neene's Profile
- ms. crown heights reno
- 2006
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Author's Posts
November 25, 2007
systems update
or
these walls come fully loaded
for the past couple of months we have been focusing on finishing up all the systems so that we can (finally) close the walls. basically that work is now finished though finding the right person to do the heating took a while: we are not only replacing the 50 year old boiler, we are changing from a forced air system to hot water heat, this work is about to start so i'll leave that discussion to a later post.
A/C
we did take advantage of the walls being opened to install central a/c.
the units for the top 2 floors sit on the roof (back & low)
the maze of ducts: amazingly, not visible through the top floor skylights
our a/c contractor has done an incredible job of hiding the duct work.
left: the vent cut into the parlor ceiling (which is in the process of being restored)
(also visible are low voltage cans that we added at the 11th hour feeling that they were necessary to light the walls properly for paintings).
right: the duct that feeds that vent set into the closet floor; there are only two places (here in the closet and at the top of the 3rd floor stairs) where we have to build something to hide the trunks; we were able to do the whole house without dropping any ceilings.
some flexible duct work on the top floor and the unit in the basement for my studio which will have one long round exposed duct down the middle.
ELECTRIC
the electric was a huge job; with only 60 amps coming into the house we definitely need to bring in new service
this requires digging up a portion of the new cement since it is necessary to replace the wooden trough that the electric currently sits in with a metal pipe (seems reasonable). the silver lining here is that we can rethink putting some plantings along the edge of the yard where the cement has been removed.
(left: new meters, right: old)
con ed also wanted to install our new meters on the outside of the building which did not seem reasonable. i would much prefer to let them in to do readings once a month (until the digital read outs become available) than to have 2 meters hanging out in the front.
the electric in the extension wall: my studio will have a combination of lights; florescent fixtures for day to day activity and incandescent fixtures for showing work.
the jury is still out on whether or not to go low voltage here.
some of the massive mess of conduit running through the house
but what a joy to be able to flick a switch and have lights come on!!!
we went with low voltage 3" cans throughout much of the house and find the light to be very pretty.
& a big shout out to joe at lendy electric (137 bowery) for all his help and patience; great service, great prices.
some of the wiring on the parlor floor;
left: new panel
right: preparing for the wall o' appliances in the kitchen
SIDEBAR
in the snap above is a picture hanging on the (soon to be) wall,
it is a rendering of the kitchen;
a little reminder that things won't always be this way
briefly all our appliances will sit on that west wall with the exception of the oven which will be under the island.
on that same wall will be a combination of wood cabinets with horizontal hoppers in glass & metal.
we are foregoing a dining room table and building a large concrete ovoid counter to serve for both prep and dining.
(we are really excited about this so play nice, remember you don't have to live here)
LOW VOLTAGE
or "the information highway starts here"
you might ask, why all this cat 6 in the age of wireless???
i promise you, for some of the work that i do, wireless just doesn't cut it
and again; the walls are open
we still haven't finalized the headache of alarms, intercoms, etc. though i must admit, the prospect of keypads, thermostatic controls, detectors of all sorts, etc. distributed liberally throughout the house in their lovely shades of decorator plastic is beginning to wear rather thin.
November 4, 2007
beauty break
one good thing that happened over the summer was that we started restoring the plaster work on the front parlour ceiling
while there were voices discouraging us from doing so, it was something we both really wanted. (see the march 9th entry)
unfortunately by not doing it immediately, a bit more of the ceiling started to pull away, but not enough so that we considered give up on it. and even though it is costing a bit more to do the extra work, the fact that the majority of the ceiling held up to all the demolition above it, gave us the confidence to proceed.
this project is in a holding pattern right now, as we are going to wait for the floor above to be laid so as not to risk damage to any completed work during that installation
we are thrilled with the results so far
the first step was to remove any loose plaster and secure what was there:
next, all small cracks were patched and the surfaces that were down to the lath were covered with structolite over wire where needed, then the brown coat was applied
some details of the original plaster work and the repair around it
the medallion in this room (left image below) is relatively small and barely salvageable, i am not sure we are going to try to reproduce it given that there is so much going on with the border in the center of the room. the image on the right shows part of a floral border that has pulled away from the surface
i find all of this incredibly beautiful
these images show the two ways that the new decorative work is achieved
the left column shows how the crown molding is reproduced
and the right column shows how the floral patterns are recreated
left column: crown molding template
the device in the upper left image is a metal template created from the profile of the existing molding
it is just dragged across the wet plaster at the top to achieve a perfect match
the bottom image on the left shows the old and the new about to meet
right column: rubber mold
for the detailed floral designs, a rubber mold is made from an existing pattern
it is then pressed into place to create the rest of a design
i can't wait to see this finished
it looks like a fairy tale to me
October 24, 2007
saving grace
After what basically amounted to 2 (painful) months of inactivity,
we are back on track again
preparing furring strips for the new installation of the siding
we feel extremely fortunate that the person under whose umbrella said "contractor" was working
has stepped up to the plate to remedy the problems that we are facing.
