going4broke's Profile
Author's Posts
November 15, 2008
How many is too many at a party?
We are finally going to have our first big party in our house. It is a fairly conventional/traditional layout brownstone (although with kitchen at rear of parlor) 20'x45'. My question is, how many people is too many - especially given it will be too cold to use the garden? Will be mostly adults but kids too. How many have you had & did it work? How did you spread the party though the house? Anything else we should think about?
Thanks
November 9, 2008
pressure reducing valve leaking
Yesterday, the Taco pressure reducing valve on on the mains feed to our boiler has started to leak (modest drip) after I was using it to purge air from our heating system. Beyond putting a bucket underneath & getting it replaced (if nec.) next week, should I worry? Is it likely to turn from a drip to a flood? Is it just a question of adjusting a screw etc? We have had the system (& the valve) for a few years with no leak. Any guidance would be great. Have called a plumber but not heard yet & until I know I won't cause a flood, I have isolated the valve and necessarily turned off the heat.
October 28, 2008
I need 4-6 pairs of door handle rosettes
We have enough of the porcelain door knobs for all doors but are missing some of the matching rosettes. I remember at the original Brownstoner fair there was a stand (I believe from FG) with some new brass rosettes designed to work with old handles but I lost their card. Any suggestions on the best place to look?
September 3, 2008
positioning window guards
We need to install window guards on both front Marvin wood windows and rear aluminum windows (all double hung). It isnt clear where the best position is for these - inside the window (attached to the inside frame), outside the window (attached to wooden brick mold), or in the top window track (in front of the bottom glass when closed)... My preference is probably on the brick mold as they are ugly and black but does this work/is it safe? Do they need to be inside or ?
August 19, 2008
trash can up for grabs
I bought this 48Gal trash can from Lowes during our reno but now we have moved in it is to big to use for standard garbage (if for no other reason than the trash collection guys refuse to empty it).
If you can use it & will pick up from Carroll Gardens, post your email or ph # before Friday & I will contact you. If not, it will go out as a bulk trash item which seems a bit of a waste.
July 18, 2008
canopy tent for block party
Where can i find (in Brooklyn) an inexpensive smallish canopy tent (to provide shade) for a block party? Thx
May 3, 2008
cat smell
2 weeks ago I found a cat (probably stray) sitting in the step well in the entrance under the stoop between the step & the gate. When I approached it ran away but I noticed that the step had a wet spot. Since then I smell a faint urine smell there. How do I get rid of the smell? Is this a problem that may repeat (do cats like these spots)? If so, anything I should do?
April 19, 2008
fireplace hardware source?
Where is the best place to buy fireplace hardware such as
- grate: iron thing that holds the logs off the bottom of the fireplace, allows air in underneath & stops them rolling out
- guard: mesh on frame that stops sparks from flying out
- tools: poker etc?
Have seen some at home depot but am interested if there is a better place for simple, inexpensive but solid equipment.
March 6, 2008
Jalousie windows - louvered glass for interior transom?
We have several interior transom windows to bring more light into interior bathrooms & closets. The glass isn't installed yet. I have been wondering lately about getting louvered glass "Jalousie" windows so we have the option of more airflow... Is this crazy? Anyone know where I could get these, ideally in Brooklyn? Would probably need custom sizes...
Pocket door hardware - Von Morris?
I am looking for pocket door hardware for single pocket doors as well as double pocket doors (bathrooms & closets as well as on parlor floor). Have come across Von Morris:
http://www.vonmorris.com/specialty_locks/pocket.cfm
Anyone used this or similar? They cost more than I like but the alternatives I have found so far seem either flimsy or even more expensive. Suggestions?
Author's Comments
Thanks for the feedback! I still have a concern that if the mains line in is closed and the valve fails that the pressure in the heating system could drop / water drain out & air into the heating system (causing problems with the circulation pumps etc). Is this realistic or very unlikely/not worth worrying about?
Posted by: going4broke at November 9, 2008 11:28 AM in response to pressure reducing valve leaking
Thanks for the feedback! I still have a concern that if the mains line in is closed and the valve fails that the pressure in the heating system could drop / water drain out & air into the heating system (causing problems with the circulation pumps etc). Is this realistic or very unlikely/not worth worrying about?
