flyingfish's Profile
Author's Posts
August 10, 2009
Refrigerator Repair/Replacement?
Ourtenant just left a message that the refrigerator in her apartment isn't cold anymore. I'll take a look - but can anyone recommend a reliable refrigerator repair outfit?
Also - if I need to get a replacement, any recommendations on brands and where to get it? I was thinking P.C. Richard or Sears. Thanks!
June 8, 2009
Advice/Price for Concrete Remove
We have a brownstone in Bed-Stuy, and would like to remove most of the front rectangle of concrete (leaving a path to get to the door under the stoop, and to the bulkhead in front of the house. Basically, we want to have a front garden similar to the ones you see in front of lots of houses in the neighborhood. What's a reasonable price to remove the concrete? Do I also need to have topsoil delivered? Price for the whole job? Any recommendations for people to do this? Thanks!
April 26, 2009
Where to buy tung oil in bulk?
I need a gallon or two of tung oil. Home Depot only seems to have small containers of it. Can anyone recommend a local suppplier? (We're in Brooklyn.)
Thanks!
September 21, 2008
Di Santo Painting?
Has anyone here used Nathan Di Santo for any painting work? He bid on a job for us and his price is reasonable and he seems like a nice guy. Anyone used him/heard about him? Thanks!
Thanks
May 16, 2008
Who to hire for Concrete grading?
We had our mud hut removed from our Bed-Stuy brownstone, and nw need to do some back-filling on the piece of ground that was under the mud hut.
Meanwhile, our basement is getting water as a result of the recent rains. WHo can I get to put some concrete in that can be both an attractive patio as well as graded away from the building so we don't get water into the basement?
April 9, 2008
Need forced air heating ducts cleaned
I have forced air heat (in Bed-Stuy), and some of the ducts seem to be blowing a little weakly.
I was referred to a company called Envirospect who will use huge fancy vacuums to clean them all - and want about $1000.00 to do so.
Is this a decent price? It seems high.
I'm just wondering who else is out there who does this, and does it well, perhaps for not so much $$$.
Thanks!
April 7, 2008
Gardener/Landscaper needed in Bed-Stuy
We are looking for someone to help us design and supervise implementing the design of our garden in Stuyvesant Hts. Not big budget!
However, some pavers/bluestone, and horticultural help needed. We recently had a mudroom addition removed, so some cement work/brick work / pavers is needed to provide the proper drainage and grading away from the foundation where the old mudroom used to be.
Any and all suggestions of good people to work with requested, please!
Many thanks.
April 2, 2008
Forced Air Heat diagnosis / tuneup / repair?
We have a new tenant, and they are complaining that their apartment is cold (top floor). We have forced air heating, and our two floors are toasty. It's true that their apartment is definitely not as warm as ours.
Can anyone recommend an outfit that can come and look to see if the ducts are blocked. need cleaning, or any other adjustments that might be in order?
We live in Bed-Stuy.
Thanks!
January 5, 2008
Architect MIA for TR1 final signoff
We have a job that's finished, and all that's left to be done is for the architect who filed the permits for us to do the TR1 filing for self-cert. The architect is hard to get in touch with, and seems to not want to get involved. According to NYC Dept. of Buildings, it's MUCH easier if the original filing architect finishes this off, rather than having to hire a new one to finish his work. Any advice as to how to get this done, or what it would cost to have a new architect come in to finish this off for us?
Many thanks!
December 7, 2007
Anyone used Debra Salomon?
I'm needing some design advice for my brownstone. Has anyone here done work with Debra Salomon/408 Design?
Author's Comments
Thanks, Southslope - very helpful. I'm planning to use it indoors, but - I do have some nice outer doors which I usually use polyurethane on. Could I get use the tung oil sealr/oil treatment for those as well?
Thanks!
Posted by: flyingfish at April 27, 2009 7:07 AM in response to Where to buy tung oil in bulk?
That's a landmark block - Decatur between Lewis and Stuyvesant.
The houses there are great.
I will say that I don't like the broker - she royally screwed up an offer I had on another house in the neighborhood a few years ago when se worked with Flateau Realty - and she could've cared less. So - proceed with caution.
That said - if the house is in good shape, it's a great part of the neighborhood and well worth considering.
Posted by: flyingfish at January 3, 2009 12:16 AM in response to Anyone in Bed Stuy know this area?
Been twice to Peaches. They have some good veg. sides - a tasty kale with garlic, some fine cheesy grits, good salads.
Had a rack of ribs, some trout and the above-mentioned rib-eye. This is a big improvement on Petit Bassam which was the most recent tenant of the space. The owner and staff are friendly - and they keep refilling your lemonade and ice tea - no extra charge.
