sjcg's Profile
Author's Posts
September 1, 2009
Basement Drain
We have a concrete floor in our basement. In one corner at the front of the house there is a hole about a foot diameter, and I always assumed it was a drain to let water seep into the ground below if we flooded. It's full of water now, the area around it is damp. Never seen this happen before - could ground water seep up through it? Has there been that much rain? There's no sign of water getting in to the basement anywhere else.
I guess I have to put my hand in and find out what's blocking it.
Author's Comments
Dont do it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/923415.stm
Posted by: sjcg at October 29, 2009 1:52 PM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie
Dont do it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/923415.stm
Posted by: sjcg at October 29, 2009 1:52 PM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie
Update from OP
I called Econo-sewer (718-338-8484) based on recommendations from the forum. They put a camera through the sewer and I had a break which was allowing water to seep back through the walls into the basement. They recommended Liberty Water & Sewer for the fix (718-567-2713).
Very happy with the work of both companies - highly recommend them.
Posted by: sjcg at September 15, 2009 5:43 PM in response to Basement Drain
If I ran my business the way the contractors I have worked with ran theirs I would be out of business fast. So I agree with you that this whole 'bait and switch' attitude is really annoying and worrying. It reminds me of my (bad) experience with my contractor - I felt like I was being pushed all the time to see what he could get away with, the more little things I let slide the more bigger things started to slide. And the contractor 'doing you a favor' is BS. I don't buy that for a moment. In fact it would make me question the real value of everything else we had bid prices on.
Don't let him away with anything else, you have to be a pain in his ass every time he pulls more of this 'say one thing / do another'. If you don't stand up for yourself now your contractor is going to do things the way he wants to do them, not the way you want him to do them.
Posted by: sjcg at September 5, 2009 5:19 PM in response to Fire This Contractor?
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
If I was on the board of your coop I would never allow it. It will disrupt the entire building for the gain of a single shareholder. Plus it constitutes commercial use. I can't believe a board would let you do this.
Posted by: denton at October 29, 2009 6:10 PM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie
They probably wouldn't, but if the fee to the coop was worth the trouble (are they doing exteriors?) they might at least discuss it. Who knows? The commercial use clause might be the kicker though,
Posted by: Minmin at October 29, 2009 6:14 PM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie
I work in the film business (as tech crew).....make sure they tie into their own source of power, not yours. Or charge them extra for electricity. You won't believe how much amperage lights draw....and I second all the above "cons" even though I have shot in many, man homes around the area.
Posted by: sogo at October 30, 2009 7:58 AM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie
We were asked by a film company to use our Brooklyn Heights Brownstone -- hallway, front, steps, etc. for a couple of days prior to the Christmas holidays one year. The money was a pittance compared to what looked like to be 18 hour days leading right up to the holidays. We said no. Film crews also think they own their locations and that includes city streets, like we should be privledged to have them around. There is a little beach community in Staten Island that regularly uses its area for Law and Order episodes and for some reason that is usually not disruptive, but fun for the people there. But it is an open area near the beach and it is a regular thing so the neighbors welcome them.
Posted by: donatella at October 30, 2009 4:26 PM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A CURRENT INSURANCE POLICY FOR A HIGH AMOUNT. Ask to see it and call the insurance company to verify.
Posted by: Ysabelle at October 31, 2009 11:08 AM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie
OP here: Thanks so much for all the knowledgeable comments. If this happens, I will report back.
Posted by: CH5 at November 1, 2009 10:13 PM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie
Really? Are you *required* to have a roof hatch?
Posted by: tybur6 at November 9, 2009 3:37 PM in response to Fire Dept Inspection
Roof hatch is a means of egress, not ingress. My understanding of what's legal is unlocked from inside, self-locking from outside. See chapter 10 of Building Code: http://www2.iccsafe.org/states/newyorkcity/Building/Building-Frameset.html
Posted by: vinca at November 9, 2009 3:59 PM in response to Fire Dept Inspection
If they can axe (sharp, handled tool) through the locked front door, they can axe through a locked roof hatch...
Posted by: pig three at November 9, 2009 5:23 PM in response to Fire Dept Inspection
tyber,
I have to disagree with your Chief. My neighbors were burned out of their building a few years ago. One woman locked the door behind her. They did hack their way in, which left her without a way to lock her apartment for the weeks that the building was uninhabitable. Meaning there was no one living in the building, obvious signs of a fire on the top floor and her apartment unlocked. She stowed a lot of valuables (like bank statements) at our place and had someone barricade it from the inside and climb out the window until the lock got fixed. It was a huge production and a pain.
If there's actually a fire, don't lock the door.
And if you live in Brooklyn, don't freaking leave valuables in plain site anyway.
Posted by: serpentor at November 9, 2009 5:40 PM in response to Fire Dept Inspection
The roof hatch needs to left unlocked because it is a point of entry for the fire department of they have to enter the house during a fire.
Posted by: sjcg at November 9, 2009 3:12 PM in response to Fire Dept Inspection