Recommendations needed
My family would like to do some extensive rennovations/additions to our 3 family rowhouse in Brooklyn. I am currently looking for recommendations on architects, design/build and/or contractors for one room addition to the back of the house (preferably all four floors). We’ll also be reconfiguring the kitchen and the bathroom on the ground floor. The…
My family would like to do some extensive rennovations/additions to our 3 family rowhouse in Brooklyn. I am currently looking for recommendations on architects, design/build and/or contractors for one room addition to the back of the house (preferably all four floors). We’ll also be reconfiguring the kitchen and the bathroom on the ground floor.
The house does not really have much of the original details, so restoration is not a priority.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
d98
Original Poster again
Thank you for the reccomendations and suggestions regarding temporary living quarters. I’m inquiring on behalf of my parents…I no longer live in NY. My family has lived in this house since ’83 and remained during two major and numerous minor renos, with tenants and all. My parents…empty-nesters and retired, eat out more often than not. They also have two bathrooms in their duplex. Even if my family temporarily moved out for the renovations in their duplex, there is no guarantee that their tenants can afford to do the same. Leases are up in December, so before they renew we will inform them about the upcoming project and discuss their options. Thank you again for your suggestions and comments.
But…if they occupy a duplex, they can live on 1 whole floor while renovating the other.
The thing to consider is the tenants. If you’re making lots of noise, dust, odors, shutting heat, water and electric, ok for you, but keep in mind that they won’t be please and act accordingly.
rh, that’s true, it can be done, but I have yet to meet a contractor who can do an “extensive renovation” which includes a 4-story addition and not have the price increase when he is working around someone living in the house vs. an empty building. My point (and I was 1:54pm who got this discussion off track) was that the original poster should be wary of being penny-wise and pound foolish, where s/he really thinks s/he is saving money and instead is not only incurring nearly the same costs, but having to live through months of extensive construction. It’s probably more affordable to rent a cheap studio for a number of months than totally stay put.
I lived through a number of renovations…I mean, lived in the house. Yes, it sucks, but if that’s what you gotta do, you make it work. If you have 2 bathrooms, that comes in handy. If not, may I suggest a porta potty instead of a bucket? Also, set up a microwave, plug in burners and get ready to order in alot…and do dishes in your bathtub. Also, don’t forget to seal off your living area. You’ll live to tell about it, just like everyone else who can’t afford to stay elsewhere.
I agree with the posters. If you can find suitable living quarters for the duration of the project it will in the end save you money, your marriage & also the childrens health. When a contractor is aware that their will be people living in a home it immediately triggers a 15% increase to cover daily clean up & protection & also maintaining mechanical equipment operation daily. Gas shut off’s water shut downs electrical work etc. Even if they install temp valves to close your zone off it is a mess & the money “saved” in not moving out is quickly eaten up with add costs for all of the above.Plus building a 4 story 1 room addition without entry to each floor means scaffolding & all materials go through lower levels Lots & lots of costly labor.
P.S. Baxt is a terriffic architect & human being
For a contractor, try Ambiance 917-907-1100. Very thorough and good quality work. Agree with previous posters that you don’t want to live in this renovation project if you can avoid it at all.
We are currently living in our house during renovations, and have beenvery satisfied with the effort by our contractor to keep it livable for us. Major demolition in basement and second floor caused a little dust while we stayed on the top floor as they effectively tarped everything off. They helped us move our furniture/belongings downstairs and are now working on the top floor. Gut renovation, including entirely removing the roof (which is now open to the bright blue sky) has also not caused any dirt/dust on the main floor where we are staying. Believe me, it’s less than ideal, and we’ve offered tenants in the ground floor apartment a rent reduction (10%) when they were inconvenienced (needing access to their apartment for electric) during certain months, but it is doable. You can email me at mholden0@lycos.com if you want to contact our contractor for an estimate.
Matt
If you think you can’t afford to do both the construction project and moving out (this is a theoretical discussion, since I agree with the previous poster that it might actually be cheaper if you’re not in the house), you should seriously consider deferring the project until you’re comfortable you can afford the move-out. Or seek to live with friends/relatives. Especially if your family includes small children, but even if not, living in an extensive renovation is just about impossible. We considered doing it, and even with a multi-family where you could potentially seal off one unit for work while living in another, the projects just don’t respect the unit boundaries.
I know this is not what you asked, but given what you describe as extensive renovations, I don’t see how you can live in the house, especially if you are planning to do a 4 – story extension. I guess once you find your architect you will decide, but we have been told that the renovation will be much more costly if we stay put, and the money we save on renting temporary quarters will be spent on higher construction costs (not to mention living through a construction zone.)