What about bringing up the outside through a window? Two strapping young men on the roof with a bit of rope.

Posted by: modsquad at March 17, 2010 3:04 PM in response to Carpenter to Dissemble Bed?

If this is a RS apartment you may have given up your right to seek extra security. If Dog has resided “openly and notoriously”, for 90 days without your legal objection, then "game over"!
If it's free market then never mind.

Posted by: modsquad at March 15, 2010 4:05 PM in response to Tenant's Pet

It's very hard to prove the illegal sublet without the help of the person subletting (you). Without a investigation with real proof they have no case. The leaseholder should proceed with the request for subletting and admit to nothing regarding any past illegalities. She is not required to incriminate herself/himself/whatever.

Posted by: modsquad at March 14, 2010 11:24 PM in response to Turning Illegal Sublet w Legal

Wondering what that means BKEX, We're pouring the bottom of a new elevator shaft tomorrow morning and my understanding is we are paying to have an inspector watching in the basement and in addition an inspector at the truck watching the concrete come out. Probably a third one to watch the other 2.

Posted by: modsquad at March 14, 2010 3:25 PM in response to DOB Update 03/14/2010

Do you have an open unused chimney? Put a garbage bag on and go up on the roof.

Posted by: modsquad at March 13, 2010 10:06 PM in response to Help! Water Coming In

When motoring through the Gowanus Region I often partake of the pastry selection at the Dunkin' Donuts cafe located within the Pathmark sav-a-center. Their coffee? Indescribable!
If you're lucky enough to find yourself in the vicinity during Happy Hour stop and enjoy the view. An excellent Chianti can be had in the liquor store located across from the Pathmark check out. Buon Appetito!

Posted by: modsquad at March 13, 2010 8:54 AM in response to Favorite Cafe & Deli in BK

Reminds me of the time in college me and my roommate built an outdoor gas fired kiln out of salvaged bricks (circa Civil War) dug out of the ATO's backyard. They turned out to be so water logged they exploded and pulverized an entire semester's worth of badly thrown pots and ashtrays.
Makes me laugh even today.

Posted by: modsquad at March 13, 2010 8:26 AM in response to Red Brick

"Anyway, it does seem a little sleepy at night"
Like I said a bedroom community.

Sorry, I should clarify. I meant the street level spaces in regard to the LPC designation. Although, interestingly enough we had to run interior plans on a 2nd floor office through LPC that was visible from the street in the Union Sq. district.

Posted by: modsquad at March 12, 2010 5:07 PM in response to Considering DUMBO

Dumbo is hobbled by the LPC designation which will prevent the conversion of the many empty factory buildings to more practical sized spaces that normally comes with a pioneering neighborhood. Don't expect a pluthoria of new restaurants due to the inability to get ventilation to the roofs of these buildings. Dumbo is really just a bedroom community for middle level managers trying to start a family.

Posted by: modsquad at March 12, 2010 3:49 PM in response to Considering DUMBO

effect

Posted by: modsquad at March 1, 2010 8:42 AM in response to Coal Parlor Fireplace Conversion

Another reason why the smoke may be filling the house is the room temperature is too high which actually causes the house to behave like the chimney. The smoke is drawn to a lower pressure (warmer air).
"LOW PRESSURE: When air warms, its molecules scatter. The air becomes lighter and rises."
Fireplaces are nice but the tendency to keep the house heat on for the rest of the house will cause the room where the fireplace is located to overheat causing this affect.
The addition of a flue fan will of course solve the pressure problem artificially.

Posted by: modsquad at March 1, 2010 8:26 AM in response to Coal Parlor Fireplace Conversion

Best method is to get a state's tags that has no reciprocity with NYS regarding parking tickets. When I first came to NY in the seventies I could never figure out why there were some many people from Vermont visiting places like Harlem and Bed Sty. You just have to remember to "lose" your plate when tickets start going into judgment.
Parking ticket pundit offers no magic bullet for dismissal other than addressing the technicalities, the best advice, and my advice, going in person.

Posted by: modsquad at February 27, 2010 9:45 AM in response to Getting Out of Parking Tickets

I keep mine in a Skinner Box.

Posted by: modsquad at February 26, 2010 11:53 PM in response to Window Bars for Children

http://www.lenoblelumber.com/
Had them replicate some large rope mouldings last summer. Great place to visit, tons of moulding. Get more than one in case of another fight.