we feel extremely fortunate that this person is organized, skilled and genuinely trying to help.
we have lost time and money,
he is losing money,
said "contractor" has put a sum of money in his pocket,
(or at least into his own house)
but hopefully without a company behind him,
he will not be working again anytime soon.
obviously there is more to this than can be disclosed here,
yes we had heard all the horror stories,
yes we (mistakenly) believed we were "on top" of things,
yes we were dealing with someone who has the gift of gab,
yes we had both personal (from someone in real estate)
and professional recommendations
and yes, being on the receiving end of the peter principle we got kicked in the proverbial ass.
it's true
sometimes when you are in the middle of something,
you can't see the forest for the trees
in hindsight, i believe we cut our losses just in time.
moving forward,
it is clear that when someone who is skilled takes on a job,
even one with which they had not originally signed up for
even one with which they have had no prior experience
the results can be excellent:
NB: this blog has had a policy against "naming names" (see faq #7)
before a job is completed. Given the sensitive nature of the situation and that we are not fully out of the water, i am going to uphold that.
but i would like to mention that the company that supplied the cement board: CBF really worked with us on replacing the boards that had been damaged by the previous installation
we have decided to treat this project in two sections:
rough work | finished work
once the heating system is in and we have had our rough plumbing inspection,
phase I will be complete
we are still deciding how we will procede with phase II.
October 17, 2007
bringing in new con ed service
we are bringing in new con ed service (our house currently has a grand total of 60 amps)
and were told that with 1,2 or 3 family buildings, all new service has to have the meters installed on the outside!!!
has anyone else encountered this?
October 14, 2007
the bad... and the ugly
the building of the extension was the last thing that went right
and that progress ground to a halt in late july once the roof went on.
the bad: part one
the extension has a flat roof with the slope coming from rigid insulation
which was engineered by firestone to give us drainage.
and it does drain,
some what,
but not completely
and since it will be covered by a deck
(which will greatly slow down the evaporation process)
and since we have MAJOR mosquito issues,
any ponding is an issue
the main problem here is that the grade is only 1/8" per foot
and the overlap of the roofing material running horizontally is also about 1/8",
so
the water gets trapped
also there is a low area of the roof nearest the house.
in other words, you will step straight out from the kitchen and then go up 2 steps to the main deck
this transition is because the ceiling height of the studio creates a level that is above the floor height of the parlor floor,
this isn't draining very well either
the bad: part two
how many things can go wrong with one set of doors that were custom made and took 1.5 days to hang?
let's see:
1. the active and the passive doors are reversed
2. the door knobs were not securely fastened and it seems as if the screws used didn't come with them
3. the knobs are brushed the hinges are not
4. there is supposed to be a 9" panel of wood at the bottom, it's 6"
5. there is a 1/4" gap at the top so the doors don't even connect to the gasket
6. THERE IS NO ROOM TO PUT A SILL!!!
and the ugly
this siding is a cement board that is impregnated with pigment so it does not have to be painted.
it is designed to act as a rain screen,
the boards are not fixed directly to the exterior wall
nor do they touch each other
basically the exterior waterproof sheet rock is covered with plastic sheeting,
then furring strips are mounted to which the board is afixed.
this allows any moisture that does penetrate to be shed off the waterproofing material and run into the ground, allowing the building to breath and avoiding the problems that can happen when water does penetrate and cause either cracking or mold problems.
but since this IS the exterior cladding, it needs to be installed cleanly, percisely and with care.
screws need to line up, edges need to be clean, the spacing between the boards needs to be even. the boards cannot be over tightened or the facade will be uneven
and it needs to be predilled
but our contractor treated it like sheet rock,
force drilled the screws which resulted in breaking bits,
screws driven in at an angle
and an uneven surface.
it was so bad that the neighbors thought we were going to be putting something over it
it was at this point, that it became painfully clear that this contractor did not have the same concept of "finished product" that we did
and that from here on in it would be a constant battle
suffice to say there were other areas of the job not being done correctly
and with the exception of the doors
we were expected to assume all financial responsibility for correcting them.
this coupled with the proverbial "why isn't there a full crew working on my house"
which turned into to the oft heard "my contractor has up and split for 2 weeks"
led us to the unavoidable conclusion
that we were going to have to part ways.
nb
this all came to a head mid september but since the messiness has taken some time to resolve, it's taken me this long to confront everything head on and post.
the good news is that work has started again
and we have a short term (if not final) solution.
