hegelian's Profile
- Stephan Shaw
- 1986
- 2007
- Brooklyn
- Park Slope
- House
- Philosopher
- Male
- 39
- http://www.upguild.com
Author's Posts
August 1, 2008
Old bricks
Does anyone have or know where I can get old bricks for rebuilding my brownstone mantle?
July 31, 2008
Boiler exhaust and deck
I have a new gas boiler that is direct venting out the basement in the back about 3 feet above ground level. I want to build a deck 5 feet above it. Does anyone know if this will run up against code?
July 22, 2008
When is a deck a deck?
In terms of DOB permitting...I put a door in my kitchen and since the yard is only 4 feet below I thought I'd just make stairs going down. I want to make a 4' X 5' landing for the stairs. Would that be considered a deck and need permitting? It would be wrought iron.
May 20, 2008
Solar Thermal - Steel Beams?
Does anyone know if solar hot water panels must be attached to steel beams to meet code?
If this is a requirement, it raises the cost of solar thermal by 40%, I seems to me.
Has anyone installed solar thermal? Do they use it to supplement radiator heat?
May 15, 2008
Boilers, efficiency, on demand
Does anyone have experience with an on demand gas system for hot water and heat? It seems from the literature that the efficiency is much higher than a traditional boiler like a weil McClain CG (as much as 97% or 14% higher) and the sticker price isn't so high on some models (Tagaki is one maker I've looked into).
I'd be using the system with cast iron radiators, not radiant heat.
May 13, 2008
Solar Water and Electric
I'm probably going to install a 5 KW solar system and a hot water (3 panels - 80 Gallon) system on my brownstone in Boerum Hill. Is there anyone who has either or both systems who I could speak to about their experience with solar?
April 25, 2008
Steam and hot water heat
Has anyone pulled out a steam heat system in their 4 story brownstone and put in hot water? If so, what was your experience like and how much did you spend?
April 22, 2008
Steam heat and reno
I'm beginning a fairly comprehensive renovation on a 4 story brownstone. Currently it has a steam heat system which the previously seller said gave him no problems. My contractor thinks I should change to hot water since we're opening up all the walls now.
Is it worth 20K to do this. Obviously it will cost more than that later if it proves to be necesary, but why would it be? Would hot water save money in the long run?
April 15, 2008
mansion tax
The house I'm buying is listed as a 4 family with the housing dept, but as a 3 family with the finance dept. As a 4 family I shouldn't have to pay mansion tax, but the title company is saying that only the finance dept records are applicable. Does anyone know if this is right? It has the restrictions of a 4 family but I have to mansion tax to boot...Seems unfair and wrong...
February 2, 2008
4 family to 2
I'm thinking about buying a four family brownstone. I've already had it inspected and my offer accepted.
I want to live it as a one family, and ideally would like to have the C of O changed to two.
Question 1: Is it complicated going from 4 to 2 and what would it cost?
Question 2: would changing the C of O mandate a thorough inspection by the bldgs. dept? and therefore require permitting of any/all changes...
Author's Comments
Senatorstreet, what on earth do you mean?
Posted by: hegelian at August 1, 2008 12:20 AM in response to Boiler exhaust and deck
I looked into these too, as I thought they'd be nicer than pocket doors. I was shocked at how expensive they are - if you go for the nice hardware pictured.
Look at barndoorhardware.com I think that door hardware - without the door is about $1750.00!
Posted by: hegelian at May 20, 2008 11:15 PM in response to 1 door sliding closet door?
Wow, well thank you for the detailed and intelligent response. I'm considering the UG-105. Do you recommend this over other boilers like the Budurus which seem to have the similar efficiencies but are cheaper?
Lastly, do have any experience with Solar Thermal heat exchangers? I've gotten such radically different opinions on whether having a 120 Gallon superheated water tank from a 3 panel solar array would preheat the water loop going into the boiler enough to make a contribution towards energy efficiency.
Posted by: hegelian at May 16, 2008 5:55 PM in response to Boilers, efficiency, on demand
I guess I'd like to know what boiler you recommend for a hot water system in a brownstone with cast iron radiators. Originally when I posted I thought I had space issues and liked that condensor and hot water on demand systems are so small. It seems I don't have as much of a space issue and so now wonder just which boiler works within my parameters. The contractor was going to get a weil Mclain CG4 which seems to be 10% less efficient than some other boilers that in a similar price class.
