First Time Reno Qs
I have a studio in Willoughby Walk and would like to do some renovations, such as installing all new floors, taking down a couple of small walls to reconfigure the layout a little, having closet systems put in, and completely gutting and redoing the bathroom. Also there’s something weird going on near the windows with…
I have a studio in Willoughby Walk and would like to do some renovations, such as installing all new floors, taking down a couple of small walls to reconfigure the layout a little, having closet systems put in, and completely gutting and redoing the bathroom. Also there’s something weird going on near the windows with cracks and peeling on the wall, so that needs to be addressed. I’ve never owned before this apt and never done anything like this. My question is, do I hire a general contractor to do all this? Or do I hire someone to come in and do the bathroom, someone separate to do the floors, someone else to address the problem near the window, etc? I looked at the website for one popular GC in Brooklyn that mostly does brownstones. I love their work, but will I be seriously overpaying if I go that route? Thanks very much, any advice would be much appreciated!
I am a licensed and insured GC operating in Brooklyn as well as many other regions in NY. You will definitely get some great advice from members of this site, some whom I have done work for in the past. Please feel free to contact me with any questions and if you need an estimate I am happy to stop in.
Don’t forget to tip your super BIG BIG BIG at Christmas.
You might want to check with the building super, mgmt, and/or board members about architects and contractors that the building “likes” (those who respected bldg rules and residents and worked well with bldg staff, etc.). Then when you talk to those contractors, have them arrange for you to get in touch with the people they did the work for to see if they liked the work.
Good luck!
You’ve gotten some good advice so far.
You live in a Co-op. Doing the kind of work you’re stating will require board approval AND they will insist that you file with the DOB (you’re removing walls and redoing a bathroom). They will also insist that the contractor be licensed and insured.
That said, you will need to hire someone (architect/designer) to draw up plans that can be submitted to your Co-op board for approval and also to the DOB to obtain permits.
While work is being done on your apartment, I would recommend you move out. Take your prized possessions with you or put in storage and have the furniture that you leave protected. You live in a studio, there won’t be much room for you, the workers and their equipment (that they might likely store there overnight), plus your bathroom will be rendered useless for a couple of weeks.
If you’re thinking of doing the kitchen at some point, I’d do it all at the same time (now) to avoid having to go thru board approval/DOB again.
Also, the architect/designer you hire will supervise the job but you should also go to the apartment and insure that the work is being done according to the agreements. You should have meetings with the architect & contractor regularly to answer/ask questions and check on the progress.
I second the recommendation that you go with a gc. If you were just refinishing the floors in the main room, you could sub that yourself, but it surely doesn’t sound like you have the time to coordinate the rest of the work. As far as the damage on the window wall, it sounds like you may have problem with moisture infiltration due to a poor flashing or pointing condition. You should contact your building’s management to inspect the area prior to commencing work in that area.
The tone of your inquiries and the fact that you work long hours suggests to me that it would be very difficult for you to act as the general contractor. To get to the point of choosing a general contractor: review your boards Alteration Agreement; develop a detailed Scope of Work with a design professional (and filing documents, if required; and competively bid that Scope of Work to at least three contractors whom you have throughly vetted. Once you’ve chosen your contractor, get a signed agreement and have your design professional or an attorney review it. Ed Kopel ARchitects, PC
First you get board approval.
If you don’t have the time or experience to supervise the work yourself, at a minimum, you’ll want to hire a good gc.
If you’re taking down walls, you’ll probably need to file with the DOB, which means you’ll need an architect. An architect will make sure that at least everything is spec’d out properly so you can get good bids. An architect can also look into your job and make sure it is being done properly, according to code, and according to the drawings.
Good luck, I lived there for a few months maybe 35 years ago.
Also, I saw on another posting people were talking about a bathroom reno taking 4-6 weeks! Maybe ours wouldn’t take that long, but even if it took half that time we’d have to go live at my husband’s parents’ house in another borough. So if we’re not living in the apt while the work is being done, and this is a co-op high rise building, how do the workers get in and out? Do they just work in our apt with all our stuff unsupervised all day long? My husband and I both work long hours – we can’t afford for one of us to take a few weeks off just to be home while the work is being done! How do people go about this stuff?
Thanks again for any advice. We’re obviously big newbies to all this!