westernnygirl's Profile

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Author's Posts

November 6, 2008

radiator stripping

Can anyone recommend someone/place that strips or sandblasts radiators. Not sure if they are the same procedure or not, if not, which is better? And is it worth the cost, or would I be better off scraping and painting a radiator with several layers of flaking paint on it? shtha

October 29, 2008

Aura paint

Has anyone used Aura paint from Benjamin Moore? Is it worth the extra money? And is it true you don't need a primer (in one room I'd be going to a lighter color)? Also, if you have it mixed in a regular BM color, and not one of the Affinity choices, do you lose the full spectrum color advantages. I'm not even sure I'd appreciate full spectrum, but I'm falling for the sales pitch.

September 6, 2008

Cost of painting bedrooms?

Can anyone suggest what a reasonable quote would be for painting the two bedrooms in my brownstone co-op? One is 12X12 with two windows, the other 8x12 with one window, both have crown molding and sheetrock walls, in good shape. I spent $3500 doing the rest of the apt last year, that painter quoted me another $2000 for the bedrooms and would like to spend a lot less. Is that possible?

Author's Comments

Thanks Chris and Denton, big help.

Posted by: westernnygirl at November 6, 2008 7:43 PM in response to radiator stripping

Thanks everyone, big help. I am planning to paint my bedroom a cream color (BM mayonnaise or seashell, still undecided) over walls that are now taupe. I was leaning toward Aura before I posted, now leaning against, sounds like its not worth the cost for cream and would almost definitely have to do touchups at some point with the light color.

Posted by: westernnygirl at October 29, 2008 7:53 PM in response to Aura paint

I'm late here, but in case you are still checking in, I redid my 5x7 three years ago for $8400, replaced everything except the tub--undermount ceramic sink, vanity, toilet, silestone extended countertop, kohler faucets in tub and sink. I didn't go over the top (except with the $800 toilet, don't ask).. Picked black and white ceramic tile and did not tile walls, decided expense wasn't worth it, I'd rather paint. Very happy with results. Used Cambria Remodeling, nice to deal with, cleaned up well, came in on schedule.

718-759-0466

Posted by: westernnygirl at September 20, 2008 10:18 AM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?

Steve -- I'm gobsmacked! Your house is gorgeous, can't believe all the work you put into it. Love the dining room, and the kitchen and the yard--even love the dog. Now I'm totally intimiadated because as far as DIY is concerned, you've made it to Mt Olympus and I'm down in the seventh circle of hell. Can I just move into your guest room? Or hire you to paint? $600, 3 six packs of your choice, and I'll watch your kids and your dog (sorry lechacal).

Posted by: westernnygirl at September 6, 2008 6:49 PM in response to Cost of painting bedrooms?

Thanks everyone. The walls are in good shape, and I'm basically repainting the same color. I'm a little intimidated doing it myself because of the crown molding, dtailed baseboards, radiators, etc, (gad do I sound like a girl). But maybe I'll at least try one wall and see how it goes. Although, lechacal, I'll pay you $500, two six packs AND watch your kids if you'd do it for me.

Posted by: westernnygirl at September 6, 2008 5:42 PM in response to Cost of painting bedrooms?

As a former Buffalonian, who sometimes considers moving back, I must come to the area's defense. Buffalo has the University of Buffalo and several other colleges, so there is an intellectual life. Also a top cancer research hospital (Roswell Park) and plenty of other good hospitals, quality museums, a thriving performing arts scene (including nationally acclaimed Studio Arena Theater). It has NY-quality restaurants, especially near UB and Amherst (where I'm from) and gourmet food shops that I am pretty sure have 50 types of cheese, or close to. The winters are long, granted, and there's tons of snow, but I never minded as log as I could do a winter sport. Good skiing at Holiday Valley, cross country and ice skating also available. Lake Erie is a great resource, the surrounding countryside is lovely and there is lots of great architecture and beautiful, affordable houses in areas like Delaware Park. That said, good jobs are few and far between, parts of the city look like a bomb hit it, and migration is mostly out, not in. Still, many, many Buffalonians really, really love Buffalo, so there is a loyal core. I could definitely see living there, sure it's not Brooklyn, but it is also not nothing.

One more thing--Buffalo has beef on weck sandwiches, which really are worth moving back for.