Posted by: modsquad at February 26, 2010 6:55 PM in response to Missing Spindle

Do you control the boiler?
I would run the heat with the air vent removed. If nothing improves then the problem is somewhere else. Obviously if it heats up you need a vent with a bigger hole. Be prepared to turn the radiator off if the room starts to fill with steam.
What MP says, it is a lot of radiator for a typical bedroom.
You hear any banging?

Posted by: modsquad at February 24, 2010 9:55 PM in response to LARGE RADIATOR NOT HEATING UP

My personal experience with that was a off off Bway theater in Soho. We were required to run a 2 hour rated corridor from the back of the stage through the basement back to the lobby. We also were required to rake the stage in order to give easier access to the audience in case of a fire. Truly the FDNY thought they were doing us a favor letting that corridor exist. They closed us one night when they counted seats and discovered folding chairs that put us over 99. I can't imagine it would be any easier with a daycare center. Unless of course a neighbor with a clear shot of the street would allow an easement on their property.
I'm not sure if a sprinkler system would count as the second means in a non-residential situation.

Posted by: modsquad at February 24, 2010 9:39 PM in response to DayCare Center - COO

"#4.Check the boiler and make sure that the water-level in the boiler is not jumping up and down,which means that the PH balance of the boiler water is off"

Remedy: check for chemtrails in the backyard.

Posted by: modsquad at February 24, 2010 8:26 AM in response to LARGE RADIATOR NOT HEATING UP

I wouldn't touch the original gate valve. You have to freeze it. The risk of it breaking in the off position is also a possibility.

Posted by: modsquad at February 24, 2010 8:22 AM in response to Plumber Rec and Plumbing ?

Sorry, my cat was walking on the keyboard.

Posted by: modsquad at February 21, 2010 6:53 PM in response to Mstr Plumber Help! Kitchen Sink

what a shame

Posted by: modsquad at February 21, 2010 4:49 PM in response to Mstr Plumber Help! Kitchen Sink

I have a commercial vehicle and have often had to use the non commercial meters to get a slip because they take credit/debit cards, commercial ones don't. Never had a ticket for that and I get a lot of tickets. You could possibly use the defense that all the meters were broken on a block, they do keep records. Good luck with that.

If you see you're getting a ticket don't even argue with the asshole, run, don't walk to the nearest meter and get a slip that will be close to the ticket time. You'll beat it.

Posted by: modsquad at February 21, 2010 8:12 AM in response to muni-meter parking

We're installing a holeless hydraulic elevator in a a building on Crosby St of 5 stories. It's basically a telescoping piston. The pit is about 5' deep plus a smaller pit going down another 3'. I think any deeper in that part of town we'd hit water. It is cheaper than a traction and a much smaller footprint.

Posted by: modsquad at February 20, 2010 5:01 PM in response to Are Elevator Bldngs the Devil?

Check with Isseks Brothers on Broome st. They build roof tanks and often throw the old ceder or redwood away. The good stuff they try to sell but they're happy to get rid of it at the source. I've taken enough staves to build a house over the years. Actual stave size is approx. 6" by 3" by maybe 10' or longer.

Posted by: modsquad at February 20, 2010 3:12 PM in response to Reclaimed cedar

You need to find a working meter on the block. Yes, you can use the unexpired time elsewhere.

Posted by: modsquad at February 20, 2010 3:07 PM in response to muni-meter parking

Beware of hydraulic elevators. Go for a traction, more reliable. However most new elevators are the cheaper hydraulic.

Posted by: modsquad at February 20, 2010 3:05 PM in response to Are Elevator Bldngs the Devil?

Yes, under "Illusory Sublets" bohuma is right. My apologies. My bad.

Posted by: modsquad at February 19, 2010 10:45 AM in response to Back Rent

vinca thanks for the spell check. What do I owe y?

Posted by: modsquad at February 19, 2010 10:35 AM in response to Back Rent

"I've been encouraging them for years to go to housing court and have the lease transferred to them and get the back rent damages."
bohuma, exactly which law would entitle your friends to assume the propitiatory lease in their situation? Hopefully your friends will get some real legal advice before they jump. Furthermore Housing court would have no jurisdiction (to award damages) over an illegal and defective contract between these two parties.

Posted by: modsquad at February 19, 2010 8:26 AM in response to Back Rent

https://www.getsnuggie.com/flare/next?tag=os|sm|go|tm

Turn your volume up.

Posted by: modsquad at February 18, 2010 9:39 AM in response to Heat and Tenants

So what's the temp. in their apartment? It is irrelevant what the thermostat is set at in your apartment.