Posted by: going4broke at November 9, 2008 11:27 AM in response to pressure reducing valve leaking
Thanks for the feedback! I still have a concern that if the mains line in is closed and the valve fails that the pressure in the heating system could drop / water drain out & air into the heating system (causing problems with the circulation pumps etc). Is this realistic or very unlikely/not worth worrying about?
Posted by: going4broke at November 9, 2008 11:27 AM in response to pressure reducing valve leaking
PS I also need to get new latches for inside the doors that will work with a standard square cross section pin that runs between handles. Have seen cheap ones at hardware stores but am not sure if/where I should look elsewhere for better ones...
Posted by: going4broke at October 28, 2008 12:40 PM in response to I need 4-6 pairs of door handle rosettes
Nice job. I too like the chaise... Can you make recommendations for upholsterers?
Posted by: going4broke at October 21, 2008 12:34 PM in response to we found a great carpenter!
george taylor plumbing supplies downtown manhattan
Posted by: going4broke at September 8, 2008 7:56 PM in response to Good places to buy shower sets
we are just looking for a kid barrier, not security grates (nor wet mitten rack)... I did see the NYC info but haven't found it particularly helpful. Thx anyway.
Other comments/advice?
Posted by: going4broke at September 4, 2008 5:52 PM in response to positioning window guards
We used Texas Mesquite over radiant heat. Cant recommend it enough. Very stable & dense so good over radiant heat. Also both beautiful and environmentally friendly. Bought wood from Faifer & Co
Posted by: going4broke at July 7, 2008 9:00 PM in response to Radiant heat under Bamboo floor
Talk to Jason Dorn at Big Apple Chimney. He did our chimneys and I am very happy with the job. His prices are competitive.
Posted by: going4broke at June 19, 2008 5:55 PM in response to Uncovered fireplace with homemade chimney
i also like your sink. Can't argue with an architect...
Posted by: going4broke at June 18, 2008 7:59 PM in response to Partial fireplace removal
We used them for fireplaces (including totally dismantling & rebuilding a marble fireplace to put in a new hearth) & lining chimneys (given a rec. from friends of ours). We are very happy with the result. Jason Dorn is a good guy / easy to work with.
Posted by: going4broke at May 16, 2008 4:08 PM in response to Experience with Big Apple Chimney?
Can't give you much info beyond the following. As far as I know, more insulation is always better but I don't know cost/benefit. We were considering the attic fan but were advised that simply having a vent near the back of the house (low end of roof) & a vent hear the front (high end) was enough to allow convection to clear the hot air that might build up btw our insulated ceiling and the roof during summer... It is too early days for me to tell you how effective this is.
Posted by: going4broke at May 3, 2008 9:01 PM in response to Attic fan and insulation
Thanks John - I was in a hurry this time...
Posted by: going4broke at April 28, 2008 6:16 AM in response to glass etcher needed
Tomas Tisch in Red Hook does wheel etching of glass.
Posted by: going4broke at April 26, 2008 6:32 PM in response to glass etcher needed
We used a Munchkin 140M for our 4story 3600sqft - both heat & hot water (paired with SSU80). Very comfortable.
Posted by: going4broke at April 6, 2008 10:40 PM in response to To Radiant heat owners
PS I expect the setup your contractor is recommending would also require you to pay a monthly fee for monitoring. This is standard for this service but you want to know:
1 how much (can range from $8-$40+/mth), 2 who is monitoring, 3 do they have a good reputation (ask google etc), 4 do you have a fixed term contract or can you change providers any time at no cost...
Posted by: going4broke at March 12, 2008 6:56 AM in response to security systems...
I think you are confusing the monitoring services (& corresponding brands) with the hardware (/brands). As I understand it you always need a monitoring service / central station to receive your alarm call and then direct it to one of the emergency services depending on the type of call. Hardware is the actual physical electronics installed in your house.
SLomins etc are monitoring services that also install hardware. DSC is a brand of hardware. Check out www.homesecuritystore.com for info on hardware - they also have an interesting forum.
Posted by: going4broke at March 12, 2008 6:52 AM in response to security systems...
Thanks again. Appreciate the feedback.
The system does seem to be effectively eliminating air bubbles from the incoming street water as I can run the water back out to the sump bypassing the floor loops and not see any bubbles. I only see bubbles if I run the water through the floor loops. From what you wrote, I expect I have to just continue to purge the system for longer (I have been avoiding this as it seems to be a prodigious waste of water (if there were a better way). I have some pressure valve that lets me push the pressure up to ~30psi and it does help.
