myplace's Profile
- Marie Hester
- 1998
- 2008
- Brooklyn
- Park Slope
- Rental
- writer
- Female
- 38
Author's Posts
October 8, 2008
replacing bathroom fan/light
Hi,
I need to hire someone to replace our current Broan bathroom fan/light with a new Panasonic fan/light. Is this something a regular handyman could do or do I need to hire an electrician and if so, how do I find someone and about how much should it cost? Any potential problems we should troubleshoot aside from what I found in the archives?
Thanks for any tips.
August 21, 2008
rain pipe and washer drain to same place?
Just wondering if this is common...
our washer/dryer is in a small added on room off the ground floor kitchen in the back of our garden duplex. The washer drains into a pipe behind it that has another large pipe running into it too. I have discovered I can't do laundry when it rains because it looks like the 2nd pipe is the drain pipe from the roof and lots of water rushes through it when it rains. If I run the washer and it drains, it is too much water for the pipe too handle. Where does that water go? Into the sewer? The other reason I think it is the rain pipe from the roof is that is runs down along what used to be the outside of the building before the little washer room was built.
Thanks
August 11, 2008
brownstone upper duplex made into loft?
I was out walking last night and noticed an upper duplex that looked like half the fourth floor was removed to create a loft like space with an open staircase on one side. I had never seen anything like it - are there others like it? It looked cool but also a lot of vast open space. J
August 3, 2008
hauling away heavy bags
I need suggestions of a service to call to haul away five heavy construction bags filled with old cement (dust and chunks). The bags were cleared from under our stoop by a handyman who tried to pack them so that they could be hauled away by sanitation as bulk items under the 60lb max. Clearly, they are too heavy since we have left them out twice (a few bags at a time) and the sanitation workers leave them behind. I would rather not repack them as they are really dusty and messy. Any advice for someone to call (pay) to haul them away? Thank you.
July 26, 2008
patch repair of inlaid wood floors?
our inlaid floors have a few places where the wood need repairing. In our hall, for example, there is a strip where an inch of wood (or so) is missing - broken or worn away. I would like to fix it myself if possible. Where might I find more info on how to do this? It looks like other spots have been repaired over the years with wood patches.
Thanks
July 13, 2008
removing a storm window - DIY or help?
The back parlor storm windows and screens will soon be replaced. In the meantime, I want to remove the bottom storm window from one window. The top one is already missing. The bottom one won't open because the tracks are so worn out - they are loose and bend outward when I try to lift the windows. I would like to take it out myself maybe with a friend helping rather than hire someone. I am not exactly sure how to do it but I think I might need to be on the outside on a ladder. But, can I do this from inside instead? I have done DIY projects before but never dealt with storm windows. Is this a tricky project? Any tips? If I need to hire someone? The new windows will be installed by a contractor in about a month and is not available to do this. Thanks
July 11, 2008
planter advice needed
Should I be concerned that a planter will get stolen from the front of our brownstone inside the gate? I have noticed every version of planters in the neighborhood including some that are chained and tons that are not. I was thinking something on the heavy side. Any tips? Thanks.
June 20, 2008
basement duplex code for bedrooms?
Hi -
We have been looking at a lot of lower duplex apartments to buy and we have discovered that the listing only includes the bedrooms on the parlor floor and up - the basement is a "rec room" although seems to be set up to be a bedroom. When asked, brokers have told us "we can't list the lower floor as a bedroom." But, often the current owner may use the space as a bedroom or the developer has built it to be a possible bedroom. Is this because of fire codes? What constitutes a "zoned" bedroom and how can I find out more about these kinds of rules?
Thanks
June 11, 2008
removing glass shower door frame
How can I remove the metal frame of an old glass shower door from the tub without damaging the tub? The glass door is long gone, just the frame remains. It looks to be fastened to the tub and tile walls with both screws and some kind of cement-like adhesive. Thanks.
Author's Comments
Thanks very much. I think I will start with a small manageable spot and give it a try.
Posted by: myplace at July 29, 2008 8:32 PM in response to patch repair of inlaid wood floors?
I did it! It turns out that I didn't have to remove the window after all. It was still possible to push it up along its track once I got past the loose part. The latch caught once I got it most of the way up.