September 30, 2007
the good: part two
building the extension: views from the inside
since the ground floor only has 8' ceilings,
one of the issues in building the studio was how to acheive the ceiling height i need (about 9' which turns quickly into 10' once you add a roof, insulation & a deck)
without creating a deck that would end up being way above the level of the parlor floor.
basically we split the difference by digging down a foot for the studio and coming up a foot for the deck.
of course, doing this opened up all sorts of concerns about building below grade and keeping the water out of the studio,
it's the reason why we added an extra row of cinderblock to the foundation.
treasures found while digging out the back
and a newspaper, used for insulation in the walls of the shed: 1897!!!
the property shark date on the house was 1901, but i had always thought it was older
all the dirt from the back had to be removed through the house,
so we took out the front window & bars and set up a ramp
i found the form that was built to hold the cement pour fascinating
it had a sculptural quality and a certain elegance
before we could open up the back,
a supporting steel beam had to be put in place to hold up the rear of the building, even though the opening is not that much bigger than the windows that were there before
cutting the studs
building the structure
clearly, i am not going to be the first person to draw in the studio
this felt-like material with a plastic webbing is designed to help water flow away from the building,
it encircles the foundation
torching the roof
i don't have a good shot of it right now,
but the back wall is primarily glass: a large sliding door and a fixed window that is creating the reflection here.
you can tell how much the work has slowed by the fact that vines have had time to start invading through the open skylight holes
September 14, 2007
the good, the bad and the ugly
the good: part one
building the studio: a flip book view
in one of my first posts (mary, mary, quite contrary) i talked about where the studio was going and why. the pictures in that post will give you a sense of what the back of the house was like when we bought it.
the back of the house 2 months ago, just before we started building:
the grape arbor and the shack are gone.
while "garden" is extremely important to me,
so is my work
thankfully our house is on a 131' lot which allowed for the option of housing the studio in an extension and still have substantial space left over for planting
(and i will garden as well on the deck that will go on top of the studio)
the view from above, 14 months ago:
the digging has started and so has the rain:
the foundation is dug:
guide lines are put in place, marking the actual boundaries of the building
the form is built to hold the cement
a layer of gravel is put down and the cement is poured:
cinder blocks are laid:
and are filled with rocks and cement for better insulation and to create more of a water barrier
in the end we add another row to what was originally called for
the inside of the wall is painted with a waterproofing material
the structure starts to take shape
and continues to grow:
and grow
the beginnings of a roof:
it's covered with tar paper, those holes will be skylights
and the tapered, rigid insulation is laid:
and then
even though the roof was left exposed to a deluge of 3" of rain
the roof is tarped in case it rains again
because it needs to be dry to put down the rubber
honestly, at this point, i would untarp it...
the rubber gets laid:
now,
it was my intention to continue this series until the skylights were in
(and maybe even the deck was on, )
but things don't always work out as planned,
stay tuned...
September 8, 2007
pause...
props and a big congrats to the folks at windsor terrace
:D
and so this seems to be part of it,
it can take many forms,
but all of a sudden things are not full speed ahead
they are slower than slow
work gets done,
it needs to get redone,
no one wants to accept responsibility for doing it...
more work gets done,
it needs to get redone,
no one wants...
you get the picture
and it's terribly frustrating
and not terribly conducive to posting
so...
i haven't
but there have been some significent changes
(though nothing completed)
and so
i am going to attempt
to bite the bullet of my dispair
and continue blogging this beast
i suppose it was a bit unrealistic
to expect that i could
in every post,
present a completed project,
all tied up with a little bow...
unrealistic
and
naive!
it's time to take off the kid gloves,
welcome to the real world of reno hell...
August 8, 2007
hot fun in the summer time
can't think of a better way to spend a heat wave than up on a roof melting rubber
but the contractor saw a window between waves of thunderstorms and went for it
or
how could i forget rule #5
and yes
it was an extreme shock to see all the old roofing material in the house
demolition is bad
roof demolition is worse
it's dark and angry and sticky and dirty
and tar is very unforgiving
warning sign:
arriving the first night after they had started
it was clear that this was not going to be pretty
but things were still relatively under control
then all hell broke loose
the master bedroom & closet
truth be told, i did not venture up to the roof during this time period
the stairs to the hatch were covered with tar
and i just couldn't face it
when i finally did go up and looked back
this was what it lay below
the 4th day of roofing
the thunderstorms forecast for every day this week have held off
it's 7:30 at night and we know we can't count on this good luck for much longer
the heat, even at this hour was stifling
these guys did an amazing job
and the next morning it poured
and the roof is perfect
and we are very relieved
the roof wasn't in the original bid; we only had some leaky skylights which we were planning on replacing
but the contractor insisted and in hindsight it is so obvious that it was the right thing to do
it's a rubber roof btw
August 3, 2007
stairway to heaven
ok, that's a bit of a stretch but they are basically level
we decided to straighten the stairs from the parlor to the 3rd floor
and right up front, i must apologize for not having taken a "before" picture
(to say nothing of not documenting the entire process)
2 excuses
first i never thought they were so bad,
i might have even found them "charming"
but they bothered g/ immensely and i'm sure he's right;
once the house is done, they would have appeared totally askew.
