brookelen's Profile

  • Brooke
  • 2002
  • 2007
  • Brooklyn
  • Prospect Heights
  • Co-op
  • information
  • Female
  • 37

Author's Posts

July 17, 2008

refacing facade permits

Hi,
I can't tell if we've been duped or just had a misunderstanding with our contractor. We thought we were all ready to reface the facade of our 4 unit, 4 story brownstone coop. We got a loan, interviewed several contractors, called references, read archives and compared bids. Just as we were all set to begin, the contractor tells us that we need to file a permit with the DOB. We thought all along that this was something they would do. I looked on the DOB website and an engineer or registered architect needs to file the permits for refacing. Has anyone hired one of these professionals, separate from your refacing contractor, just to file the permits? Any recommendations or advice (aside from "we're idiots")? Thanks!

Posted in Forum by brookelen at 2:18 PM | Comments (7)
Categories: Facade

July 15, 2008

anyone used Fred Becker painter?

Hi,
We have to make some quick decisions about hiring a painter, but have never done this before. We found him in the Park Slope Coop newsletter where he's been a member for 30+ years (we've been for 6). His painting business is almost as old. Long standing roots in the community, seemed nice and knowledgable, showed up at noon on the dot for our appointment and gave 2 recs. All good right? Has anyone used Fred Becker? Price slightly higher than expected but he'll tape and skimcoat all our plaster cracks too. We don't want to lose him nor have time to interview many contenders. Thanks for any thoughts!

Posted in Forum by brookelen at 10:41 AM | Comments (5)
Categories: Painters

June 23, 2008

DIY bathroom tile?

Hello all. We are finally ready to begin some simple (not gut) reno work and am looking for opinions. We think we can rip out our old bathroom tile floor and replace with new hex mosaic tile in a 5x9 bathroom ourselves. I've read lots of books and have been reading other's reno stories and we've even replaced the toilet before. But we are definitely novices. To those who have been through this process: what was your skill level before embarking? Does 3 days seem adequate? Any special advice? Thanks to all!

Posted in Forum by brookelen at 12:56 PM | Comments (15)
Categories: Tile

March 28, 2008

regrout vs. retile

Hi,
We need to do some minor renovation on our 1980's era, 5'x9', falling apart, solo bathroom. We're thinking of a simple IKEA sink/cabinet and have already replaced the toilet out of necessity. The big question is the floor. It's large white hex tile (seems like a standard size I've seen before) which is fine (but not my dream tile). Only 2 tiles are cracked and the grout is awful. I read a bit about regrouting and realize it is a pain, but it seems way easier than ripping up all the tile, leveling the floor, retiling, and then grouting. How easy do y'all think it would be to replace the 2 broken tiles, bleach/scrub the existing tiles, and regrout without removing the toilet? Has anyone done this as part of a smaller reno instead of a bathroom gut reno. I can live with the icky bisque colored tub if everything else is gleaming white and shiny looking. Thanks for thoughts and advice!

Posted in Forum by brookelen at 11:08 AM | Comments (5)
Categories: Tile

February 5, 2008

building over an air shaft

Hi, We would like to possibly build out over our building's airshaft to add a utility closet and laundry. We're on the 2nd floor so there is no rough-in floor. But, the wall is a shared wall with the bathroom so we at least know there are some plumbing lines nearby. I know this is possible, but can't begin to guess on what it would cost how it would work. We'd need to build a ceiling too. And what would the floor actually sit on?? Should we try to find an architect since some structural would be necessary? Overall, it is a fairly small space (~4'x4') so would it really be worth all the money and effort? Has anyone done this before?
Thanks!

Posted in Forum by brookelen at 5:28 PM | Comments (15)
Categories: Renovation

January 2, 2008

paint and pregnancy

Hi! Just found out that I'm pregnant, but we still have to paint our 100+year old apartment. I had originally wanted to strip all the moldings and doorways to remove many layers of paint and get rid of the lead, but those stripping chemicals seem like they would be as bad as the lead. So if we just coverup the old paint (like everyone else has for the past 100 years) it won't look as nice, but I think that there would be less chemical exposure. I've been reading about low VOC paints too. Does anyone have any experience painting (or renovating in general)while pregnant? Thanks!

