Thank God for Beer
I’m two-thirds of the way through a medium size renovation (installing kitchen, relocating bathroom, creating new room, building laundry room, painting two floors of a brownstone). We are doing it on very little money, too little according to one architect and two contractors I consulted, or at least not enough to afford the fixtures and…
I’m two-thirds of the way through a medium size renovation (installing kitchen, relocating bathroom, creating new room, building laundry room, painting two floors of a brownstone). We are doing it on very little money, too little according to one architect and two contractors I consulted, or at least not enough to afford the fixtures and appliances I had my heart set on. Then I talked to Thalal Beer, whom I found through this forum. Initially I was wary because his bid came in lower than everyone else’s. But after talking to him and seeing his work on the homes of fellow Brownstoners and hearing their great enthusiasm for him, many years and opportunities for wear and tear later, I decided to take a chance. I’m really glad I did. We’re not done yet, but so far, we are on budget and on schedule and his work has been rock solid. He’s also been very easy to work with: without construction plans, cheerfully dealing with my (seemingly neverending) additional little requests (framing out a tiled inset shelf in shower, inserting some interior glass windows, etc), and give me very solid advice on questions both structural and aesthetic.
WOrking with him requires a decent amount of involvement on my part. I’m on the site almost every day for a half hour at least. I’m sourcing all the appliances, fixtures, tile, paint, bathroom fans, myself. He supplies all the building material. Since we don’t have plans, we often must figure out things together—like how the partion wall separating the owner’s duplex in the entrance hall should look–and he is always willing to redo work if it doesn’t come out to either of our satisfaction. He’s not perfect by any means, but the whole experience has been pretty fun and pleasant for the most part, and much of that is due to his work ethic and good humor. He’s been working on brownstones for twenty years and he takes real pride in his work. And his crew of guys are all very pleasant and responsive to my requests to sweep up or help with the snow removal etc…
There’s nothing in it for me if he gets another job. I just like him a lot, as a professional and a person. And I think that for the right person–who wants to be involved and doesn’t have a ton of money–he can be a great fit. Feel free to email me at clintonhillbrooklynapt [the at sign] hot mail [dot] com if you want to talk more or see my house in Clinton Hill. If you want to contact Beer directly, you can call him 646-358-6118.
PTF
Our expeditor’s structural engineer drew the plans for filing in order to get the permit. We just don’t have construction plans that an architect would have provided. If your reno isn’t too elaborate, it can save a lot of time and money.
“It’s been a big relief to do things wiht a permit and up to code. ”
A permit with no drawings. Hmm…
A half an hour a day on site is pretty good.
OMG, OP, stick to your guns! Funny! I’m so lucky my husband agrees with everything I say — except when I turn out to be wrong, of course. But that never happens.
Yes, always best to look at tile trim and grout colors with a good buzz on.
I forgot to mention that Beer is licensed and insured, unlike some of them more bargain GCs, as you mention CMU. It’s been a big relief to do things wiht a permit and up to code.
Actually it’s wine not beer that has been smoothing things over, but that would be with my husband, as I explain (again) that white subway tiles with black beaded inset and bullnose crown molding is going to look much better on the wall of the bathroom with our classic traditional fixtures in our italiante victorian brownstone than the bright turqoise penny tile that he likes or how we can’t use the 36 inch kithcen sink that he wants since it won’t leave any room between the sink and the stove, and why that’s a problem. Sigh…
From the title I thought you were going to say cases of Budweiser have made your reno go easier, be more enjoyable, and look better than you had expected 😉
Sounds too good to be true! But I’ve worked quite a bit with similar people under similar circumstances, and agree that if you’re willing to be hands-on you can do a lot w/o formality.
The only reason I’ve not recommended my guys is that w/o a contractor’s license they can’t work in condos/co-ops.
Good luck in the rest of your job.