second, it was one of those things that happened without too much warning
all of a sudden there was a day when the regular crew wasn't going to be on the 3rd floor so it was possible for the stair guys to come in and do their thing
and that happened to be a day when i couldn't be around...
so all i have to offer are the "after" pix
the top of the stairs,
that gap gives you a good idea of how much they had to be shifted
basically the process is:
- first the panel covering the underside of the steps was removed exposing the the steps from underneath
- next the connection between the top and bottom posts was cut
- and then the connection between the top and bottom of the stairs to the floor was cut
- this left the whole stair virtually hanging off the wall
- two jacks were used, one at the top and one at the bottom, to maneuver the stairs until they were level
- The steps were reattached to the posts and floor
- and shimmed where they had pulled away from the support underneath
another image showing how big an adjustment was made
once the steps were straightened, the banister was bowing
so they had to cut it and reattach it at a higher point
the finished product in a very unfinished state
Author's Comments
i had t-mobile and didn't get reception in about 1/4 of the house
just switched to AT&T: bars everywhere
Posted by: neene at October 18, 2008 1:21 PM in response to Mobile Phone Reception in PS Brownstones
i recently used Julian Lewis, 347-232-7932, thorough and responsive.
Posted by: neene at September 7, 2008 10:13 PM in response to Cleaning Service
i would consider either silestone or caesarstone as well
interesting answer here: http://www.refurber.com/advice/1/Which-kitchen-benchtop-material-is-best/
Posted by: neene at July 5, 2008 4:11 PM in response to Kitchen Countertops
my guess is that the count of 200 was gotten by tallying the names on the sign in sheet.
don't know how long you stayed but people kept coming and signing letters until about 3;
news 12 showed up later as did Assemblyman Camara.
Posted by: neene at June 3, 2008 9:45 AM in response to Crown Heights Rally: Don't Dump On Us!
i heart your torso 2
Posted by: neene at March 13, 2008 11:51 PM in response to Basement Breakdown
yeah, what's with nemo
we found them rude
(though steven was actually better than most)
and our architect won't even go in there
try bella tile on 1st ave, got some gr8 stuff there and gr8 service
Posted by: neene at March 3, 2008 5:59 PM in response to Our experience renovating our kitchen
honestly
i just used the stuff for the first time
it got through more layers than peel away 6 in less time (the citrus stripper didn't even come close)
Posted by: neene at February 13, 2008 9:55 PM in response to Home repair made easy!
http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=332240&sid=15a4f023b9693dc836fb5e7c0d97dff7
Posted by: neene at January 9, 2008 12:24 AM in response to Smells like Bread
looks beautiful
thanks for the RB Wyatt tip
Posted by: neene at November 28, 2007 10:47 AM in response to Bath Reno #6: Modern in Carroll Gardens
here's the one that got ruled out
http://www.siedleusa.com/
but if you have to have these things on your walls, they are purty
Posted by: neene at November 28, 2007 10:22 AM in response to The scream and scramble method is not working
does anyone have a phone system with a card for the intercom? we are thinking about this as a solution; the one intercom system we priced that actually looked decent was way over the top expensive
Posted by: neene at November 27, 2007 11:09 PM in response to The scream and scramble method is not working
honestly, i am out of my league here...
as much as we have tried to educate ourselves, at some point you have to just rely on the people you have hired...
so i'll keep my fingers crossed
and hope this information is good for the next guy.
which, after all,
is what this reno blogging is all about.
Posted by: neene at November 27, 2007 10:59 PM in response to systems update
honestly i don't think it looks that awful.
For me, the proliferation of satellite dishes (in use and abandoned) and the assortment of dangling wires down fronts of buildings is far more of an eyesore, but to each his own.
you do raise an interesting point re: the ducts being exposed like that and i will bring it up with our a/c contracor, thank you.
Posted by: neene at November 27, 2007 3:13 PM in response to systems update
nice solution
(and i happen to dig that wall color)
re: a/c, i am not going to post it on my bolog until we are done (see faq #7: http://www.brownstoner.com/crownheights_reno/2006/10/post.html#6 ) but here's the info: Cadco Mechanical/Bobby Wu/718-251-4003
Posted by: neene at November 26, 2007 8:09 PM in response to Moving the mirror.
