pacJ's Profile
Author's Posts
June 1, 2009
Rats under the sidewalk?
Hello all
A bluestone panel of the sidewalk in front of our house appears to have a progressive problem with the earth beneath it disappearing (or apparently so). The grout between this panel and those adjacent to it is also developing holes. I put a lot of sand into the hole, and it doesn't help for very long. My neighbor experienced the same thing and she was informed that rats were the culprit. They lifted the panel and put in concrete and ground glass and that solved the problem. Does this sound reasonable to anyone? Does anyone know what the composite of glass and concrete is called and where I could find some?
Thanks in advance for any insights...
March 26, 2009
Cost of sidewalk repair?
We need to level the bluestone sidewalk in front of our house. I've gotten estimates that range from $7000 to $2000. The latter seems more appropriate, but I'm totally ignorant of what this sort of thing costs. All that's required is to lift the panels, add some gravel, and raise the curb a bit. Any ideas about the right ball park?
February 12, 2009
A-LB Kitchen Cabinet and Stone
Anyone know anything about this company? I'm redoing my kitchen, and they were recommended.
February 5, 2009
Is my hot water heater dying?
Two things: first, a brownish particulate accumulates in the screen of the showerhead. I have to clean it every couple of weeks; second, last night, we ran out of hot water, and the cold water that came out at the end left a reddish residue on the floor of the shower. Is this as ominous as it sounds? What does a new one cost (large enough for a family of 3 in the upper duplex of a 4 story brownstone)? Thanks for any insight
December 30, 2008
Kitchen Designer
My kitchen, all 100 square feet of it, is in dire need of renovation.
As a first step, I want to find a designer to help me figure out how
to efficiently utilize the space; it is currently not very well
designed. Does anyone have a name for me?
Thanks
Author's Comments
The exclamation point regarding 416 Pacific is included b/c it appears the place has been gutted; no pipes, electrical wiring, some broken windows (pigeons now live in there)
Posted by: pacJ at June 26, 2009 3:09 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later
anyone know anything about the foreclosed house being sold by Brown Harris Stevens at 416 Pacific St.? They're still listing it for $1,995,000!
Posted by: pacJ at June 26, 2009 3:07 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later
Y lighting for sure. Lighting by Gregory was a nightmare for me: poor communication, 4 weeks late with the delivery, etc...Y lighting was prompt, free shipping most of the time, and extremely professional.
Posted by: pacJ at May 21, 2009 11:50 AM in response to Lighting
is it true that this debacle was initiated in 2004?
Posted by: pacJ at May 6, 2009 2:56 PM in response to Development Watch: 93 Nevins More Fully Revealed
Whatever that material is, it's better looking than the garish signage that's been on that corner for the last three years (at least). I am so f--ing sick of seeing that damned sign, it makes me ill. Take it down already! This eyesore has been there far too long.
Posted by: pacJ at May 6, 2009 2:42 PM in response to Development Watch: 93 Nevins More Fully Revealed
Thanks, Sam. I wasn't clear. The curb and a couple of adjacent bluestone panels are sagging due to erosion underneath.
Anyway, thanks for the input.
Posted by: pacJ at March 27, 2009 5:08 PM in response to Cost of sidewalk repair?
I'd rather see this place than starbucks or something, but it's hard to see why it's worth putting up with the bad service and mediocre everything else.
Posted by: pacJ at January 12, 2009 2:15 PM in response to Streetlevel: Flyer Saucer Cafe Grounded
Chat 'n chew, chew and chat...could there be names that are more inane?
Posted by: pacJ at December 12, 2008 2:36 PM in response to Streetlevel: Chewing and Chatting in Bushwick
I must agree with Boerum Hill. I walk by there every day too. There's rarely any activity in that place.
Posted by: pacJ at November 25, 2008 5:43 PM in response to Development Watch: Progress at the Health House
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
Highly recommend Paul Pisanelli of New York Vintage Lighting + Paul's Lighting and Antiques Has experience with doing many brownstones in Hoboken NJ and smaller jobs in Manhattan. Does total lighting coordination or just one piece. Ceiling Fixtures, Wall Sconces, Floor Lamps, Tourchieres, Desk Lamps...the gammit, he does it. Forget those catalog places......you'll only run into your neighbor's lights. 212.873.1635. He can speak to you about your needs and start sending you pics. All his customers rave about him. Try him out - he's way reasonable & will come to you
Posted by: monti at August 21, 2009 8:50 PM in response to Lighting
I don't live in Brooklyn, nor do I own a brownstone, however, I have bluestone sidewalks and just got a quote to do some significant repair, so I thought I'd share the info.
I have a main (parallel to the street) sidewalk that extends about 225 feet (told you I didn't own a brownstone). The walk is made of 4 foot wide stones varying in length from 3 to nearly 6 feet, about 2.5 inches thick.
I need to have 39 linear feet pulled up and replaced due to fracturing. The contractor has old stone slabs they salvaged from sidewalks they had to pull up and replace with concrete and had the good sense to keep the stone. So, the stone cost is less than one might expect for such big slabs - $6.50 per sqft. Their charge for labor is $9.00 per sqft, which includes pulling up the old, preparing the surface, setting the stones and discarding the debris (nominal disposal fee).
$15.50 per sqft "all in" is competive with prices I've seen for setting 1x2 pavers 1 inch thick, so I've got a good deal here, but I think that's primarily due to the material costs for salvaged stones.
I live in Swarthmore PA - a suburb just west of Philly.
Posted by: CDarrell at November 6, 2009 4:03 PM in response to Cost of sidewalk repair?
pacJ wrote a review about Apartment 138 on October 13, 2009 2:22 PM
I sit at the bar and eat here pretty often. The service is excellent, the music is good, and the food is highly reliable. I love this place.