Posted by: flyingfish at July 22, 2008 3:06 PM in response to StreetLevel: Peaches Market Opens in Bed-Stuy
OP here - many thanks for the recommendations. So - who should I contact for the concrete/drywell work? I've seen some recommendations for mansons here - but isn't this more a landscaping/concrete issue? I just don't know who to contact, or what kind of price tag to expect. Many thanks!
Posted by: flyingfish at May 19, 2008 2:03 PM in response to Who to hire for Concrete grading?
Thanks , but the mud hut was falling apart and not worth saving. So - anyone have any idea who to call for this?
WOuld a landscaping outfit do the work?
Buscarello Concrete? I'd like not to break the bank, and still have it both work to keep the water sloped away from the building and look nice as well. How much do you experts think this might run?
Thanks!
Posted by: flyingfish at May 16, 2008 8:59 PM in response to Who to hire for Concrete grading?
OP here. Thank you rasmalai and guest(s) for your input.
I don't think we were the cheap nasty owners from hell, although the architect might not think of us as friends - we had a low-ish budget, and the architect worked with us on it, with several revisions of drawings etc.
The original architect did a wonderful job on the design - we love the way the renovation worked out - it's just that the architect is very slow to return phone calls - if they ever get returned at all. We were paying this person by the hour, and always paid out bills on time - many thousands of dollars worth. At the moment, there are no outstanding invoices, and we are happy to pay the architect to come and do this last sign-off - we just want the architect to reply to our many calls, and to show up - so we can all move on!
Posted by: flyingfish at January 6, 2008 11:58 AM in response to Architect MIA for TR1 final signoff
Giovanna,
Do you have the name of the metal shop on 9th and 3rd Ave., by any chance?
Posted by: flyingfish at November 27, 2007 2:36 PM in response to Missing Post about wall ladder?
Re: Putnamdenizen 9:41 AM:Windowshield=Weathershield, I believe.
Curious how much the Marvins from Dykes cost, as well as the Weathershields, if you don't mind posting.
Thanks.
Posted by: flyingfish at November 27, 2007 1:22 PM in response to Brownstone Window Replacement: A 3-part question
www.brownstoneauthority.com
Brownstone Authority - facade/exterior work
Juan Mos
917-554-6428
718 972 2836
Posted by: flyingfish at November 27, 2007 1:18 PM in response to Brownstoner Authority #
Architectural Sculpture has moved to Bed-Stuy. They're on Atlantic Acenue now, near Utica.
Posted by: flyingfish at November 25, 2007 10:14 AM in response to Faking it, limestone style
No doubt - still? Would love some feedback, please. Thanks.
Posted by: flyingfish at November 23, 2007 2:04 PM in response to Tenant never opened account with Con Ed
Thanks for the replies.
I went on the NYC Civil Court website, and they say that the maximum amount is $5000 - so I'm not sure about the $25K maximum menioned above - ccan anyone clarify?
Also - I'm still looking for a lawyer referral - can someone help?
I think I want to send a scary letter first. ANd - if the amount is around $7500 - should I take hime to small claims for the $5K (assuming that's the ceiling), or sue him for the higher amount in another court?
Thanks!
Posted by: flyingfish at September 27, 2007 4:16 PM in response to Need lawyer to go after Nightmare Contractor
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
Thanks much for the information! I think my wife and I are going to take a walk along Decatur tomorrow and take a closer look. :)
Posted by: cwbuecheler at January 3, 2009 12:57 AM in response to Anyone in Bed Stuy know this area?
I third that this is a great block. I hope it works out for you. I know the broker in a personal, not business capacity, and I'm sorry flyingfish did not have a good experience. I hope things are better this time.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at January 3, 2009 12:26 PM in response to Anyone in Bed Stuy know this area?
take a walk at night time.
walk to the nearest subway station
buy something at the deli
and imagine living there
Posted by: dutchman at January 3, 2009 12:40 PM in response to Anyone in Bed Stuy know this area?
We went for the walk as planned. Got off the A/C at Nostrand, walked up Fulton to Tompkins, then turned on Decatur and followed that all the way past 241 (we're also interested in the brownstone at 192), to Stuyvesant. Then we went north a block, came back down Macdonough to Lewis, went north two blocks on Lewis to Halsey, then walked west on Halsey to Marcus Garvey, back down to Fulton, and west to the Kingston-Throop C stop. So we covered a pretty good stretch of space.
