I am the OP. In my posting haste I neglected to put
contact information. If you are interested please email
me at daroogle@gmail.com . I can also provide measurements.

Posted by: daroogle at September 15, 2008 10:16 AM in response to For sale: Mahogany return newel set

I've got a twist --- email me an I'll send you a pic[ daroogle@gmail.com ]

Posted by: daroogle at April 13, 2008 7:54 PM in response to Handrail Twist and Turn Needed

I put down wonderboard and then bought a mosaic carpet on ebay. The sucker has a zillion marble pieces and not a one came off during shipping.
More amazing --- it came from lebanon (middle east). The guy there (jagadish) even custom made
the size as my vestibule wasn't exactly the
size on ebay. I think it cost me about $375
inc shipping. All I had to do was put down
thin set, unroll it, and then the next day,
grout it. The following day I put back baseboards
and the bottom pice of my door casings.

If you are interested I can take a pic and email to you.

Check out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Carpet-in-micro-marble-mosaic-ON-SALE-DISCOUNT-80x40_W0QQitemZ120064374242QQihZ002QQcategoryZ83940QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Posted by: daroogle at February 22, 2008 8:39 PM in response to Seeking advice on a new tile floor

You have a ribbon newel post. If you are lucky only 3 faces of the octagon are damaged
and you can turn the bad parts so that they are less
visible. You need to remove the nut on the very
top piece and then the whole newel comes apart
section by section -- just lift up. The final piece
is the base that is chipped. Carefully remove the
toenails holding it to the riser, and then simply
turn it so the bad parts face into the stairs.

In the worst case, now that the newel is no
longer attached, you can ake it to a wood shop
and have them replace the veneer.

Posted by: daroogle at February 8, 2008 8:25 PM in response to Newel post veneer

I used 12" x 12" IPE tiles from swiftdeck.
They aren't cheap but there are some currently
on ebay for like 5% of retail. Go to swiftdeck's
website to see what they look like. You can lay them yourself as they click together.

Posted by: daroogle at February 4, 2008 9:55 PM in response to Ideas for concrete yard slab

Yes they are still available. Email me
at daroogle@gmail.com and we can talk more
details. Sigh -- I should have included my email with the original post.

Also I have the arch top trim as well --- but
not the matching legs.

Posted by: daroogle at January 10, 2008 7:03 PM in response to Parlor doors for sale

You can go to a salvage yard and try to match what you have with a veneered piece of wood. Steam off what you need, cut it and glue it on. Faux painting works well if you are good and if not, then practice first. Personally, I would just stain the wood to match. I notice too many people trying to restore to perfection. Something 100 years old and more should look it. Doing it to "perfection" adds a lot of time and cost and you never get that back in resale.

Posted by: guest at February 8, 2008 10:50 PM in response to Newel post veneer

You can go to a salvage yard and try to match what you have with a veneered piece of wood. Steam off what you need, cut it and glue it on. Faux painting works well if you are good and if not, then practice first. Personally, I would just stain the wood to match. I notice too many people trying to restore to perfection. Something 100 years old and more should look it. Doing it to "perfection" adds a lot of time and cost and you never get that back in resale.

Posted by: guest at February 8, 2008 10:51 PM in response to Newel post veneer

Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately veneer is missing from all sides but one. As with a number of issues in our renovation, I should have paid more attention to this detail but then perhaps I would have missed something else... Will probably do a patch veneer keeping in mind 10:50's comment about avoiding perfection :)

Re rebuilding stairs - yes we are, done by the guy we now have working on putting Humpty Dumpty together again. Very lucky to have him as he is excellent & likes to work at one place at a time (doesn't spread his time over multiple jobs). I know he is booked however for some time though will recommend him on this site if he wants me to when we are done. FYI he did the treads 3 at a time working mainly from above putting in lots of bracing wood to make them super solid & square as possible given old house quirks. By the by he also put insulation underneath for soundproofing.

Posted by: going4broke at February 9, 2008 11:09 PM in response to Newel post veneer

Open your checkbook and call a pro.

Posted by: guest at February 23, 2008 1:17 AM in response to Seeking advice on a new tile floor

"Jagadish" is lebanese for "Help I am a prisoner of the Carpet-in-micro-marble-mosaic-ON-Sale-Discount Company"

You should take some of the money you saved and send a donation to your favorite local economic development/historic preservation office to help with the effort to save the historic character of the neighborhoods.

Or maybe better... send the same savings to the public school program that works to give our kids a tradition of home grown craftsmanship.

Hope it lasts.

Posted by: guest at February 24, 2008 10:18 AM in response to Seeking advice on a new tile floor

If you are in brooklyn, try the custom wood store on bedford and herkimer (right past atlantic but before fulton). He created cherry wood spindles and other stair related items for me. He also re-created my cousin's top staircase. He is reliable and does excellent work. I cannot remember the number.

Posted by: guest at April 15, 2008 1:19 AM in response to Handrail Twist and Turn Needed