Posted in Forum by brookelen at 8:36 PM | Comments (10)
Categories: Painting

Author's Comments

Thanks for the advice. I've been wary of the Park Slope parents board. I heard that they can be meaner than some of the comments on Brownstoner ;)

Posted by: brookelen at January 3, 2008 11:24 AM in response to paint and pregnancy

Rasmalai, I was planning on painting with the husband. We were going to do it at the rate of just a room a month, not the whole apartment and not our bedroom at all. Probably go with the Sherman Williams Harmony brand.

I'm still wondering if it's worth it to strip all the lead probably paint first (like with Peel Away) or just paint over.

Thanks for all the advice. We're new at the pregnancy thing and the renovating thing!

Posted by: brookelen at January 4, 2008 11:44 AM in response to paint and pregnancy

Why not go to the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza and look at books like, Residential landlord-tenant law in New York or Landlording?

Posted by: brookelen at January 9, 2008 10:56 AM in response to Rental Forms Question

Affordable housing is defined by the City as a % of the Area Median Income. So "affordable" would different in Brooklyn Heights than it would be in Bed Stuy.

Posted by: brookelen at January 17, 2008 12:31 PM in response to Two Affordable Housing Developments Planned in Bed-Stuy

The couple at Bob & Judy's once recommended "Mr. Wood" to me. He's on Pacific right off Flatbush, near the furniture store that always has Grand Opening flags hung. I didn't use this business myself yet.

Posted by: brookelen at January 18, 2008 12:10 PM in response to Need Furniture Restoration recommendation

Thanks for all the quick comments. Of course we would go through our coop board, I'm just trying to feel it out first. Plus, the airshaft was covered up decades ago so it is now just a shadowy, dusty space, not providing much light or air for anyone.

Years ago, the 1st floor apartment (not the current tenants) had built out into a different airshaft so when they built their ceiling, they also built our potential floor. Unfortunately, it's at the opposite end of the apartment so wouldn't be in the right place for this laundry room project.

Posted by: brookelen at February 5, 2008 8:07 PM in response to building over an air shaft

Bummer, I thought Lowes carried the Olympic Line which has some great colors. I did stop into Sherman Williams on 3rd and Baltic (or somewhere around there) and they carry their own zero VOC brand that runs about $30/gallon, but goes on sale regularly. More color choices than 4, but not nearly so many as Benjamin Moores Aura brand. Pintchiks on Flatbush carries Aura, about $40/gallon I think. Plus, there's a place on Atlantic, near 4th Ave that carries many green products, including a paint line.

On Apartment Therapy there were some similar threads you could search on this topic too.

Posted by: brookelen at March 31, 2008 1:59 PM in response to Low/No VOC paint

Hi darwinjackson,
My husband and I are in the same boat. I'm 6 months pregnant and we've got to do work in the kitchen and some closets. I'd love to see your after pix. My email is jennymuse [at] yahoo.com. Thanks!

Posted by: brookelen at April 29, 2008 8:05 PM in response to CO-OP Reno

Thanks for the honest opinions! My brother, who is a fix n' flipper in the Midwest, assured us tile is easy, but my brother-in-law, who is an actual architect, has tried to steer us away from DIY tile. The books make it look so easy, but hearing real stories make it seem so hard!

Posted by: brookelen at June 23, 2008 2:26 PM in response to DIY bathroom tile?

Silly me, I thought this was an uncontroversial topic. I appreciate all the advice, both from folks who have done it themselves and those who have not. Even though our apartment is in an 1890's brownstone building, there were drastic changes in the mid-1980's conversion. We still luckily have much of the lovely molding on the doorways and unfortunately have icky laminate cabinets/counters and cheap tile floor. In a million years I could never make enough money to restore anything to it's former historic perfectness. I am hoping to keep all our minor renovations simple, clean, and (maybe) charming, all within our budget.

Posted by: brookelen at June 25, 2008 1:12 PM in response to DIY bathroom tile?

Responses to Author's Forum Comments

Nokilissa,

Beer did a gut renovation on my townhouse. He worked around and enhanced many original details in my home. It came out great and I'm very happy. Beer is definitely familiar with brownstone renovation/restorations. Aside from doing great work, he's also easy to work with and honest. Give him a call.

Posted by: faithful at April 30, 2008 9:07 AM in response to CO-OP Reno

After reading this post I called Beer and had him over to check out my brownstone. Seems like a great guy - still waiting for his quote.