Any recomendations?
Posted by: hegelian at May 16, 2008 12:58 PM in response to Boilers, efficiency, on demand
Not certain why either removing some of the tubes (if you use a solar tube system) or covering some is such a bad idea - or why that makes the system less viable financially. Seems to me, if the system is financially viable because of the winter heating, then who cares if some of it goes offline in the summer?
Also I'm curious about the $50K price tag. Does that include the radiant flooring? The system I'm looking at is closer to $12K and will store enough BTU's per day to offset more than 50% of water heating, or at least that is the claim. I'm not doing any radiant heating, just preheating the water to the boiler that will supply cast iron radiators...
Posted by: hegelian at May 15, 2008 10:50 PM in response to Solar hot water and radiant floor heating
A 1 panel 80 Gallon system would cost about 5-8K depending on what type of panel and how its installed
Posted by: hegelian at May 14, 2008 11:46 PM in response to Solar hot water and radiant floor heating
Johnife, I think these things have to mounted on steel beams attached to the raised brick sides of your roof. This is an expensive proposition, but it seems like solar hot water is worth the expense.
I met Chester who chimed in today and am looking into a solar thermal system with him that will interface with my boiler and domestic hot water use. He claims this can but gas bills in half.
Posted by: hegelian at May 14, 2008 11:31 PM in response to Solar hot water and radiant floor heating
Let me also add in direct response to some of the issues Beatlife raised: on the issue of impending technology it seems like its been around the corner for 15 years. The newer cheaper PV panels are not for the consumer market yet and it seems that they're so much less efficient that they won't work on a typical brownstone roof which has quite limited space. Also, if the prices did come down to $1 a watt or so presumably the tax credits would cease. It seems to me major changes in the financing of a PV system are far enough away as to make it smart to do now. Also, the system should pay for itself in 10-15 years and the life is much longer than that, so it seems like it would be a good return on investment regardless.
On the other point, have you asked your engineers why you can't just integrate the solar water into your existing hot water heating system?
Posted by: hegelian at May 14, 2008 4:31 PM in response to Solar hot water and radiant floor heating
Its true its hard to get a straight answer on this stuff. I'm deciding on solar hot water this week and this is what I gather, currently: I'm not using radiant floor heating, but I can tie the solar hot water into my boiler/hot water heat system, with an indirect heat exchange. It seems fairly straightforward. I've been told that the excess heat in the summer will not be a problem, but if it was, I could just cover some or all of the panels. On a flat roof in Brooklyn, this really isn't a problem, so I'm not sure why people talk about flushing excess hot water down a drain. There is also a solution for airconditioning with the hot water (not sure how it works, but somehow the heat drives the pumps of the hvac) I'm not clear yet on how much 3 panels will help with heating in the winter, but since the efficiency is much great with solar hot water, it seems its better to use the roof space for that than PV which I'm also planning on installing. I will definitely post on my decisions and the progress with installing in the future.
Posted by: hegelian at May 14, 2008 4:26 PM in response to Solar hot water and radiant floor heating
How much did you spend to convert the system?
Did you have a 2 pipe steam or one?
Did you convert your radiators?
How many floors is your place?
I guess I should several more estimates for the job...
Posted by: hegelian at April 24, 2008 10:48 AM in response to Steam heat and reno
Thanks everyone for the contributions.
The place is 4 stories (no basement). Its 20' X 40. Its configured as an upper triplex and ground floor rental.
The owner told me the steam heat was good after it was sold, so his word is trustworthy.
We are however, opening all the walls already, and it now looks like I'll probably need to buy a new boiler anyway, so its looking more like I should change to hot water. I've been quoted 18-25K to do the job. Does that sound reasonable?
Posted by: hegelian at April 23, 2008 11:56 PM in response to Steam heat and reno
Thanks everyone for the contributions.
The place is 4 stories (no basement). Its 20' X 40. Its configured as an upper triplex and ground floor rental.
The owner told me the steam heat was good after it was sold, so his word is trustworthy.