Posted by: modsquad at February 18, 2010 7:15 AM in response to Heat and Tenants

I'm by no means an expert on this but I think this new concrete testing has all but killed a new elevator project we started last March. We tore out the existing elevator to find out the whole building is sitting on plinths made from rock removed during the making of Central Park. That required an amended plan of course and more down time. It has taken months to find somebody interested in doing the testing, seems to be too small for the headache involved. I believe it was possible to self certify before the new regulations?

Posted by: modsquad at February 17, 2010 7:38 PM in response to DOB Update 02/17/2010

Bite the bullet for a day or two and turn it off completely. Hopefully everybody else will start calling 311 and complaining about the lack of heat. The LL will beg you to turn it up.

Posted by: modsquad at February 17, 2010 3:34 PM in response to Heating Cost Question

They're the only option. Have you confessed to using gas for the last 2 years? Somebody must of been dunned for this account. Maybe the LL? Let him pay the past due.

Posted by: modsquad at February 16, 2010 10:21 PM in response to National Grid Gas Account

What dbs says. I don't think you'll find aluminum however, not strong enough. More likely stainless steel. The ones I've mounted have a "T" like bracket. screws above and below the shelf. You might want to wonder through the restaurant supply places on the Bowery. I had a sink made to a sketch I made on the spot at the place on the NE corner of The Bowery (183?) and Delancey, their factory is actually in Dumbo.

Posted by: modsquad at February 16, 2010 10:18 AM in response to ISO Alum. Bath Shelf (store/web)

Not to mention the PVC trap on the sink. I couldn't sleep at night.

Posted by: modsquad at February 15, 2010 9:22 PM in response to Cause of Smell?

Well yeah, you can see part of the trap for the sink remaining but the washing machine drain doesn't have one at all.

Posted by: modsquad at February 15, 2010 8:32 PM in response to Cause of Smell?

"In the winter,the sun is at the furthest from the earth in the northern hemisphere"
Not true.
on January 3, 2010, Earth reached perihelion, its closest point to the Sun.

Posted by: modsquad at February 14, 2010 7:53 PM in response to BTU/h of well insulated home

Heather, you bring a lot of rules for a game we don't even know what the ball looks like. Not to mention needing a "professional" to "guess" in the first paragraph and presuming that most of them are dishonest by the third. Good luck growing this thread.

Posted by: modsquad at February 14, 2010 5:41 PM in response to BTU/h of well insulated home

I would batten down the hatches.

Posted by: modsquad at February 12, 2010 12:12 AM in response to Major Steam/Water Issue

No. Here's a link to what safety measures are required.
http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/attygenguide.html#17

Posted by: modsquad at February 11, 2010 8:43 AM in response to Fire Escape Gate Required?

How much snow can a flat roof of a average 100y/o brownstone support?

All of it.

Posted by: modsquad at February 10, 2010 10:33 AM in response to Cleaning Snow from Flat Roof

I always "line out" the clause guaranteeing a fecal free environment.

Posted by: modsquad at February 8, 2010 7:45 PM in response to Lease Agreement Forms?

http://www.rebny.com/
The REBNY is good because they keep up on any changes in the law.

Posted by: modsquad at February 8, 2010 11:54 AM in response to Lease Agreement Forms?

turning the valve upside down should simply close the valve, the same as if you were to plug it. Should be no water or steam at all. You could also push a toothpick into the hole, that would definitely slow the air escaping if not completely close it if you feel a little worried about screwing around with the heat on a Saturday night.

Posted by: modsquad at February 6, 2010 9:51 PM in response to Loud rattling in the radiator

I'll agree to that. OP?

Posted by: modsquad at February 6, 2010 8:05 PM in response to Loud rattling in the radiator

I looked again, actually several times, and paused the video but it's a little too dark. OP! I'm beginning to think however that the problem is coming from below. An accumulation of water trying to get back to the boiler against the onrushing steam. Radiator has a hoffman valve.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://s3.pexsupply.com/images/products/zoom/401440-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pexsupply.com/Hoffman-401440-40-1-8-Angle-Steam-Radiator-Air-Valve-3517000-p&usg=__ov7SwUA_EMq_yZvbTWz3P32ZL4A=&h=500&w=500&sz=17&hl=en&start=29&sig2=0KnV4FeU61YioNh-Ae71ag&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=H9IxPdH3iah3sM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dradiator%2Bair%2Bvent%2Bvalve%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_en___US356%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1&ei=jA1uS67GI9eb8Qbb0PGKBg
Oh God! I would be tempted to replace it with the adjustable version seen on the right hand side of the above page. Play with the opening.