@ all my guests
honestly, the hvac decision was the most difficult one of the whole renovation and we looked at everything.
i personally don't like the split system units, they make me feel like i am in a hotel and we couldn't figure out a way to hide them where we wouldn't "see" them. after much research mini ducts seemed like a good solution if you didn't have the walls open, but since we did (and could duct without disturbing our overall plan) why go that route? from what i understand it's more expensive and you need someone very familiar with the installation procedure or they can be very noisy. on top of that, since the air is pushed through them at a higher velocity they create more of a "blowing air" feeling in a room, which i can't stand (hence the decision to remove the forced air system, but more on that later).
i am not sure what the break out cost of the increased ampage was from the entire electric package (& see faq #8: http://www.brownstoner.com/crownheights_reno/2006/10/post.html#7 )
as far as A/C on the roof in a historic district, my understanding is it's fine if it can't be seen from the street, but you might want to check that.
@ guest 6:27: you are right, those holes should have been in the center and probably spaced a further apart, grrrrrrrrr!
aloha guest 6:17: guess who isn't coming to dinner, ;p
Posted by: neene at November 26, 2007 7:56 PM in response to systems update
wow
i'm impressed
-ms. crown heights reno
Posted by: neene at November 25, 2007 11:09 PM in response to The Devil is in the details
if you frame with wood, you can get screws that are powder coated in the same color as the board (the boards don't come predrilled, btw but they need to be)
it is cement board, hopefully it holds up, hopefully we won't have rock throwing neighbors but since the board used in this manner acts as a weather screen not a barrier, a crack shouldn't compromise it.
Posted by: neene at November 25, 2007 9:55 AM in response to saving grace
Atlantic Contracting
http://www.brownstoner.com/crownheights_reno/2006/12/a_job_well_done.html
ask for Jimmy
Posted by: neene at November 20, 2007 10:56 PM in response to recommend a sidewalk guy?
it's stunning
Posted by: neene at November 12, 2007 10:10 AM in response to bathroom divsion: uncover/discover
wow
i couldn't imagine it, but it looks gorgeous
-ms. crown heights reno
Posted by: neene at November 7, 2007 8:13 PM in response to bathroom division: serious black
no
lol
this is not a DIY
(though i briefly considered it)
@ tomgee: i know that there are 2 different materials used to make the mold, one way more expensive than the other but it sets very quickly, i don't know which was used and as i said the work is on hold till the floors go in so i can't ask
@ rehab & homesweetstuy: since we are about to close up and do the floors i am going to hold off on the name until this job is finished, we are so far behind that i (selfishly) don't want to put anyone else's project between us and getting ours done
Posted by: neene at November 6, 2007 7:41 AM in response to beauty break
yes interested
same questions as above
thx
-ms crown heights reno
Posted by: neene at November 5, 2007 4:37 PM in response to Extra Subway Tile!!!!
we looked for 8 mos and saw over 75 houses
we also bid on one of the first houses we saw (in hindsight i say: thank god we didn't get it)
by the time we saw "our" house, i felt we understood the market and knew what we were paying for: how much for condition, location, space, sun, etc. and 18 mos. (and a trying, ongoing renovation) later i still can stand by that decision.
don't get discouraged
but
imho
look at EVERYTHING
things you can't afford,
things you KNOW won't work
(i went to an open house in the pouring rain to see something 13' wide even though i knew i could never make a studio work in such a space)
then
when you see "it"
you will know
-ms crown heights reno
Posted by: neene at November 3, 2007 11:06 PM in response to How long did it take you to find the right house?
we chose to put in recessed as well
and tonite,
for the first time,
some of them were on
(still waiting for new power to be brought in)
and i agree
the light from them is lovely
Posted by: neene at November 3, 2007 11:05 PM in response to Let there be light!
i fall in the painted wood camp, dark wood moldings are too formal for us. we will be stripping all of ours before painting to get rid of layer upon layer of bad paint jobs.
so while i agree with guest 5:03, guest 4:11 makes a good point as well
-ms. crown heights reno
Posted by: neene at October 26, 2007 5:17 PM in response to I'm a little sad
we were given access
we will restore everything to its former state
Posted by: neene at October 24, 2007 7:22 PM in response to saving grace
@ guest 12:40
no, the problem is that we paid for things that we didn't get
but thanks for your insightful comment
Posted by: neene at October 24, 2007 2:21 PM in response to the bad... and the ugly
the architect had submitted detailed drawings for the installation and was available to answer questions. he was out of town when the siding started going up and unfortunately, for once, we were not as present as we could have been (having been "scolded" by said "contractor" for micro-managing)
when after 2 days of installation, with one wall complete, the flaws in the job became obvious we stopped the work.
when we all reassembled the architect was proactive in finding solutions to correct the situation. unfortunately (or fortunately) said "contractor" refused to rectify the situation saying that it was a material he was unfamiliar with and therefore could not guarantee it.
we found someone else who had installed the product locally and we all met together. the architect went back to the drawing board and produced more plans for a new installation and when we commenced work again he was available for many on site visits to insure things were proceeding properly.
we do feel feel that the material that was speced was problematic and that this caused a loss of time and money, but we are happy with the end result and feel the architect took responsibility for a portion of this by giving his time to insure it was redone correctly.