Posted by: kedalb at April 30, 2008 12:57 PM in response to CO-OP Reno

You know, a good way to figure out whether you've got it in you is to do a really small project. Do a backsplash with field tiles, or the area in front of your mantle, or you can even just get a 4x8 piece of OSB and tile that, just as a test.

If you enjoy it, do another test with mosaic tiles, and then maybe try your bathroom. If you don't, it's not worth it.

Posted by: vanburenproud at June 23, 2008 3:27 PM in response to DIY bathroom tile?

I dunno. I laid 180 s/f of hex tile in my kitchen and it wasn't that tough. It took a weekend. The tile I got from Dal Tile came in 12x24 sheets so it went down pretty quickly. You use heavy shears to cut away tiles to get a sheet to fit around pipes, etc. then use tile nippers and/or a cheap wet saw to cut loose tiles to fill in the holes and finish the edge. Use plastic tile spacers to keep a consistent grout line.

Tip: color your thinset mortar to match your grout, or vice versa. It's a bitch cleaning oozing mortar from all those joints.

http://www.brooklynrowhouse.com/house/kitchen

Posted by: Steve at June 23, 2008 3:34 PM in response to DIY bathroom tile?

Brookelen, for what its worth I wanted to alert you to a new service we've started for help DIYers in a similar situation - folks who want to do the work but are a bit unsure how to proceed throuh various steps.

Not sure if it would help, but figured I'd at least suggest - you can see more at www.constructioncoachesny.com.

Eitherway best of luck.

Posted by: ConstructionCoach at June 24, 2008 12:57 PM in response to DIY bathroom tile?

i have to throw my two cents in...

You can proclaim youself a DIY and feel proud of your bootstrap pulling uppity ways and at the same time you are spoiling the historic fabric and record of these buildings...

It reminds me a story my grandfather told me... The May day parade in Moscow proceeds rank on rank, file by file of soldiers and armaments... Missles and rockets... all manner of the war industry... the generals look down over the procession with a paternal fondness... But then a platoon of a disorganized lot of folks with power tools with frayed cords and mismatched handles. The generals are shocked at this and look to the parade marshall for explanation...to their question why are these mottley crew among our finest fighters.... oh but generals sirs... those are the Do It Yourselfer-niks, and trust me they can do alot of damage.

Do the future generation a favor... hire an historic designer who can source authentic materials and can have competent installers put it in.

Posted by: guest at June 24, 2008 10:31 PM in response to DIY bathroom tile?

Authenticity is quite an arbitrary standard when it comes to a home.

I'd rather have a home that is entirely within my means, and that is comfortable to live in. With rooms that are big enough for furniture, and modern toilets and a dishwasher and efficient heat.

Future generations can go screw. It's my house now. I bought it, and I am using it.

Posted by: vanburenproud at June 24, 2008 10:55 PM in response to DIY bathroom tile?

We are talking tiles... not toilets, dishwasher, or heating...

I will not grant you that authenticity is an arbitrary standard. The reason that these houses have stood proud is because of their scale, style, and grace. By replacing (needlessly) historical detailing with product designed for tract housing, you are failing as steward.

Are you so bitter from your experience with hex tiles that you have become blinded to the fact that there are things beyond the scope of the DIY-niks. Comfortable to live in you say..."I laid my own hex tile, and I think it looks terrible, and I am really really handy--I make things for a living and have laid quite a bit of tile before. It's hard to keep it flat and keep the seams tight at the same time". You should have been working to make money to pay professionals to do what they do best.

You want DIY... build a birdhouse.

Future generations=resale value... by sending the future generations off to screw, you are compromising your nest egg... "monsieur le spite... I think this is your nose"

Posted by: guest at June 24, 2008 11:30 PM in response to DIY bathroom tile?

Silly me, I thought this was an uncontroversial topic. I appreciate all the advice, both from folks who have done it themselves and those who have not. Even though our apartment is in an 1890's brownstone building, there were drastic changes in the mid-1980's conversion. We still luckily have much of the lovely molding on the doorways and unfortunately have icky laminate cabinets/counters and cheap tile floor. In a million years I could never make enough money to restore anything to it's former historic perfectness. I am hoping to keep all our minor renovations simple, clean, and (maybe) charming, all within our budget.

Posted by: brookelen at June 25, 2008 1:12 PM in response to DIY bathroom tile?