to know if you're paying more than others but to budget when you're trying to sort out what you can afford, housewise.
Posted by: serpentor at October 6, 2008 5:28 PM in response to Utility Bill Comparison
I'm getting $150.00 gas bills, too. In the dead of winter my gas bill used to be $250.00 a month. What the heck is up with National grid?
Posted by: dt at October 6, 2008 5:56 PM in response to Utility Bill Comparison
We stained our pine sub-floors with Jacobean Minwax and then polyurethan. The wear and tear is horrible and although we should probably lift the floors and put down new ... we would like to avoid it for another 5 - 10 years. What options do we have? Can we sand and then restain/poly? Help.
Posted by: 107 at October 6, 2008 8:42 PM in response to Is there a difference in floor stain brands?
Make sure you send in your readings! My estimates are usually around $30 more per month than the actuals.
Posted by: 7andfive at October 6, 2008 11:10 PM in response to Utility Bill Comparison
Hi,
what is a mod-con boiler and indirect water heater?
thanks
Posted by: brooklynjennie at October 7, 2008 10:17 AM in response to Utility Bill Comparison
Yes, slightly less effective than "No Littering" signs.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 7, 2008 1:56 PM in response to No Honking Signs / Fines?
Don't forget the no parking signs or clean up your dog shit signs. Those work so well.
Posted by: Bklyn Fire Alarm Guy at October 7, 2008 3:28 PM in response to No Honking Signs / Fines?
I would just love to see someone get a ticket for running a red light or driving 50 mph down a side street... after that's under control, we can worry about honking.
The littering is painful to watch. Buy new item in bodega, throw rapper on ground. Young, old, elderly... doesn't matter. Ridiculous. When I drop something by accident on the sidewalk and it blows away, I'm filled with anxiety. What clicked in my head that missed everyone else?
Posted by: tybur6 at October 7, 2008 4:04 PM in response to No Honking Signs / Fines?
Brooklyn Gay Pride
Posted by: SenatorStreet at June 16, 2008 1:36 PM in response to Anyone know why 7th Avenue was blocked off on Saturday in Park Slope?