Posted by: neene at October 24, 2007 11:53 AM in response to saving grace
i love looking at the interior of your house, it is so similar to ours and it gives me hope that one day, we too will have walls that need paint.
looking good
-ms. crown heights reno
Posted by: neene at October 20, 2007 12:53 PM in response to the first coat (bathroom division)
instead of answering everything here,
i will do a follow up post in the next day or so
thanks for all the responses
it took me a while to face up to posting this
and now i am glad that i did
Posted by: neene at October 17, 2007 10:37 AM in response to the bad... and the ugly
omg
your post comes just in time
we are about to start stripping ourselves
-ms. crown heights reno
Posted by: neene at October 16, 2007 11:50 PM in response to It wouldn't be a reno blog if.......
i so heart nemo
and tile blows my mind
after much agonizing and many trips
i think we've finalized our choices
as well
i love that green tile
Posted by: neene at October 15, 2007 12:07 AM in response to Tile
paint
:)
my favorite part
(we will be stripping and {gasp} repainting too)
Posted by: neene at October 14, 2007 11:13 PM in response to color selection (bathroom division)
is a good resource for finding a concrete fabricator:
http://www.concretenetwork.com/contractors/countertopsandelements/newyork/NewYorkCity-WestchesterCounty/
Posted by: neene at October 14, 2007 6:17 PM in response to Concrete Counters & Sinks
i believe it is actually asphalt
is that illegal?
Posted by: neene at October 2, 2007 11:08 PM in response to the good: part two
if you have a south facing house (and thus a north garden) your house will cast its shadow in your garden, depending on whether you want a shady or a sunny garden, that can be bad or good. Most people who want to grow stuff want a south garden, and from my experience, there tend to be less of them on the market. For a while we looked at very few north (or east) garden houses, but the extra long lots in ph & ch give north gardens a leg up in this area since there is considerably more space not shaded by the house (and obviously a 4 story house will have more impact on the situation than a 3)
Posted by: neene at October 2, 2007 11:01 PM in response to South Facing Brownstones
Ronald Rosser
Zodiac Exterminator
718-443-7341
Posted by: neene at September 27, 2007 10:11 PM in response to Only the Dead Roaches Know Brooklyn
about a month
Posted by: neene at September 24, 2007 5:45 PM in response to the good, the bad and the ugly
welcome
(misery loves company)
&
love those doors
-ms.crownheights reno
Posted by: neene at September 23, 2007 1:40 PM in response to Blog or Greek Epic?
just for the record,
we are no where close to maximizing our FAR
and yes, i appreciate as well the privacy that come from an extensionl, there is already a 3 story extension two houses down which affords us some privacy, though it does block some of the light from the east, which actually makes our 1 story extension hardly a f***u at all (there are no side windows)
the original house is about 40', the extension is about 30' (replacing a small 10' build out) and the lot is 131', there will be a deck inside the skylights and a circular stair going down to the garden.
as far as price, it's a little hard to tell you as we had to do the excavation by hand and ours is considerably larger than what you are proposing...
Posted by: neene at September 15, 2007 2:00 PM in response to the good, the bad and the ugly
your assumption is correct
it was a due to a death and long term retirement plans, the house was on the market before our plans were made.
btw i left my home and studio of 25 years because a building was going up that would totally block my light so i am not insensitive to the issue.
and no,
i don't have the attitude that since it "happened to me", i have the right to "do it to someone else",
because, the reality is, i don't feel anyone "did anything to me"
it's just part of the growth of the city and living in close proximity to so many people; chances are greater that your neighbor's decisions at some point just might have a negative impact on your life.
but i wish you were my neighbor because i know you would never do anything that could ever be construed as inconsiderate.
Posted by: neene at September 14, 2007 6:48 PM in response to Picking Up Steam On The Renovation Blogs
actually, we have a north garden and the only sun the extension might block is from the east in the morning. however, since a 3 story extension to the right already blocks much of that light, our extension actually has had very little impact.
that not withstanding, i do recognize this represents a huge change for my neighbors, we are fortunate that they have been super understanding (and one is selling so the new people will be buying with it already in place.)
Posted by: neene at September 14, 2007 12:58 PM in response to Picking Up Steam On The Renovation Blogs
if you are out there and load the truck yourself, you can get away with a lot.
tip: (ok, maybe not so pc but it works)
have a girl who can lift with you & they might even help. in my experience (ups, sanitation, sidewalk deliveries) guys who take pride in physical prowess don't like it when us gals make it seem too easy, all of a sudden they are on the job getting it done twice as fast.
