Brownstone to Limestone conversion
I have a brownstone (in a Historic District) that is almost in need of a refacing.I was wondering about having it refaced with limestone. So a few questions: -Is this ever done? -Would it disproportionately affect the value of the house either positively or negatively? -If changing the facade would be consistent with the neighborhood…
I have a brownstone (in a Historic District) that is almost in need of a refacing.I was wondering about having it refaced with limestone. So a few questions:
-Is this ever done?
-Would it disproportionately affect the value of the house either positively or negatively?
-If changing the facade would be consistent with the neighborhood and the surrounding houses can anyone predict how Landmarks would react?
OP here.
But I’m still curious– is there any statistical or even anecdotal evidence about the relative value of Limestone vs Brownstone, all other factors being equal?
You can get Landmarks to approve changes to wood trim on houses (windows, doors, cornices.) You will have to show them examples of similar houses to yours nearby (the closer the better) that have these other colors. Then give them the exact color sample from the paint manufacturer small paper sample from the hardware store and photos of these other houses and their addresses when you turn in the application. They seem to prefer historic colors of certain types that were used during the timeframe your house was built. They may suggest historic color alternatives to the ones you put in. We actually preferred the one they suggested so it worked out well.
OP here. I guess i was unclear in my initial post. I meant how would Landmarks react to the proposal, not to the completed job.
Brooklyn is full of people who would just blunder through with a job like that. I’m not one of them.
you are kidding right? about the limestone vs. brownstone. your neighbors would turn you in so fast your head would spin! if you were my neighbor i certainly would and then i would hope that you would get fined by landmarks bigtime.
thanks, Bob!
Thanks, Bob. We are planning to paint our trim a different color than the top coat which, we believe, is not the original color. Underneath that is black, which we think is probably the original color.The black appeals to us much more. It’s hard to tell what the original colors were on our block.
dt,
You wrote (Re: the LM/LPC meeting):
“I’m specifically wondering if they discussed window trim painting guidelines”.
They didn’t specifically mention this. I think its the sort of work that would require a certificate of minor work, which can be approved at the LPC staff level.In practice, I don’t think most people repainting their trim in the same color bother to ask for approval–but you didn’t hear that from me 🙂
LPC has a rowhouse manual which should have helpful tips–unfortunately, they didn’t bring any copies to the meeting
Bob, since you attended the LPC meeting I’m wondering if you might feel like sharing a little of what you learned with those of us who wern’t able to attend. I’m specifically wondering if they discussed window trim painting guidelines.
Actually, you’re not refacing the house with limestone or brownstone–its just tinted cement. If you’re the same person who asked this question at the meeting with the LPC that the Lefferts Manor Assoc. held last week, your block has similar houses, by the same builders, in both browntone and limestone, so the color change would not do any violence to the existing streetscape IMO, but I guess the LPC would make the final decision.