We had a few companies out to give quotes. We went with Windows We Are, which picked up on some trouble points that other companies missed, gave us a very competitive quote, and were completely professional all the way through the process. You'll see them recommended a few places here, and there's a reason.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at August 10, 2009 10:48 PM in response to Windows

Keep pulling. luckily, lambsquarter is a really easy weed to pull out -- it just is everywhere and grows fast, so it seems like you're not getting rid of it. Weeding is part of gardening. The good news is that the best way to keep weeds down is to have other things in their place, so as your garden develops and matures, it will be less work. Don't wait for the weeds to go away before you start planting.

When I was new at this (and that was three years ago, so I'm still new at this, just not as new), I read somewhere that a weed is just "the right plant in the wrong place". That's helped me keep weed hysteria under control. Good luck!

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at August 9, 2009 11:25 PM in response to Weed Identification

I live about three blocks away, but had no idea there was a clinic there. Between 3rd and 4th I'd be more concerned about noise/pollution from the BQE, but in general I think you'll find that it's a really great neighborhood and the location there is pretty darn ideal.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at July 2, 2009 8:24 AM in response to Living on block w/ Abortion Ctr

47th b/w 5&6 is one of my favorite blocks in the whole hood. That's nice there!

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at June 21, 2009 1:45 AM in response to Neighbor Building a Monstrosity

How do you build an open staircase with less than a 4" gap between risers, unless you are using stair treads that are 3" thick (presuming a 7" step). ???

Denton?

(PS: I think you won an O'Douls. I'm preggers).

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at June 13, 2009 11:30 PM in response to RE: Open tread stairs and cable

Will someone explain the 4 inch rule to me? I'm confused about where the spacing has to be less than 4 inches. And can anyone point me to the rules about railings? I want to win a bet with my husband, who doesn't believe that a staircase in a residential home has to have a railing at all.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at June 12, 2009 11:35 PM in response to Open tread stairs and cable side

Maybe you don't want to pay the prices at the Red Hook places, but is the hassle you'll have to go to to get other sources worth it? My favorite down there (by far) is Gowanus Nursery. They have a huge selection of shade perennials, and not the same stuff you see everywhere, which is nice. Best, they know brooklyn and what grows here.

Sometimes if I'm looking for "filler" annuals for the stoop or whatever I'll go to that place on Fort Hamilton (Shannon's) or some of the other cheaper garden places, and I always get so bored with the offerings. The annuals for the most part are the ho-hum flat after flat of impatiens, and the perennials are same old, same old, same old. How many hostas does Brooklyn need?

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at May 3, 2009 7:49 PM in response to Perennials

Want to add my voice to those who had lots of plants die this year. It was an awful winter for plants. Off the top of my head, I can think of twice when it warmed slightly, rained buckets, and then went to deep freeze within 24 hours. Ouch. It's heartbreaking to lose a plant, especially one you really care for. But finding someone to blame isn't always the best way forward. It's spring. You've still got the planters. Maybe find something a bit easier to grow if you're new to container gardening?

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at April 13, 2009 12:07 AM in response to My Plants Are Dead

My husband takes our dog to a place like that in Red Hook. A few years ago he got an off-leash violation, and he challenged it. He made his case to the judge (fenced in area, always picks up after the dog, etc) and the case was dismissed. No guarantee your judge would be as sympathetic, but I'm just saying.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at December 20, 2008 9:36 AM in response to Effin' parkies (SS dog owners beware)

It absolutely kills me when people shop at bargain basement discount big boxes or their equivalents and then complain when they get crappy service. Hello. That's why it's bargain basement.

If they actually paid their staff a living wage, then you you wouldn't be getting 'rock bottom' prices, would you.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at September 1, 2008 2:39 PM in response to Lumber Liquidators

It absolutely kills me when people shop at bargain basement discount big boxes or their equivalents and then complain when they get crappy service. Hello. That's why it's bargain basement.

If they actually paid their staff a living wage, then you you wouldn't be getting 'rock bottom' prices, would you.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at September 1, 2008 2:39 PM in response to Lumber Liquidators

Just echoing the question: are you sure it's lead paint? From what I can see you just noticed that there was peeling paint, but did you get any of it tested? It may not be, especially in W'burg. Maybe this is just anecdotal, but we had our house tested due to impending infant arrival, and were shocked to find that there was no lead paint at all -- this a 1902 row house, with many layers of paint. According to the guy who did the testing, the lead paint was the expensive stuff so wasn't as widely used in areas that weren't so fancy (Sunset Park, our particular case).

