luther924's Profile
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Author's Posts
August 19, 2008
stoop advice
Hi, I own a brownstone and my stoop from the street to the first floor is not in good shape. Unfortunately, the previous owner painted the brownstone stairs and the paint is pealing and cracking, and the stairs are leaking and disintegrating underneath. I don't think i get to ppost more than one picture. I know I need a proper job, but don't have the $5-10k to get it done right before winter. I am wondering if there is a DIY stop-gap measure to take before winter comes to at least arrest the disintegration, maybe chip off the paint and seal somehow. I want to do as little as possible becuase I eventually want a pro to chip all paint from the stoop and resurface the brownstone.
thanks
November 5, 2007
pex crimper
Hi, I need replace one of my hot water radiators. I have 1/2" pex running from my furnace to each radiator, whisch is then crimped on a copper fitting coming out of the radiator.
Has anyone used the much cheaper versions of the pex crimper that are engaged with vicegrips ($45 vs. $120) vs. one standalone tool?
Thanks
September 6, 2007
venting a natural gas tankless water heater
Hi, I hope to install a a tankless water heater for one bathroom in my house. I know it can not be vented through the chmney flue that the furnace uses (right?). But there is an 3'x4' opening (I think originally for coal or oil) from the "frontyard" of my brownstone to the basement. I vent my clother dryer through there. Could I also vent the water heater through there if it is 3' from the house? I assume I need the vent cover needs to be a certain distance high to rise above potential snow accumulation.
One more thing... if the tankless thing doesn't work, can traditional water heaters be put in parallel? I have a very large tub to fill.
Thanks
Author's Comments
the article certainly jumps the gun, but the popularity of both franklin park and I-95 say something positive about the energy of the neighborhood. I think operation impact is not given enough credit. Williamsburg is silly as a comparison--prospect hts more possible because the access to subway lines, the park and cultural institutions on E pkwy are similar as is the good housing stock. the one thing that is not explored is whether more of the garages that dot crown hts can be converted into interesting housing. i know it has happened in places, but it is a feature that is not in other neighborhoods.
Posted by: luther924 at September 12, 2008 11:27 AM in response to Williamsburg Comes to Crown Heights?
Original poster here. thanks for the comments.
I didn't know pointing was an option vs. what I assume is the more expensive chipping and resurfacing that I see more often. Maybe I should repost afterward, but let me first ask: if I removed the paint, how would I know whether i need the light repair (pointing) vs. the heavy (chipping and resurfacing)?
again, thanks
Posted by: luther924 at August 21, 2008 10:49 AM in response to stoop advice
urban arborists are great. and they do a fantastic job of cleaning up afterward!
Posted by: luther924 at November 7, 2007 12:25 PM in response to A Tree Dies In Brooklyn
It is for running hot water to your radiator
Posted by: luther924 at November 6, 2007 9:42 PM in response to pex crimper
thanks for the advice. we are going with the water heaters in parallel
Posted by: luther924 at September 7, 2007 10:29 PM in response to venting a natural gas tankless water heater
I have the exact same problem, but don't have $5-10K to spend this summer to fix it. my stoop steps were painted by the previous owner. I have heard conflicting opinions on what will happen if i strip the paint off the brownstone stoop stairs. Will the stairs then breath and last better until i can save up to have them repointed with brownstone or will they disintegrate quicker?
Any advice because i know the paint trapping the moisture isn't a good thing, but i don't want to make things worse? thanks.
Posted by: luther924 at May 18, 2009 11:26 PM in response to Exterior under-stoop help