I am pretty confident that the overall design is right given it was written up by an experienced heat engineer recommended by Warmboard (the company who manufactures the radiant heat floor system we used). We have circulation pumps that match the spec. My problem is that the plumber who installed the system has introduced at least 1 problem (over tightening joins) and hasn't been as communicative/helpful as I would like. I wasn't confident that I wasn't missing something...
Posted by: going4broke at February 28, 2008 9:42 AM in response to How to purge air from heating system?
Master Plvmber - thanks for responding.
As I flush water through the system, draining into the sump, I can see bubbles pushed out. We do have one loop in a hallway that is probably not working effectively but I am not sure as the doors aren't yet sealed well and so it gets colder there (though I have pushed water through this loop after isolating it, but not to the point where no more bubbles come out). The floors in the rest of the house are obviously warm and the house is a comfortable temperature.
Is flushing the pipes with water the only effective way of getting the air out? Are there any tricks to help get the air out?
How long should it take to flush all the air out in this way?
I believe that a few of the rubber washers at the join of the pex to the manifolds are damaged from over tightening to the extent that the washers need replacing / are dripping water (very very slowly but visible). While I will get this done, I am wondering if this sort of thing could allow air into the system in the meantime.
Posted by: going4broke at February 27, 2008 11:45 PM in response to How to purge air from heating system?
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
another vote for the panasonic whisper fans. Very quiet to the point that we have left them on accidentally. They do have motion sensor versions that avoid that problem which we bought for the 2nd installation. I remember versions with lights but don't know if they come with motion sensor too. We got ours easily on the internet.
Posted by: going4broke at February 9, 2008 8:02 AM in response to Very Quiet Bathroom exhaust fan with Light
PS - any recommendations for good local hardware stores that could help us?
Posted by: going4broke at January 28, 2008 12:07 PM in response to reusing porcelain door knobs
Thanks Bob. We have some old mortice locks but not enough & don't have the keys. Spending time/money to get the locks fixed & new keys is one problem. Also, we are reusing doors in different positions including using closet doors as room doors. It's hard to fit mortice locks in some doors but I understand that the modern small mechanism should fit ok.
Posted by: going4broke at January 28, 2008 11:30 AM in response to reusing porcelain door knobs
3:41 - can you give the name of your ironworker?
Posted by: going4broke at November 24, 2007 7:20 PM in response to Where to buy 9' fixed ladder to roof?
We are using mesquite wood on all the floors for our reno (for many good reasons) and will finish with Tung oil split with biodegradable citrus solvent (alternative to mineral spirits). Buying all (wood, oil & solvent) from here:
http://www.mesquitefloors.com/tungoil.html
The oil & solvent cost is avg approx $50 per gal. from these guys - much less than $100/gal noted above.
Have a question for anyone with experience using wax over tung oil? Pros/cons vs just tung oil? Thanks.
Posted by: going4broke at November 17, 2007 12:56 AM in response to An Open Question: Finishing a Wood Floor
if you need to sell it, do it ASAP as posters say above. What happens if you don't sell before May? Even in a normal market, there is risk that you price it too high, that you waste time with a bad broker or buyer or bank or whatever else might delay contracting/closing & stale the listing. If these scenarios ruin your life and you don't want to / can't afford to drop the price to give away levels at the last moment to force a sale, put it on the mkt now.
Posted by: going4broke at November 9, 2007 6:53 AM in response to Better to Sell in December or January?
you can get tax deductions on interest on mortgages up to i think 1mm & home eq up to 100 grand.
Posted by: going4broke at October 2, 2007 6:29 AM in response to Financing home improvements
OP: i don't like carpet in this picture that much either. Not really sure what works. Have a vague idea that a mid-dark tone color would be ok, in some sturdy short wool. Not sure about a border or minimal pattern. Definitely don't want a shiny perfect, symmetric 'persian' runner.
FYI We have gone to great lengths to use natural materials in our house. We are concerned about air quality.
Re painting, our assumption is that over time it would get chipped & dirty. Is this true? If not, what paint is good?
Posted by: going4broke at August 17, 2007 7:14 PM in response to Carpet on staircase - Yes or yuck???
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
Beatlife: my reply is sitting in the mods' approval queue, probably because it's got links in it.