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at June 29, 2008 8:48 AM in response to Just signed lease on apt. w/ lead paint... I'm pregnant.

What Rick said. Signed: going on 4 years and happy so far.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at June 27, 2008 1:03 AM in response to The last straw in Sunset Park

In response to 9:43, I would say this: I'm the same way -- I hate being cold, I hate when there are drafts in the bathroom, and I was convinced I would be freezing with this arrangement. And no manner of persuasion convinced me that the open shower wouldn't leave me freezing, hence the electric heater we installed.

The one thing I didn't expect with our open shower is that the cold is actually less of an issue than the bathtub/shower curtain arrangement we had before. Maybe because the temperature equalizes throughout the bathroom? I still get irate when my husband leaves the door open, but I was actually very, very surprised by how comfortable I am in our open shower.

9:43 does make a good point that your significant other is unlikely to be convinced by people on the internet, and a backup plan can't hurt.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at June 10, 2008 12:07 PM in response to open shower or a door that closes?

We have a totally open shower; although we meant to have one side glassed off, we haven't gotten around to it (like so many things). It's been like this since November, and we don't get cold. We installed an electric heater in the bathroom because I was sure we'd get cold but it really wasn't that necessary, even in the deadest of winter (there's no other heat in that room, although it is an interior room). The water gets warm and the bathroom steams up and it's fine. Middle pic here is still pretty much how it is: http://bklyngardenhopeful.blogspot.com/2007/11/tiling-progress.html (That was when the tiling was done, I don't think we'd even cleaned yet. And for the record, the blue sparkly toilet seat was temporary (roll eyes)).

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at June 9, 2008 10:10 PM in response to open shower or a door that closes?

gowanasaurus: all three of the vines I've got going on (honeysuckle, quinata akebia, and clematis), as well as a couple of the weedy vines (a morning glory and another one that gives off tons of annoying red berries), happily survive our brooklyn winters.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at May 17, 2008 9:40 PM in response to dressing up chain link?

Hate our chain link too, but it does let through lots of light that helps plants grow! Plant the vines right next to the fence and up they go.

I planted a bunch of different vines to help hide it: honeysuckle took off fast and climbs right to the top. People will tell you it can be invasive so choose the variety carefully and plant from the rear corner. A neighbor gave me a pod of something I think called quinata, which has five leaves. It didn't do much the first year, but came back fantastically on second year growth early in the spring and is now doing great on the fence. Clematis, which several people recommended, was the worst performer. It is pretty, but it just doesn't cover the fence very well, and now it's in its third year and still wimpy compared to the others.

There are also useful tall annuals that help hide the fence. Amaranth is red and looks amazing, grew fast, and did great last year. It self seeds, and I see little sproutlets coming up now. This year I'm also planting giant sunflowers. Hollyhocks will work too, although the ones we got the first year died from rust so I'm a bit scared off. There are a lot of options out there to cover the chain link without having to resort to garland or those awful vinyl inserts.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at May 17, 2008 9:08 AM in response to dressing up chain link?

Did you have any luck with Total Tool?
I've got to amend our backyard too, and so I"m looking to find a tilling solution.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at April 11, 2008 7:39 PM in response to Ready to till my yard

We had one in our backyard -- standard type, it was about 6 feet tall, but big and heavy. I thought it would be a major pain to get rid of, but it wasn't -- like an earlier poster, we started to dig a little around the cement, and then after a very short time it was possible to rock back and forth. Eventually the whole darn thing just toppled and came out, including the cement plug.

Granted, that sounds like it probably wasn't installed very professionally (this was a couple years ago, but my recollection is that the cement plug itself was only a couple feet deep (definitely not 3.5), but still, that may be the case for you too.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at March 20, 2008 10:53 PM in response to Clothesline Pole

The panasonic whisper fans are so quiet it's criminal. You can barely tell ours is on when it's on. And it works GREAT. Our bathroom mirror doesn't even fog up when it's on.

We did have to special order ours, but it wasn't a long wait, and it was well worth it. We got it from that lighting store on Court street in Cobble Hill.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at February 8, 2008 11:22 PM in response to Very Quiet Bathroom exhaust fan with Light

After much toing and fro-ing, we went with Charlie, who was recommended by Mondial (which is where we got our tile). Bathroom. We had lots of glass tile and weird corners and hadn't thought out some areas -- he really helped problem solve as well as do a great job. When we weren't happy with one part (my husband is very picky), they came back and took it out and redid it without complaining.

