Contact info for Architect David Johnson
Shouldn’t take much to install it. Not sure what the relevance is between the window and the brick building… I would do it. Call me at 347-276-6528 Levi SoHoAppliances
levicapland
in Architecture 13 years and 11 months ago
2557
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2557 replies
mozeeatupu | 8 years and 2 months ago
Be sure you have good installers also. That’s sometimes more of an issue
chemosphere | 8 years and 2 months ago
Does anybody know what the price difference is between casements and double hungs?
daveinbedstuy | 8 years and 2 months ago
Double hungs come so that the top sash too can be dropped for cleaning. I think a brownstone can look very nice with one large pane casement windows and I believe they are also available with muntins to look divided. I have seen nice looking three light and six light casements on brownstone renovations.
robyim1 | 8 years and 2 months ago
I have both. I don’t know about North Tech but I know the difference between casement and single hung. Single hung look great on a townhouse or brownstone but are really hard to clean. You can only flip down one panel for cleaning. Other than using a ladder it will be difficult to clean. The upper panel is fixed so you pretty much have to stick your whole body outside to reach the outside of the glass. Imagine doing that on an upper floor. I usually take a towel with a squeegee on a long handle and reach up from the inside to clean the outside part. It’s hard to get it spotless. I can unscrew the unit and bring down the top panel but it’s a big process. My casements extend all the way to 90 degrees. At this position you can reach out from the inside and clean the outside of the entire window. It’s not easy because there’s not much of a gap but doable. That’s said I would never get casement for a brownstone. Doesn’t look right in my opinion. If I had to do it over I would pay more for double hung.
robyim1 | 8 years and 3 months ago
The contractor will help you with all this but it’s good to know what you’re getting into. You might want a permit because you’re doing something where all your neighbors will see and it’s somewhat structural since you are messing with the exterior wall. Decide on the size of the upgrade first. Custom sizes cost more than standard sizes. If you need support ie. steel beam or lintel. They will remove whatever is needed reframe to the correct size and then put everything back the way it was. Make sure you have enough support above the windows. Pay attention to the masonry work on the outside and weatherproofing and insulation around the window. Get a good quality window. Other things to consider are the moldings and trim that go around the window and whether you need to match the old ones. I can’t think of anything else but usually when you open up the walls in an old house there’s always something.
lgwlcvqt | 8 years and 3 months ago
Get a bunch of contractors. Eventually get a few bids. Start hating steps 1 and 2 and then 3.
jcm | 8 years and 4 months ago
My plumber recommended it and thought AWR was a legitimate operation. Cost of replacing a cracked sewer line (mine runs under my stoop) is not insignificant.
agdipierro
in Architecture 8 years and 4 months ago
Surfaces should be tested for asbestos.
alicecfoster
in Architecture 8 years and 4 months ago
Yes, you need a permit.
But first – is this a masonry building or a wood-frame? Much of the bang for your buck with insulation will come from proper air-sealing – a tiny hole will largely negate your efforts to insulate. At the very least, you need to “parge” the interior face of the masonry wall with cement – though if your exterior walls have plaster in good condition adhered directly to the masonry, I would leave it in place and spend your money on new windows.
Insulating masonry buildings from the inside is not straightforward – you may expose yourself to more damage to the brick if it is now freezing (before it was kept warm from the interior). Consult a professional.
resident2 | 8 years and 4 months ago
Do not open up the can of worms. Just get very competent trades people to do the work including re-installing all the electrical outlets properly.
leywioqneadb | 8 years and 4 months ago
A bit of a grey area. It would depend on whether your ceiling is adjacent to an apartment above you or if it is on the top floor.
Technically if you are not affecting fire ratings it should be considered a minor alterations and ordinary repairs. and be exempt under section §28-105.4.2 of the Administrative code.
( §28-105.4.2 Minor alterations and ordinary repairs.
A permit shall not be required for minor alterations andordinary repairs.§28-105.4.2.1 Definitions.The following words and terms shall, for the purposes of this section 28-105.4.2 and as used elsewhere in this code, have the meanings shown herein.
MINOR ALTERATIONS. Minor changes or modifications in a building or any part thereof, excluding additions thereto, that do not in any way affect health or the fire or structural safety of the building or the safe use and operation of the service equipment therein. Minor alterations shall not include any of the work described as “work not constituting minor alterations or ordinary repairs.