(sorry if i've stepped on any toes)
-ms. crown heights reno
Posted by: neene at September 12, 2007 11:31 PM in response to Is there a public dump/landfill around here?
honestly
i haven't yet opened ours at all,
but i believe they do just basically vent
that's the roof hatch that you see open
Posted by: neene at September 7, 2007 11:31 PM in response to hot fun in the summer time
i am interested in the sink
how do i contact you
Posted by: neene at August 29, 2007 8:43 PM in response to various apt fixtures avail - clawfoot tub, double sink, welbilt stove
we are using Fitzroy now as well
he is extremely professional, his workers are very considerate and neat, the job they are doing seems top notch, if it finishes the way it has started i would say A+.
(we are not under a time constraint so i can't speak to that)
-ms. crown heights reno
Posted by: neene at August 29, 2007 8:41 PM in response to PLASTER REPAIR
@ guest: please see FAQ #7 (http://www.brownstoner.com/crownheights_reno/2006/10/post.html)
unfortunately "the end" does not appear to be in sight
Posted by: neene at August 24, 2007 3:14 PM in response to hot fun in the summer time
i feel your pain
(and i believe guest is correct, though it's not only a question of regularity, just one of optimal health)
personally, i prefer an "honest toilet";
not one that speaks of "design"
with one caveat
when it comes to a cat pan
and all that sand/cedar/whatever flying around
a skirted commode becomes a plus
we went elongated but standard (not chair) height
(in all honesty the "toilet" discussion has become a running joke between g/ & contractor in our reno)
-ms. crown heights reno
Posted by: neene at August 17, 2007 10:08 PM in response to Battle of the Bowls
we were taking a similar approach to our reno and a modified version of this seems to be working (mainly because we have a very flexible contractor) but some of the things we thought we were going to subcontract ourselves (roof, floor refinishing, painting) were nixed by both architect & contractor. we did take care of the basement demo, dig out, floor pour, sidewalk & stair straightening and will handle the plaster restoration, facade work & exterior ironwork. there are a couple of "refinishing" areas that we will also take on (1 bedroom, the bannisters, the foyer) but i am questioning the logic behind doing this with respect to efficiency. we are however purchasing all flooring & appliances.
in hindsight i feel we were over ambitious in the beginning, thankfully we haven't had any major mishaps
proceed with caution...
-ms. crownheights reno
Posted by: neene at August 17, 2007 5:14 PM in response to Does GC need to do everything in a gut rehab?
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
Amp156-thanks for taking the time to share your experiences--its all extremely useful.
Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at March 4, 2008 11:11 PM in response to Our experience renovating our kitchen
my sister in law has the "Gut Man" toy for her kids and all the kids young and old love it. it's always a good picture when a baby puts a brain in their mouth. anyway, if anyone is interested in buying one:
http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/ShowItem.aspx?productID=7221
Posted by: guest at March 14, 2008 6:10 AM in response to Basement Breakdown
hi
I am scared of my basement too. We ONLY go down a few times a year to turn on the boiler - or light pilot light again if it goes out and bleed the system of water!!!
from what I understand - it's a typical old basement. We too have rotting support wooden beams and I was told to replace them with steel ones. (ok will do once I get my tax rebate check - haha)
and while it's dusty, crumbly, and hot as hell - I beleive it's doing the job
like you said you did - give it a good cleaning - and maybe try to find someone to help
call eagle contractors in sunset park - I had him come in to look at my rotting beams and he was very helpful and reasonably priced!
Posted by: guest at March 14, 2008 9:28 AM in response to Basement Breakdown
Your boyfriend is cute...
Posted by: guest at March 14, 2008 11:38 AM in response to Basement Breakdown
damn straight. :)
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at March 15, 2008 9:32 AM in response to Basement Breakdown
Just curious - why isn't your boyfriend rolling up his shirtsleeves and helping you out with this daunting task? Geez, he's got his hands in his pockets in the photo!
The torso is awesome.
Regarding the mask: You might consider a high quality mask that has replaceable cartridges. The surgical and dusk mask types do very little to protect your respiratory system; sounds like maybe that's what you've been using. Drink lots of water too.
Posted by: guest at March 15, 2008 7:00 PM in response to Basement Breakdown
Oh dont worry, he was VERY helpful. That pic was done while the boiler was being replaced and there was no room for anyone to do anything except stand there. :)
Posted by: LilHouseNBklyn at March 17, 2008 5:15 PM in response to Basement Breakdown
Amp-156: Your descriptions are great. A few questions... you said you love your fridge. I think my husband and I were looking at that one, but it didn't have an automatic defrost. Do you find that to be a problem? Also, I would LOVE to see pics of your place if you could put pics up somewhere. I am thinking about contacting your contractor, but I would like to see some of his work first if you are willing to share. Thanks for all the info!!!