Decatur and Macdonough are gorgeous. Lined with lovely 3 and 4-story brownstones and row-houses, some of which have been converted to apartments but all of which appear to be in good-to-excellent shape. No wonder this is a landmark district!
Fulton is a big commercial strip ... it's not pretty, but it's not scary, either. Reminds me of 125th in Harlem.
It was obvious that some of the blocks were sketchier than others, but honestly dutchman, the walk from Decatur to the subway doesn't scare me. I can't imagine it's any worse than walking some of the non-landmarked parts of Clinton Hill, or by the Gowanus projects, or Coney Island at night ... all of which I've done.
We're scheduling viewings of both 241 and 192 Decatur for next weekend, hopefully.
Posted by: cwbuecheler at January 3, 2009 5:14 PM in response to Anyone in Bed Stuy know this area?
I live way up Stuyvesant, closer to Lafayette, but often walk down to the Utica A train, down Lewis to Peaches or Olivino, etc. Haven't had a sketchy experience in this neck of the woods at any time of the day or night yet.
Posted by: vanburenproud at January 3, 2009 5:25 PM in response to Anyone in Bed Stuy know this area?
A great area. Beautiful stretches of landmarked townhouse. Brick oven pizza/Italian restaurant, a flower shop and a gourmet food market (courtesy of this site's very own DIBS) all slated to open soon on Lewis nearby. And the owners of Bread Stuy plan to open a swanky play space for children there soon as well.
Posted by: housebywe at January 4, 2009 12:03 AM in response to Anyone in Bed Stuy know this area?
I believe the broker is the owner...not positive about that. If it's the case I've heard that the renovation is very nice. It's a nice block in a great location...about 2 minute walk to the Utica stop on the A train. It's very quiet in that whole neighborhood with the excepton of any emergency equipment (fire truck, ambulance). People take care of their blocks and the streets & sidewalks are always clean.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at January 4, 2009 9:36 AM in response to Anyone in Bed Stuy know this area?
Scheduled to see 241 next weekend. I'm curious how receptive people would be, in this area, to a white couple moving in. My wife and I don't want to be seen as interlopers or gentrifiers or bringers of the neighborhood apocalypse, or whatever ... we just want someplace we can actually afford.
Posted by: cwbuecheler at January 4, 2009 12:46 PM in response to Anyone in Bed Stuy know this area?
First of all, just be aware that homes on Decatur were selling for a million dollars last year, and that you are considering a fine, fine block that's full of perfectly sophisticated black people who probably have more money than you, and have *definitely* seen white people before.
Second, take a couple more walks around before you go assuming that you are doing anything new. I almost never leave my house in this neighborhood without seeing white people, and I don't even live in the nice part of Bed Stuy.
Third, I have never lived in a friendlier and warmer neighborhood. The only thing that's going to keep you from enjoying the people around you is your own fears about what they think you are on some sociological level. Just being friendly and saying hello goes a long way toward taking things from that macro Me-White You-Black level and makes it about neighbors, and most of the people in Bed Stuy value neighbors to an almost absurd degree.
Fourth, I empathize with not wanting to take on racism in your daily life because it's such a nasty festering wound in our culture. But really one of my favorite things about living here is replacing what I personally learned racism to be as a child (racism is unspeakably evil and therefore I am *not racist* but am not quite sure, so I can never be around black people lest I slip up) with the reality of racism, which is much more mundane. Everyone's racist sometimes, and it's something everyone muddles through.
Fifth, if you move to Bed Stuy, at some point some drunk man in front of a bodgea is going to call you a cracker and suggest that you move out of his neighborhood. And worse, you will not just see other people being racist toward you, you will find that you are occasionally racist yourself. Everyone is. But I honestly think that this occasional annoyance is a net positive for everyone involved. Whether you're white or black, when you live only with people who are like you, you get really lazy about seeing other humans as humans and start relying on divisive stereotypes and conceptual ideas about race and racism.
Posted by: vanburenproud at January 4, 2009 3:40 PM in response to Anyone in Bed Stuy know this area?
vanburenproud -
That's an excellent post and I really appreciate it. I am *quite* sure that the vast majority of people who own property on that block and in the general area have more money than my wife and I, regardless of their ethnicity, and I didn't mean to imply otherwise. Beyond that, I agree with the points you're making and am excited to learn more about the neighborhood as we look at real estate there.
Posted by: cwbuecheler at January 4, 2009 4:47 PM in response to Anyone in Bed Stuy know this area?
Did Lorenzutti mov from Douglass St.?
Posted by: flyingfish at April 27, 2009 11:49 PM in response to recommend a car mechanic please.