And there is something about Charlie's manner which is very soothing. FWIW.

Sorry I don't have his phone number. If you email me at johanna at verizon dot net I can send you pictures (don't know how to publish them here).

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at January 18, 2008 10:24 PM in response to Can You Recommend a Tiler?

Ha! The CHARD!
We signed up when we first moved to Sunset Park. Even the small box was way too many vegetables, but I stopped freaking out about it and just brought the excess to coworkers and gave them away. Spreading the vegetable cheer. But there was so much of the "eh" stuff (chard, carrots). When we signed up it was winter, so I said, hey let's just wait until all that summer good stuff comes. But then the "summer good stuff" would be one very bruised tomato (and a whole lot of chard and carrots), and for fruit one peach. That was irritating. I wanted summer fruit. Not more chard!

Fairway. Best thing ever.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at January 8, 2008 12:11 AM in response to Urban Organic - Yay or Nay???

We moved in to our Sunset Park rowhouse in October 2004. Gutted pretty much everything except for the room we were living in. We're doing most work ourselves with the exception of plumbing, electric, and plastering.

Temporary kitchen for a year (microwave, toaster oven, etc). Temporary bathroom for three. Nothing is done, although the half-bath is down to a punchlist, and much of the space is now relatively liveable. Although it's still not safe to be barefoot in most of the house.

I think if we did an accounting of how much it has cost, we would cry. At least I would.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at November 30, 2007 12:59 AM in response to Length of Time for your Rehab/Renovation

We live on 46th street. You'll be fine. I have never felt unsafe, even late at night.

And you won't be that alone. Seems like there are more funny haircuts on the 46th street platform every day.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at November 11, 2007 5:05 PM in response to Safety of Sunset Park, around 45th?

Second the recommendation for Gowanus Nursery. They have the best variety of plants anywhere, and they are so personable. I haven't had them do any work in my garden, but I've gotten almost all my plants there. They've given me enormous advice over the past couple years as I've been doing my garden.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at October 6, 2007 9:33 AM in response to Garden Help

orig poster here:

guest 9:12: My husband tried to make the same point. In the dead heat of summer true, but in the spring and fall, there are some mighty chilly mornings when it can be very unpleasant to get naked pre shower and worse wet post shower. Call me a weenie, but there's gotta be some way of heating the bathroom beyond the heating system.

8:17 (and others), I've heard radiant heat is great, but also that it can be slow to heat it, and that electric and hydro deliver very different results. Would love to hear about experiences with either.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at September 26, 2007 11:52 AM in response to bathroom heating?

We have 6 inch duct and the fan duct diameter is also 6 inches, so it's not a question of mismatched sizes. The flexible aluminum duct measures a bit bigger (6 1/4, actually, although it was sold as and is labelled 6 inch duct. We got it from Grainger.

CMU: the screws are to hold it in place? Puncturing it won't cause, I don't know, condensation to drip?

And this aluminum foil tape stuff, does it have an adhesive?

Thanks all!

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at August 26, 2007 3:07 PM in response to bathroom exhaust fan installation?

I love Sunset Park. My parents were born here, I was born here and intend to stay here as I start my own family. What is happening on my block and others creates a rage in me and, at times, I have to avoid driving on blocks anywhere close to the China town on 8th avenue because I turn into Archie Bunker. I live between 4th and 5th aves and it seems the Chinese want to move their operation down to 4th. They currently have the right to build whatever they want, the cheapest shoddy construction they want and without regard to their neighbors. I would love to buy my house from my parents, but it seems that the neighborhood I know and love may not survive. The new homeowners do not intend to contribute anything to the community. They intend to leech anything they can out of it. Standard of living is out the window. It's sad to see and I hope the rezoning will shed some light on the illegal building/occupancy, etc. I would love to join a cause, volunteer to check on permits, file complaints, etc. because this grassroots approach seems to be the only way to protect our properties. The city isn't gonna do it. I may just end up like Archie, proven wrong and defeated at the end of every episode.

Posted by: Just around the Corner at June 24, 2009 12:05 PM in response to Neighbor Building a Monstrosity

Dear "Just around the Corner"- Check out - Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors www.spanbrooklyn.com / spanbrooklyn@yahoo.com / (718) 853-0949, a grassroots group organizing around this issue AND also contribute photos (before/after, under construction) with URLs for Permits/Violations/Stop Work/Orders to sunsetparkmatters@gmail.com for posting on the blog- http:// SUNSETPARK-BROOKLYN-MATTERS.BLOGSPOT.COM. There's a lot each of us can do, starting with telling our neighbors what's going on.