Posted by: Simone at April 9, 2008 10:55 PM in response to Our experience renovating our kitchen
International Stone:Worst Experience Ever
I dont recommend using International Stone on Myrtle and Spencer. I ordered tile from them and requested a sample from the Lot my tile would come from. They showed me a sample and I approved. I was not home when the tile was delivered and installed by the tile installer. When I came home I was shocked to see a totally different tile than I ordered. They switched and gave me a tile from a different lot and of such poor quality. Then the installer wanted $700 to take up wrong tile and reinstall. International Stone, which sells mostly to Williamsburg developers and renters, who like gaudy tile and architecture, tried to say the tile installed was not that different. Plus, I ordered tile during Passover and asked if it would be a problem to get delivery and service. They said No problem. Once they got my money for the tile (they demand payment in full up front), they would not answer the phone for a week. That's my experience.
Posted by: Oldlady at July 11, 2008 3:12 PM in response to Our experience renovating our kitchen
Hi there.
My name is Dennis Ketcham and I am the owner of a new natural and organic cleaning company. I just added "post construction cleanup" to my list of services offered. My vaccuums are hepa filtrated to remove the harmful dust left behind by the work performed and all of my products are natural and organic; healthier, better for the environment and much more fragrant than traditional cleaning products. I'd appreciate any opportunities available. My e mail is dennis@bkdesignshop.com
Thanks
Dennis Ketcham
646 924 5469
Posted by: bkdesignshop at September 8, 2008 4:46 PM in response to Cleaning Service
As an active member of Crow Hill Community Association I have come across many versions of how Crow Hill got its name from the aforementioned premise that Crow Hill was really part of Weeksville to the theory that all of Crown Heights was once called Crow Hill and the switch in names was to make the real estate more appealing.
Other sources cite:
from http://brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=469096&highlight=#469096:
In 1877, the Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island Railway was incorporated, opening the next year in 1878. It originally ran from the Prospect Park entrance at Flatbush and Ocean Avenues south to the Brighton Beach Hotel, built near the water's edge. The BF&CI wanted to find a way to get its trains closer to downtown Brooklyn. Since a route through Prospect Park was impossible in this pre-subway era, it was decided to build a tremch through the hill at Crown Heights (then known as Crow Hill) and run the line below grade, connecting with the Long Island Rail Road tracks at Atlantic Avenue.
from http://www.schwarzgallery.com/index.php?page=painting&modifier=detail&painting=1046:
Crow Hill was formerly a district in northeast Brooklyn that extended from the hills east of Prospect Park to East New York. According to tradition, it was named after the largest hill in the area, which was infested with crows. An article published in the Brooklyn Eagle in 1873, however, speculated that the area was named for a settlement established during the 1830s by blacks who were then colloquially known as “crows.”1 These impoverished people lived in shanties on Crow Hill, and worked in Manhattan’s meat and fish markets. In 1846 the Kings County Penitentiary was built on top of the hill, and it may be the large structure visible at the far right of Crow Hill. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts owns six of Fussell’s views of Crow Hill, four of which represent dilapidated but picturesque shanties similar to the one in Crow Hill, Shantytown. The neighborhood was gentrified during the early twentieth century and renamed Crown Heights.
from http://www.bklyn-genealogy-info.com/Town/TheNeighborhood.html:
CROWN HEIGHTS: Formerly called Crow Hill, and was the site of a prison. It was a quiet, sparsely populated settlement in the original Dutch town of Breukelen. Once home to Ebbet's Field, Brooklyn Dodgers from 1912 through 1957. Crow Hill was its pre-prohibition name. When it was Dutch farmland, it was believed to have been called Crow Hill after its tallest hill, whose trees were always filled with crows. Then again that name could have come from the mid-1800’s when there were African and African American settlements there, and the whites called them ‘crows’. A third story has it that the ‘crows’ were inmates in the Kings County Penitentiary that was there from 1846 to 1907.
from http://www.brooklyn.net/neighborhoods/crown_heights.html:
From the (1939) WPA Guide to New York City:
Crown Heights, for the most part a lower middle-class residential area, lies on both sides of the ridge of Eastern Parkway. The section was known as Crow Hill until 1916, when Crown Street was cut through.
Of course as part of our LPC application process we will endeavor to come up with the closest historically based version of how Crow Hill got it's name.
and yes, our official boundaries are between Franklin & Bedford, however our landmarking effort is extending out both to Classon and Rogers to encompass the entire area suggested to CB8 as per the map on our website: http://www.crowhillcommunity.org/landmarks.shtml
Posted by: neene at November 18, 2008 11:26 PM in response to Tonight: Crow Hill Reaching for Landmark Status