greuh's Profile
- Lauren
- 2008
- ummmm
Author's Posts
September 28, 2009
Permit Needed for Door?
A year back, i opened up a new door into a non-loading bearing partition. Meanwhile, I closed up the door that existed into another partition of that same room (so, in other words, i moved the door of that room to come out elsewhere). I had that done without approval of the DOB. Is that bad? my building ok-ed it without further requirements (they were made aware of this). Looking at possible sale of apt now, and i m worried this will come back to haunt me. Your thoughts? thanks much.
December 1, 2008
HUGE Problem!! help!
Hello brownstoners -- first time poster but long time lurker here. Got so much great info from you all. I come to you with a huge problem: I just recently completed a renovation project (smaller scale, but includes a kitchen) and literally within hours of signing a certificate of completion w the contractor, I find that I cannot turn on my faucet! (backsplash too thick or faucet too close to it, it's one of those levers so it needs a little bit of space at the back and doesn't have enough to turn on without hitting backsplash ... so no water when in the 'forward facing' position) ... Problem is: the contractor is ... well, I wouldn't recommend him. Basically, he's ignoring my calls. I mean, he got paid, I signed the paper saying all good. Yes, he rushed me at the end, but the point is I signed and he's got no incentive to return. What can I do? THank you for all... I m really really desperate right now.
Author's Comments
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
It's not name calling...it's alerting the people whom you value here as sources of information. The fact that he's not returning calls makes him the jerk that he is.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 2, 2008 8:25 AM in response to HUGE Problem!! help!
call Help Me Howard (seriously).
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at December 2, 2008 8:54 AM in response to HUGE Problem!! help!
Had a similar problem. I rotated the faucet body 45 degrees to the left so the handle cleared. The faucet itself swivels so it's straight. Just won't turn quite so much to the right. I linda like how it looks and I like the long handle.
Posted by: Johnny at December 2, 2008 9:05 AM in response to HUGE Problem!! help!
Johnny's right...the faucet can be loosened and rotated so that it sticks out towards the front when off and when it is open it's parallel with the backsplacsh, not hitting it
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 2, 2008 9:08 AM in response to HUGE Problem!! help!
No one's asking you to destroy a contractor's reputation, simply to identify him/her so others can be aware of potential problems. It's really unfortunate to seek help and after getting several helpful replies, blow off other people's requests under cover of "no name-calling." It leaves me thinking that your post was as much about a client problem as a contractor problem.
Posted by: vinca at December 2, 2008 9:25 AM in response to HUGE Problem!! help!
Think of it this way: would you recommend this guy to a friend?
If you think the Forum is helpful, you've probably learned things from it. Letting us know to be on the alert for your contractor is returning the favor.
Posted by: Arkady at December 2, 2008 11:28 AM in response to HUGE Problem!! help!
"What can I do?"
- Under certain circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.
- Mark Twain
Posted by: East New York at December 2, 2008 11:38 AM in response to HUGE Problem!! help!
I disagree with the hunger to name names on this site. Although I think nyc87's advice is sound to use the threat of naming the contractor as leverage to get him back to finish the job right, I just think that there is a vast army of contractors working in Brooklyn and that naming individual screw-ups on this site just for future referecne to others is about as useful as watering individual blades of grass. It doesn't help you get closer to finding a good GC by ruling one bad GC out. No one picks GCs by process of elimination. People go, or at least they should, with positive referrals from reliable sources.
Here, if DIBS and johnny are right, OP can get this fixed easily and cheaply. If so, it is probably not going to be worth getting the contractor back. Just bite the bullet and get it done. If it turns out to be an expensive fix, then you may want to exert the leverage that you would get from exposing the contractor on this site. Alternatively, keep track of all your costs in case you decide to pursue him in slam claims court (do not rely on this as legal advice but I would not assume the certificate you signed would prevent you from pursuing that route).
Posted by: slopefarm at December 2, 2008 11:52 AM in response to HUGE Problem!! help!
Here's a happy medium: go review him on Angie's list.
Posted by: serpentor at December 2, 2008 1:09 PM in response to HUGE Problem!! help!
I am a firm believer of recommendations for everyone that works for you (bad or good!). You may not find a GC by process of elimination, but you can at least eliminate potential GCs when you google them and see this particular specific bad thing. It is within the GC's right to respond too!
Posted by: justinm at December 2, 2008 1:27 PM in response to HUGE Problem!! help!
Thank you for your recommendation re: new faucet. It only came to me later (yeah, i m dense). as for the name, i don't really do name-calling (it's not like he committed a huge fraud here) and the internet can destroy a reputation - which this guy doesn't deserve. Still, it'll teach me to be more cautious next time!!
you guys are the best, thanks again.
Posted by: greuh at December 2, 2008 4:11 AM in response to HUGE Problem!! help!