Posted by: westernnygirl at August 26, 2008 1:40 PM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

Responses to Author's Forum Comments

The A/C keeps the humidity down so the primer dried well. Unfortunately, it also dried well on right side of my black Newfoundland who decided to run down the stairs past my ladder with wet paint on the wall.

I don't particularly enjoy painting (it's pretty by-rote) but it rarely throws you any curves.

Westernnygirl: effective painting is all about the prep: emptying the room, laying down tarps or rosin paper, scraping/cleaning the walls (I use TSP), filling holes and dents. With your drywall, it's a breeze. My old plaster took quite a bit of extra work:

http://www.brooklynrowhouse.com/node/130

Otherwise, cut everything with a brush first that you can't roll. Don't saturate the brush, keep a wet edge on the wall, watch for drips, use a side light to look for missed spots.

Posted by: Steve at September 6, 2008 6:10 PM in response to Cost of painting bedrooms?

Posted by: westernnygirl at September 6, 2008 6:49 PM in response to Cost of painting bedrooms?

I've been outbid!!! Or wait, I guess I am the lower bid but Steve offers a better product... Damn competition. :)

Steve, love the website. And I agree that painting is all about the prep. I actually enjoy skim coating (I get a little Zen thing going on when I do repetitive physical tasks). And I love the almost instant gratification of a new color in an old room. I have never worked with plaster like you have (the house I reno'd was built in the 1960s and all drywall). I understand plaster presents its own set of challenges.

Posted by: lechacal at September 6, 2008 9:20 PM in response to Cost of painting bedrooms?

Thanks, folks.

I'm not terrific with plaster either but I'm slowly learning. The main issue with plaster is knowing how to mix it and work it. Also which kind to use: gypsum vs. lime vs. finishing vs. structolite, etc.

There's a lime plaster seminar at Howard Hall Farm (http://howardhallfarm.com/) in Athens, NY this winter that I've been thinking about taking.

Posted by: Steve at September 6, 2008 11:01 PM in response to Cost of painting bedrooms?

Wow Steve!

Not sure how you found the time to do all that work yourself but your skills are great. Love the woodwork!

Posted by: Rick at September 7, 2008 7:49 AM in response to Cost of painting bedrooms?

Hi Westernngirl, I know I'm new here and all but if you are still looking, I have a cousin that recently opened her own contracting business. Her husband has been in the field for 6 years and knows pretty much everything about home improvements. Their business number if you need it is, 347-227-5834 (Eagle Construction). Thanks

Posted by: nightingale at September 7, 2008 2:07 PM in response to Cost of painting bedrooms?

Hey there,

I just had my entire brownstone hallways and two floors of rooms replastered and painted by Junior Prates and his team. A great job = reasonably priced, very fast (two days), super clean and easy to work with.

Call his wife Aida at 508-567-5432 or email them at aida_barbosa88@hotmail.com to come by and give you a quote.

Cheers
Faye

Posted by: feelyng at September 8, 2008 2:21 PM in response to Cost of painting bedrooms?

Could some of you throw up some actual numbers in terms of what you paid for painting? I'm looking at having a 1600sqft duplex totally painted and have had a very difficult time nailing down a realistic price, even with a few estimates! There is not too much wall damage, and some of the trim has deep colors that need to be lightened up, so more coats than usual in about 1/4 of the area. Has anyone else had an experience like this and willing to put down hard numbers?

Once I get past that, I have to navigate the mess of brownstone facade redoers. I wish there were a better set of info on what these two things cost. They both seem to vary dramatically. Everything else had estimates that came within 10% of each other.

Posted by: justinm at September 10, 2008 5:50 PM in response to Cost of painting bedrooms?

Call my Contractor, they were even placed in a magazine and there work was on TV twice.

IEB @ 718.204.2552

Posted by: Bklyn1 at September 20, 2008 4:22 PM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?

LMAO! Listen, I'll tell you something about NYKB: They're CROOKS. They ruined my apt and walked off my job and kept my money (which they DIDN'T--contrary to state LAW--place in escrow). Oh, and my bathroom? They messed up the tiling so badly that it ALL had to be ripped out and redone by another company. So I paid twice. Be thankful those SOBs treated you like a "pauper" and sneered at your budget. If they come back to you wanting your business, take it from me: Say "no way" and hang up. If you don't you'll regret it for months (or, like me, for years).

Posted by: uessue at October 1, 2008 12:12 AM in response to Is it possible to renovate a 6 by 8 bathroom for $12,000?