Thank you very much.

Posted by: breukelenbelle at May 23, 2008 2:06 PM in response to Iron Gates and Handrails

Thanks everyone. It would be cool to have a solar roof. But I have too many projects at this old house to do it now.

Posted by: breukelenbelle at May 23, 2008 2:09 PM in response to New Roof

I live in a garden apartment now. People walking by on the street make for less privacy. BUt the garden is lovely, it is easy to let my dog out when he needs to run around and it is very warm and dry -- but this is because there is a basement under me. I'd never live in a garden apartment that didn't have a boiler level under it.

My biggest complaint is that I get a few mice. Every old house gets them I know but they have an easier time getting in here.

Posted by: breukelenbelle at May 28, 2008 11:45 AM in response to Garden-level Apartments

I live in a garden apartment now. People walking by on the street make for less privacy. BUt the garden is lovely, it is easy to let my dog out when he needs to run around and it is very warm and dry -- but this is because there is a basement under me. I'd never live in a garden apartment that didn't have a boiler level under it.

My biggest complaint is that I get a few mice. Every old house gets them I know but they have an easier time getting in here.

Posted by: breukelenbelle at May 28, 2008 11:45 AM in response to Garden-level Apartments

I'd be happy to use reclaimed doors if I had a carpenter who could work with them to make a vestibule that matches.

Posted by: breukelenbelle at May 28, 2008 6:10 PM in response to Entry Double Doors

11:37 has it right. Two common things in old floor through tenements are shallow closets -- to avoid a tax on a room -- which was described as any space that you could walk into and turn around and walk out of -- and windows connecting middle rooms to outside rooms -- because the law declared that any room you rented had to have a window. But the law didn't specify that the window had to open into the outside of the building.

As far as I know there isn't anything illegal about any room within a larger apartment not having a window -- many maids quarters in high rise buildings still don't. There may be some restriction on how it can be advertised as a bedroom if there isn't a window -- but who cares about the label? You could take down all the walls and call it a studio.

Posted by: breukelenbelle at May 28, 2008 6:19 PM in response to Windowless

I like the work I've seen in Tamer's shop but I tried to hire him a few years ago when he came highly recommended. I really felt like he was on a different wave length from me. He invited me down to his shop to look at photos and when I got there, all he had was photos of surfing and he said he must have given his photos away. He gave me addresses of doors he'd done and they are stunners. And the work in his shop looked excellent but I didn't think I could communicate with him. This was a while ago however.

I've spoken to Heights Wood and they are very professional and clearly have done this a million times. I don't have an estimate yet but they can get it done the fastest. Amor says he has over 30 guys in his shop.

Thanks for the other names, I'll check them out too.

Posted by: breukelenbelle at June 2, 2008 11:40 AM in response to Entry Double Doors

I've gotten estimates of 12,500 for tall narrow double doors 24 by 106 to be painted and about 15000 for stain quality. They do have to be staved because they will warp from having different extremes of temperature on each side. This is a long process and you should be having thm built for a lifetime so I suggest you get started on finding what you like.

Posted by: breukelenbelle at June 11, 2008 9:34 AM in response to Entry Double Doors

Rogenkamp in Bay Ridge; you'll pay a little more but you'll never regret it.

Posted by: marty362 at May 23, 2008 3:15 PM in response to New Roof

Lopopolo on McDonald Avenue. They're very busy but very good.

Posted by: marty362 at May 23, 2008 3:19 PM in response to Iron Gates and Handrails

The time to think about whether or not you might want to install solar panels is when the roof needs to be redone. It doesn't make sense otherwise. So now is your chance.

Posted by: guest at May 26, 2008 7:55 AM in response to New Roof

I live in a garden apartment now. People walking by on the street make for less privacy. BUt the garden is lovely, it is easy to let my dog out when he needs to run around and it is very warm and dry -- but this is because there is a basement under me. I'd never live in a garden apartment that didn't have a boiler level under it.

My biggest complaint is that I get a few mice. Every old house gets them I know but they have an easier time getting in here.

Posted by: breukelenbelle at May 28, 2008 11:45 AM in response to Garden-level Apartments

Avoid Tamer. He made doors for me that warped in three months because they were made from solid wood. I found out (after the fact) that they should be "staved" if they are tall doors. He would not do anything to remedy the situation.

Posted by: guest at May 28, 2008 11:34 PM in response to Entry Double Doors

I hired Southslope Woodworks to build a new 11' door for my home a year ago or so. Nate, the owner, did a terrific job. It's mahogany with beautiful craftsmanship. People comment on it often. I jokingly refer to the doors as my third child. I love them that much! I'd highly recommend his shop.

Posted by: CBR at May 29, 2008 9:58 AM in response to Entry Double Doors

I find my garden level bedroom very noisy from people walking by and buses (for those apartments along a bus route... they stop ALL night, so I can never leave my windows open it's too noisy for me to sleep).

Plus, I always need to draw the shades to have any privacy. I would not live on the garden floor in my next apartment.

Posted by: Gravy at May 29, 2008 12:19 PM in response to Garden-level Apartments

I would love to know what the cost estimates you are getting. We are going to have to do this in a few months. Even a ballpark would be helpful. Thanks.

Posted by: Colonel at May 29, 2008 4:44 PM in response to Entry Double Doors

Try Aiden from Excel, he re-created a great pair of doors for a corner brownstone in Clinton Hill.

http://picasaweb.google.com/allansuarez/BrownstoneDoor

His number is (718) 237-1619

I photographed the doors for him.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 11:56 PM in response to Entry Double Doors

I also would love to know what costs you are getting- I am doing new doors as well and I was quoted $6500-

Posted by: guest at May 31, 2008 11:10 PM in response to Entry Double Doors