”ORDINARY REPAIRS. Replacements or renewals of existing work in a building, or of parts of the service equipment therein, with the same or equivalent materials or equipment parts, that are made in the ordinary course of maintenance and that do not in any way affect health or the fire or structural safety of the building or the safe use and operation of the service equipment therein. Ordinary repairs shall include the repair or replacement of any plumbing fixture, piping or faucets from any exposed stop valve to the inlet side of a trap. Ordinary repairs shall not include any of the work described as “work not constituting minor alterations or ordinary repairs.”
That being said, if you are in an apartment building, you will most likely be required to file due to the building regulations. You also have to guarantee that the fire rating wont be altered.
Regarding ACP-5’s and the DEP. those are requirements that dont come into play unless you are applying for permits. If you were to run into asbestos you would need to file with DEP to have it removed, but I dont think that the DEP requires filing for ordinary repairs, but I could be wrong there.
raymondpem | 8 years and 4 months ago
Try DOB site, but I know most people do this without a permit . insulation will work well against cold. Best us Roxul mineral wool, much better than fiberglass. As for soundproofing, most products do not work well-being we spent $$ for special “soundboard” and still gear neighbors. Save your $$.
Rick | 8 years and 4 months ago
You may want to check out services that pump spray foam inside your walls. This way you could save yourself the trouble of a big demolition and get to keep your plaster walls. They simply make a hole at the top of the wall between the studs and fill the space. No permits, and no mess.
Lurker | 8 years and 4 months ago
To round out what was said above (yes you probalby need permit, but you can likely get away with it if safe and discrete)
But you can and should get asbestos tests done—creating a potential cloud of toxic dust that will circulate around your home for eternity isn’t a great idea, especially if you have kids (in particular beware vintage popcorn ceilings, which are almost always asbestos). Anohter big deal though is lead paint, and it’s pretty definite you have a layer or two or eight of lead paint,which also when airborne is terrible stuff. And lead paint is almost worse than asbestos if kids are exposed, way worse than for adults—literally a single chip of paint will have a measurable permanent effect on their brains.
Anyway, if there’s no kids to poison and you want to do the deed, drop $50 on a quality respirator, rent or buy a hepa vacuum for cleanup, maybe an air filter, and get some heavy thick bags for disposal. In the moment it’s so easy to ignore it, but it’s worth taking 20 minutes of precaution.
DanWilson | 8 years and 4 months ago
“Legally without a permit” is an oxymoron in NYC 🙂 As with anything in NYC, if you ask if you need a permit, the answer will most likely be yes. Brooklynbuilt’s response is technically the correct answer. An ACP-5 report is needed for any kind of demo. In this case it is not the DOB that is the concern but the EPA (i.e Asbestos testing). That being said if you plan to move forward without a permit (and are sure no one in the building is going to rat you out), but you are concerned about asbestos (depends on how old the building is or if there have been any renovations done over the years) then you can just hire a company to come in an do an asbestos test on the walls. It costs bout $300/per sample (the testing company will come in and assess how may tests you need based on inspection of the walls, but you probably only need one test assuming all the walls are the same) and you will get a lab report. This way if you do get caught you at least have a certified test to cover you so the EPA won’t shut you down. I highly recommend QualTechNY to do the asbestos testing . They also do the certification for an ACP-5 report if you plan to go the permit route. I can’t speak to the fire code comments although I do know that the fire codes for 3 family or 4 story and above are much stricter than for 3 story and one and two family homes.
brooklynbuilt | 8 years and 4 months ago
Yes, you need a permit. An ACP-5 report is required for a demolition permit to be issued. A licensed inspector will check for asbestos as it was used to increase the fire resistance of the plaster. Samples are taken, locations are marked on demolition plans it is submitted to the DEP and a certificate is issued. Any demolition of a plaster wall with asbestos almost certainly makes it friable. While rare it certain areas of the city, it was used more commonly in others depending on the period and location of construction.
murph | 8 years and 4 months ago
Go to DOB and tell them you want to scratch your ass and they will insist on a permit, maybe two. More revs for the City.
Unless you are changing footprint go ahead and do it.
Jorge: There’s an energy code for residences? Does it cover removing A/Cs from windows in the winter?
chemosphere | 8 years and 4 months ago
Legality probably depends on who in the DOB shows up to issue a violation, and what they had for breakfast that morning. There is unfortunately a lot of grey areas here.
JorgeF | 8 years and 4 months ago
if you are concerned you can go to DOB on Tuesday after 4:00 for homeowners night and ask them for their opinion. But I think you do need a permit because this work can affect the fire rating of the building and will require asbestos testing.