Forum

Fire escape repair in Brooklyn

Hi – My fire escape needs scraping/painting and some weld repairs – some of the bolts and welds have rusted through. Has anyone had great…

Buying a flipped / gut renovated townhouse?

Hey everyone. I’ve been shopping for a townhouse for the past few months and have been looking at a lot of gut renovations in Bed…

Additional electrical meter

Hi – I’ve got three meters right now and space for a 4th – need to seperate out the boiler – I was living in…

Insulate basment?

I am thinking to insulate my basement ceiling which are open joists right now – w insulation and then drywall – one person has said…

Interesting Heat Pump Story on PBS NewsHour tonight

Replacing double entry doors

I’m aiming to restore the facade of my small frame house in the south Slope to something like its original look (replacing the vinyl siding…

My architect doesn't communicate

We hired an architect back in September to create plans to convert our art studio over a garage into a living space. Our architect is…

Obtaining Landmark Status

Hi, Wading into a complicated issue here, but our block is dealing with a developer who bought two brownstones and it appears he will he…

New bathroom

Can anyone recommend a contractor for a bathroom remodel along with other work that would work in Brooklyn?

Tenant wants lead testing.

She said pediatrician tested her toddler for lead and she has level above the treshhold. Now… we do not have anything that we did not…

Draining roof rainwater

Long time reader, about to renovate a detached house (not brownstone) in middle Brooklyn and wondering about roof rainwater. Can the roof leaders be connected…

Process for new HVAC in landmarks?

I searched old posts, but I’m still confused. If I want to install a new mini-split heat pump system, and I ensure that the roof…

Hot Water Radiator Heat - Does it work for Parlor Floors?

We are considering installing hot water heat and replacing and old steam system. Our parlor floor has high ceilings (12ft) and worry that the heating…

1920s wall sconce

Any thoughts on who made or where and value? [Image](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s3/:brownstoner:LtRa:image.jpg.jpg) [Image-0](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s3/:brownstoner:IgJZ:file_0image.jpg.jpg) [Image-0](file_0image.jpg)

Contractor estimate etiquette question

Hello- I’m wondering if people have a sense of the etiquette/common decency before you sign a contract with a contractor. We’re planning a contained reno…

Brownstone entry doors

Two sets of similar (but different) eastlake style doors are availaible on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/266106102518 https://www.ebay.com/itm/266106095736

Stoop Issues!

1) Our stoop is cracking. It was re-brownstoned somewhere between 6-10 years ago by the previous owner. We filled the cracks (pix attached) last winter…

Window Bars

Has anybody here removed window bars themselves? The lowest floor has the base of the bars set in concrete in the front. All the rest…

Cost estimate for building a brand new masonry and/or cement stoop?

Looking for cost estimates (and contractor recommendations) for replacing our crumbling, leaking brick & brownstone stoop with a new masonry stoop built with cinder block…

Recent chimney lining / fireplace re-brick costs?

We are looking at clean out / line / re-brick the opening for a fireplace, as well as reline a boiler chimney. Quote “ball-parked” at…