Posted by: modsquad at February 6, 2010 7:52 PM in response to Loud rattling in the radiator

The video shows a standard height radiator, waist level?, but only 4 sections. There's a chance that the noise is coming from below. I would be tempted to put a plug in the vent hole and see or hear if the noise is coming from somewhere else.

Posted by: modsquad at February 6, 2010 7:33 PM in response to Loud rattling in the radiator

True maxsdad, the simple solution might be to cut the size of the air vent orifice. Maybe an adjustable one you could play with during each heat cycle. Although you'll be cutting the amount of heat as well.

Posted by: modsquad at February 6, 2010 7:02 PM in response to Loud rattling in the radiator

I suspect the raised pressure has exacerbated the inefficiency of the single pipe system. The initial steam has condensed, turned to water and is unable to return easily to the boiler given there is more steam arriving, through the same pipe, at a higher pressure. The rattling, as opposed to outright banging is due to the fact that the water is at least hot. Am I wrong?

Posted by: modsquad at February 6, 2010 6:46 PM in response to Loud rattling in the radiator

First thing. Did you try turning the breaker completely off before trying to flip it on? If that doesn't work then send the cat back in.

Posted by: modsquad at February 5, 2010 11:44 AM in response to Troubleshooting a Circuit

Most pet adoption agencies require a letter from a LL permitting pet ownership. I'd add a rider to your existing lease making the owner responsible for any damage the pet causes - i.e. stained wood floors, scratched doors, etc.

Posted by: Arkady at March 15, 2010 4:31 PM in response to Tenant's Pet

If you're OK with it, why bother with a rider? Just write up a line saying that you want x dollars additional security. And that any changes require written consent from you. Keep is simple.

Posted by: cmu at March 15, 2010 4:36 PM in response to Tenant's Pet

I'd say that things were pretty simple when your lease said "no pets." Write a rider, and let your tenant know that if/when they seek to revise the lease, they're obliged to speak with you before rather than after the fact.

Posted by: vinca at March 15, 2010 5:04 PM in response to Tenant's Pet

Get teh add'l deposit. Also, you want the rider, covering noise, disturbance, etc., because in the unlikely event this turns out to be a disaster, you want to be able to show a clear breach of lease terms, and you may not be able to use the dog itself as the breach of you've acquiesced for a while.

Posted by: slopefarm at March 15, 2010 5:19 PM in response to Tenant's Pet

Rider should be simple plain English in numbered list format. If you have a lease with numbered paragraphs, just continue with the next number for the rider. Write the extra pet deposit amount on the rider if you decide to collect. Don't forget to add signature line or initials line and date for you and the tenant then sign or initial.

You can write it anyway you want I don't have mine handy, but I specify the in the rider the number of pets (to make sure it doesn't cover additional acquisitions), type of pet), that the tenant should be able to provide a vet reference and proof of vaccination, add a statement that damages caused by the pet are payable by the tenant during tenancy and can be deducted from the security deposit at end of tenancy.

Posted by: 1910 at March 15, 2010 5:20 PM in response to Tenant's Pet

the PetFinder link from Vinca looks pretty good.

Posted by: 1910 at March 15, 2010 5:24 PM in response to Tenant's Pet

^^ but do add anything else you want in your own form.

Posted by: 1910 at March 15, 2010 5:29 PM in response to Tenant's Pet

I'd say get the deposit, since clearly she has a problem with keeping her word. In this case, money is much more valuable than a rider (or her word).

Posted by: bkkel at March 15, 2010 5:43 PM in response to Tenant's Pet

You sound friendly with the tenant, but do both if possible. In my experience having something written is just as important as the money. Just getting a deposit won't specify it's not okay to get more pets, that the pet is vaccinated and is healthy, what you expect for excessive noise, that the pet won't roam the halls free, etc.

Posted by: 1910 at March 15, 2010 5:52 PM in response to Tenant's Pet

Protect yourself like they've all said above me, but also be happy that you have a tenant of three years and help nurture that relationship. You would get more damage from people moving out/in every year than a steady tenant. get the extra month security, That dog will poop and pee on rugs and hard wood floor.

Posted by: funstraw at March 15, 2010 9:25 PM in response to Tenant's Pet