Posted by: Steve at July 8, 2008 1:09 PM in response to Radiant heat under Bamboo floor
We have used hardwood floors over radiant heat installed with warmboard and were recommended to use quarter sawn cut hardwood floors and have not had a problem with the flooring. The heating is great and the 3" red oak quarter sawn hardwood floor looks great and has held up over the past couple of years. Premium flooring on 3rd avenue was where we did our research and we are fine with the recommendations.
Posted by: guest at July 9, 2008 8:52 AM in response to Radiant heat under Bamboo floor
As pointed out above, the problem with hardwood on radiant is one of efficiency as much as cupping and warping. Just to keep in mind, with these rising energy prices and all...
Steve, I am surprised by your experience. We put in an "attractively priced" maple-over-hardwood-and-ply engineered floor and it has aged well, even though we abuse it and have a dog. One medium sized dog, but with plenty of pep. And fingernails. Who runs laps.
Perhaps our standards for a good looking floor are different? But the first year has passed, and the finish is still intact and there are scratches but nothing too surprising. No dents.
Posted by: guest at July 9, 2008 7:25 PM in response to Radiant heat under Bamboo floor
Mr. Bamboo, Inc. is to introduce the high-traffic, the FIRST 100% solid strand woven bamboo floating click floor called BamLoc™, they are 100 percent harder than red oak and 18 percent harder than hard maple. BamLoc™ strand floating in natural and coffee. For longevity and exceptional wear, BamLoc™ includes six coats of ceramic sealer finish that is water-based, solvent-free and non-off gassing. The BamLoc™ boards are wider and come with three random lengths, which make it easy to install on any type of subfloor and reduced installation costs. BamLoc™ is 9/16” solid bamboo and is competitively priced at $6.50 per square foot.
As you can imagine in this day of everyone and everything going green, there is a proliferation of bamboo flooring products. Please do not be fooled, not all bamboo is the same. For homes with pets, children and lots of activity, Mr. Bamboo advises to stay away from the traditional bamboo flooring. Additionally, do not be misled with bamboo veneer products. They do not have the same properties as solid bamboo flooring. Mr. Bamboo offers only solid bamboo flooring – BamStrand™ for nail or glue down applications and the floating, clickable flooring for suspended floors – BamLoc™ .
Mr. Bamboo Team
55 Kelly St,
Elk Grove, IL 60007
Tel: 847-640-7316 or 888-672-2628
Fax: 847-952-8471
www.mrbambooflooring.com
Posted by: sw at July 10, 2008 2:27 PM in response to Radiant heat under Bamboo floor
The options in your query do not meet NYC requirements for window guards in double hung windows. See §12-10 Specifications for Window Guards for Double Hung Windows (reached through previous link), subsections A-L, particularly subsection "L". In event the text still leaves you puzzled, see links to additional info and drawings at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/win/winbas1.shtml
Posted by: vinca at September 4, 2008 6:56 PM in response to positioning window guards
Park Slope Plumbing on 5th Avenue between Prospect and 16th Street. 718 832 0400. They can get you anything and are very experienced, unlike most places I've found. Highly recommend them.
Posted by: South Sloper at September 9, 2008 9:47 AM in response to Good places to buy shower sets
Smolka in the East 30s in Manhattan.
Posted by: slopefarm at September 9, 2008 10:08 AM in response to Good places to buy shower sets
BLACKMAN PLUMBING SUPPLY CO.INC.
85 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10003
212-337-1000
VEry high-end, very expensive. After I went there and learned what I wanted, I purchased from Ira Wood & Sons online for lots less.
Posted by: Susan Elkins at September 9, 2008 10:16 AM in response to Good places to buy shower sets
kraft hardware... 315 east 62. worth going to see the showroom.
Posted by: buttermilk channel at September 9, 2008 12:38 PM in response to Good places to buy shower sets
I'd reccomend finding what you want and calling DecoWare (www.decow.com) for a quote. I've used them a couple of times and have been very pleasantly surprised. A bit brusque on the phone, maybe, but I saved a boatload of cash.
Their showroom is basically worthless; don't bother. But after you know waht you want give 'em a call.
Posted by: houseowax at September 9, 2008 4:51 PM in response to Good places to buy shower sets
Thanks - much appreciated.
Posted by: going4broke at November 16, 2008 10:22 PM in response to How many is too many at a party?