We are however, opening all the walls already, and it now looks like I'll probably need to buy a new boiler anyway, so its looking more like I should change to hot water. I've been quoted 18-25K to do the job. Does that sound reasonable?
Posted by: hegelian at April 23, 2008 11:54 PM in response to Steam heat and reno
I'd be interested also: hegelian@upguild.com
Posted by: hegelian at April 21, 2008 3:05 PM in response to auntbert
No, There is no C of O on file with DOB.
Posted by: hegelian at April 21, 2008 11:48 AM in response to mansion tax
No, There is no C of O on file with DOB.
Posted by: hegelian at April 21, 2008 11:48 AM in response to mansion tax
We're pulling out an old defective steam system and putting in a hot water system as part of a bigger renovation. The price quote on the work is 17K. Four floors, four zones. The radiators will be another 2-3K. I'm not sure about the furnace cost yet.
Posted by: hegelian at April 15, 2008 11:00 PM in response to cost to install hot water heating system
We're pulling out an old defective steam system and putting in a hot water system as part of a bigger renovation. The price quote on the work is 17K. Four floors, four zones. The radiators will be another 2-3K. I'm not sure about the furnace cost yet.
Posted by: hegelian at April 15, 2008 10:59 PM in response to cost to install hot water heating system
I guess I knew that I could live in it as a one family withot necesarily changing the c of o, which is why - pace guest 11:19 - I bid on it. I wonder, however, if renovating along the 1 family lines - removing 3 kitchens will create a title problem in 20 years when I want to sell the house. Will I need to replace 3 kitchens at time of sale because it will be listed as a four family?
Posted by: hegelian at February 3, 2008 1:02 AM in response to 4 family to 2
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
I ordered from this company. They have good stuff and it's cheap.I bought an aluminum sliding set up for 2 6ft French doors for about $50.
http://www.pocket-door-hardware.com/wall.html
Posted by: guest at May 21, 2008 7:39 AM in response to 1 door sliding closet door?
Ikea has similar doors you can buy individually for a fraction of the cost of other stores. Go to the closet section and look around.
There are many multi-million dollar lofts in Manhattan where Ikea sliding doors have been used.
Posted by: guest at May 21, 2008 8:31 AM in response to 1 door sliding closet door?
Not on rails, but I thought I'd throw this out there:
Posted by: veggiequeen at May 21, 2008 9:14 AM in response to 1 door sliding closet door?
We sell doors with this type of hardware. The hardware is often considered a pocket door hardware even though it does not slide into a pocket but acts more like a barn door.
Here's a link for our doors: www.diyshutters.com/doors.HTM
Here's a link for the hardware:
http://www.johnsonhardware.com/wmindex.htm
I hope this helps.
Posted by: guest at May 21, 2008 10:19 AM in response to 1 door sliding closet door?
Go to this site and look under "flat track" doors.
http://www.crown-industrial.com/
I was able to get all the hardware for around $400, but I built my own door.
Posted by: guest at May 21, 2008 4:19 PM in response to 1 door sliding closet door?
Go to your local hardware store. They have everything you need for the hardware. Somethings ARE possible to do on your own. The set-up and mechanics of it all are not that extreme.
Posted by: guest at May 21, 2008 4:41 PM in response to 1 door sliding closet door?
McMaster Carr. anything and everything industrial including hardware. absolutely THE BEST. where www.mcmaster.com. do a search for "sliding doors"
Posted by: guest at May 21, 2008 4:59 PM in response to 1 door sliding closet door?
McMaster Carr. everything and anything industrial, including your sliding door tracks and hardware. www.mcmaster.com do a search for "sliding door" , it's all there x 1000.
Posted by: guest at May 21, 2008 5:00 PM in response to 1 door sliding closet door?
Home Depot also has similar sliding doors
Posted by: guest at May 21, 2008 5:46 PM in response to 1 door sliding closet door?
It is made by a German company. I bought that hardward from barndoorhardware.com (as the first poster said) after much searching after seeing it in Germany. It is expensive, but a great design. It is drop shipped from Germany. It is amazingly expensive, however.
Posted by: guest at May 21, 2008 7:28 PM in response to 1 door sliding closet door?
Hey, I need some bricks too.
Can you email me? stephan@upguild.com
Posted by: hegelian at August 1, 2008 2:49 PM in response to brick