Posted by: myplace at July 26, 2008 10:48 PM in response to removing a storm window - DIY or help?
Thanks. I think I will start with something inexpensive and see how it goes.
Posted by: myplace at July 12, 2008 4:02 PM in response to planter advice needed
Thank you very much for the answers...that explains a lot. It seems to be an issue of light and air.
One other question. In a brownstone duplex with the first floor as the garden floor, the front window often has the bars attached to the front of the building. Is it then the case that this room should not be a bedroom since the windows could not be used as escape in the case of fire? I know the bars could be replaced with those that open, but I wonder what people who choose to keep the old style choose to do. My sense is to not use it as a bedroom.
Thanks, again.
Posted by: myplace at June 20, 2008 2:09 PM in response to basement duplex code for bedrooms?
Thank you. I am going to give it a try.
Posted by: myplace at June 12, 2008 6:33 AM in response to removing glass shower door frame
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
In a basement, at least one window must be a means of egress in the case of fire. There are a number of minimum dimensions and heights as well (like a sill height no greater than 44" off the floor). But fixed security bars would make it moot.
Posted by: Steve at June 20, 2008 2:18 PM in response to basement duplex code for bedrooms?
we are also looking at these (there are a lot around) and one concern I've had is that the apartment then won't appraise as having the "real" number of bedrooms. For example we're looking at one place being marketed as having 2.5 bedrooms but in fact only 1 is a legal one, the other two (or 1.5 or whatever) are both part of the rec room. both have big windows but the rooms are definitely at cellar level. presumably the bank appraises this as a 1 BR apt so it would be hard to get a mortgage big enough?
also is it the case that it's illegal to have a full bath down in a rec room?
thanks! and sorry for hijack but hope it is useful.
Posted by: guest at June 20, 2008 3:26 PM in response to basement duplex code for bedrooms?
full cellar bath is illegal in the rec room
Posted by: guest at June 20, 2008 4:51 PM in response to basement duplex code for bedrooms?
ok so if illegal, what happens when someone comes to appraise it? does owner (or buyer) have to take out the bath before bank will approve a mortgage? or do they just turn a blind eye?
Posted by: guest at June 20, 2008 5:13 PM in response to basement duplex code for bedrooms?
5:13 What's the address.. 21 Jump Street?
Posted by: guest at June 20, 2008 10:10 PM in response to basement duplex code for bedrooms?
Those apartments never sell for what a "regular" apartment with all bedrooms on a main floor would go for. I think that's just important to keep in mind for when you resell. Personally, I would be wary of an apartment that has too much of the square footage in the cellar level. I've seen a lot of those basement floors get flooded in these older buildings.
Posted by: seahag21 at June 21, 2008 9:56 PM in response to basement duplex code for bedrooms?
If the space is not up to code you'll run into problems with the bank and inspectors. Lots of people have bathrooms on the cellar level if there is a rec room, but my feeling is that illegal rooms are not a good buy on any level.
Posted by: guest at June 21, 2008 11:49 PM in response to basement duplex code for bedrooms?
In response to 5:41 -- You could legally put a half bathroom (sink and toilet but no shower or bath)in a cellar I believe.
Posted by: kk634000 at June 22, 2008 7:11 PM in response to basement duplex code for bedrooms?
I have a good fake plastic (inexpensive) planter on my stoop that looks like heavy terra cotta. It hasn't been stolen in 8 years. I don't think I'd ever chain it--so depressing.
Squirrels have done some damage though!
Posted by: tinarina at July 12, 2008 4:46 PM in response to planter advice needed
Not for nuthin, this kind of thing is a lot more common with Christmas decorations. A couple of years ago my girlfriend bought me four small, artificial pre-lit trees for my deck over the garage. In mid-December one of them was stolen. On January 2, I found it laying on my stoop. The thief brought it back. Go figger.
Posted by: guest at July 13, 2008 1:06 PM in response to planter advice needed
Friends of ours did a Plan B version in their place. They use the little side bedroom as an office. But, the floor feels very cramped.
Posted by: myplace at November 19, 2008 8:46 PM in response to Renovation/Resale Question