Posted by: Sunset Park Matters at June 24, 2009 11:49 PM in response to Neighbor Building a Monstrosity

You need to do more than just pull out the weeds. You have to restrict air and sunlight and suppress new growth. A couple months in advance of Fall planting when I was ready to create our garden, a friend and I pulled out all the weeds in my backyard. Then we reconditioned the soil, adding compost, then covered the soil with several layers of newspaper. About 6-7 sheets of newspaper thick. Then we put mulch on top of the newspaper. You can also cover the yard in plastic and remove the plastic when you're ready to do your hard landscaping and planting. But newspaper is good because it decays and is good for the soil and worms like it.

Posted by: traditionalmod at August 10, 2009 10:34 AM in response to Weed Identification

Totally agree with tradmod, except we covered areas where we wanted to create beds with black plastic (with a few holes for drainage) in late summer to kill the weed seeds and then amended the soil the following spring.

Posted by: tinarina at August 10, 2009 11:18 AM in response to Weed Identification

"The weed in my backyard has been uncontrollable."

I think the same of my next door neighbor.

; )

Posted by: Prodigal_Son at August 10, 2009 2:57 PM in response to Weed Identification

looks like purple haze to me.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at August 10, 2009 2:59 PM in response to Weed Identification

The stuff to the left of the Lambs Quarters is Mugwort - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_vulgaris - which is a perennial invasive you see everywhere.

If that were my backyard, I'd use Roundup (when the neighbors weren't looking, so I wouldn't have to go through a lengthy spiel about how it's exceptionally safe and breaks down very fast ). You should be able to start planting in the fall. Just make sure you don't get any on shrubs or trees you want, as it is a systemic herbicide that gets absorbed through the leaves and travels down to the roots.

Posted by: solidago at August 10, 2009 2:59 PM in response to Weed Identification

No one even addressed the fact that the vast bulk of the what is pictured in the photograph appears to be a type of crabgrass. There's also a dandelion in there. The mugwort (I can't stand the stuff) is fairly young looking. This photo looks like you took it some time ago, no? Although, maybe with the rain and relatively cool weather, the weeds haven't progressed that much...but I doubt it. Please post a recent photo.

But from what I can see, the crabgrass looks fairly young...and I'm sure if left there, it has now gone to seed. Ugh.

Crabgrass is an annual grass. As with many of seeds, they can remain viable in the soil for years. In fact, digging can pull weed seeds closer to the surface where they are more liable to sprout. So, digging and redigging season after season can lead to new weed infestations even if no mature plants seem to set seed in the area.

I heartily agree with putting down paper and mulch for a while. Otherwise, pull everthing and be vigilant over the next years.

On thing you might avoid is digging too much. The best way to enrich the soil without causing weed reinfestations is to lay down a layer of compost (with luck weed seed free) each season and not deep dig it. Just layer a couple of inches on top of the existing soil and let it be. There are many soil critters that help pull the new material down into the lower soil.

Also, use a type of mulch that breaks down quickly. The problem with wood chips is that decaying wood lowers the nitrogen level in soil. Try dry tree leaves on top of compost and see how it goes. The leaf mold that develops can be a great source of nutrients and a good home for beneficial soil organisms.

Please don't use chemicals.

I've been pretty good at eradicating mugwort and lambsquarters by hand.

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at August 10, 2009 3:29 PM in response to Weed Identification

What is that plant growing in the middle of the lambs quarters?

I've had trouble cultivating non-weed plants on my roof deck (except for the seed pods I've taken from the botantic gardens or other successful local growth), so I've taken to gathering up interesting looking weeds and putting a bunch of them in one pot or rearranging them to make them look more planned and aesthetically pleasing.

I think some of the stuff that blows over is from other people's cultivated plants. This year I had some nice bushy things with light purple berries. They don't need much water and made me feel mildly successfully in my horticultural efforts.

Thanks for the mugwort definition, solidago. I'd always wondered what it looked like since allergy testing revealed I am highly sensitive to it.

The thing between the mugwort and the lambs quarters looks like a relative of dandelion. The grassy stuff, some crab grass type plant?

P.S. Lambsquarters is not a good looking plant if you just let it grow, but it will get to almost 3 feet tall.

Posted by: bessie2 at August 10, 2009 3:36 PM in response to Weed Identification

I dunno, it all looks pretty to me. It's green, and it's growing. Why not just let it be?

Posted by: BklynCynic at August 10, 2009 3:48 PM in response to Weed Identification