We got blasted with snow in Beacon last week. As if digging out for 4 hours, two days in a row isn’t bad enough, nearly the entire town lost power. The City of Beacon was under a State of Emergency, which has since been lifted.
Trees are down. Most of Main Street lost power. The post office was closed. Beacon Natural was giving away free melting ice cream. It might’ve been a fun adventure if I wasn’t stuck alone in my dark, cold house.
I did what any gal with a city pad would do….I got the hell outta there!
The roads had cleared enough by Saturday for the husband to come up from Brooklyn. Central Hudson was saying it could be mid-week before we got power. The house would only get colder. After one restless night of sleep, no shower for two days, and non stop shoveling with wet socks that I couldn’t dry, I was getting cranky. We assessed the situation and decided to take the pets and head down to Bed Stuy until power returns. Unfortunately, after several tries, the van wouldn’t start, so we squeezed the 6 cats and 2 dogs into my Rav 4.
It’s the third day since Beacon has lost power and most folks have lights and heat now. Not our house. Could be the light show I witnessed outside my window on Thursday night. The one that rivaled any at the planetarium. Or it could be that tree that came down in the road, perhaps taking some electrical wires with it.
I’m toasty warm and enjoying a sunny Brooklyn day. Pissed that we’re missed a few days of working on the house, but kinda happy we’re being forced to take a day off.
I just feel bad for my neighbors who decided to stick it. I would have endured, but the pets looked cold. Yeah, right.
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Hope your lights are on in Beacon by now…I’ve heard tons of folks up there are still without power…eek! Very glad you could bail and head back to Bklyn.
Our hallway ceiling was beyond repair. It was sagging with too many cracks for a skimcoat and the plaster is so dry that it just crumbles. So we needed to take down the ceiling and put up sheetrock.
Why not simply laminate you ask? Well, we have the original wood molding near the staircase, so the sheetrock had to fit underneath that.
Anyway, we’re talking medallions. So, we have this medallion, see? Obviously needed to save that baby! It could be a diy job, but I wouldn’t trust myself or my husband to do it. I just had visions of that medallion crashing down on the floor. So, Dimas the contractor to the rescue.
Here’s what he did:
1. First thing is, he secured it with more screws, making sure it stays with the remaining ceiling. The screw holes can be patched up later.
2. Cut around it. Crap, I forgot to see what tool he used! I’m sure the hubby would’ve gone in there with a Sawzall , but he either did it manually with a utility knife or maybe used a Jigsaw.
3. With the medallion secured and separated from the rest of the plaster, it was time for the ceiling to come down.
4. Sheetrock hole was cut as close as possible and plastered all around.
5. This is as far as he got, but you get the picture now. Maybe another coat of joint compound, sand, prime and paint.
1. Secret New York.
2. You’re from where? Oh that sucks, I’m from NY.
3. U know ur from Brooklyn if….
4. I’m a New Yorker. I know what a real bagel is.
9. Bitch, please. I’m from New York.
10. Yo, Yo, Yo, I’m from Brooklyn
Still bummed about being buried under a foot of snow? If so, then you’re probably already dreaming about the middle of April. You know, that strange time of the year when weeks of windy, overcast days in the mid 40′s magically turn into sunny days in the mid 60′s? Personally, I’m counting down the days until warm weather arrives while I spend long February days staring out the window debating the merits of shoveling my sidewalk against the challenge 14-inches of snow pose to my mail carrier. Anyway, eventually the weather is going to improve, and I’m going to need to get out there and do some overdue maintenance on my tiny piece of suburban splendor.
So what the heck should I do to jump start my spring home improvements? Standard landscaping and up keep aside, I’m thinking about taking some time to improve the exterior appearance of my home. My wife already is doing a great job of maintaining the inside of our home. After taking the beating of holding all that snow this winter, I’m thinking (like I imagine most people are) that the condition of my roof is probably going to need some attention.
Assuming that the roof is where I’m going to focus my time and energy, where the heck do I begin? Shingles are important, but no one is just going to notice that I got new shingles. I’m trying to do something that will make that group of old guys who stand at the edge of their driveway with beers in hand (yeah, just like King of the Hill) take notice of my improvements.
To that end, I’m considering buying a cupola for my crib.
What the heck is a cupola?
A cupola is one of those windowed boxes with a roof that typically sit atop barns, gazebos, and houses. City dwellers will most often recognize cupolas as the dome structures located on top of a old building, like a church or government building.
Now that the real estate market has some life in it once again, I have a feeling many people are going to be working on reclaiming their homes… and, to a certain degree, the value of their home. Cupolas not only provide a classic look to a house, they also improve curb appeal – which, in turn, improves the value of a home on the market.
So, if you wanna follow my lead and shop around for some cupolas as that snow works on melting away over the next couple weeks, here’s a few things to keep in mind as you’re window shopping:
- Weather-resistance. Weather resistance is a lot less important to your grandparents who retired to Arizona than it is to those of us who still experience four seasons. Make sure the cupola you pick and the roofing material you select can handle all our different types of weather. Vinyl PVC board and copper sheeting tend to hold up best against the elements.
- Styling. Almost every cupola has a window and some decoration. The more complex the decoration, the more $ needed to purchase. The most common cupolas in our area come with louvres, which allow for air flow but shed against the elements. Copper sheeting is recommended for the roof of a cupola, but roof designs can be bell-shaped, concave, or crown molded. Pro designers typically lean towards selecting one that closely matches your home roof. Oh, and if you want to top off your cupola with a weathervane or finial, make sure the cupola includes an interior mount.
- Roof pitch. Click here for a handy, web-based roof pitch calculator. Roofs come at a variety of angles. Cupolas need to fit properly on roofs. I don’t think I need to go into much detail here, but make sure you know the pitch of your roof before you buy a cupola.
*Guest post by Jonathan Bentz
Greentea Design, an Asian inspired handcrafted sustainable furniture company is having a winter sale! It started January 6th and runs until February 28th, so hurry! They are offering up to 30% off throughout the entire website.
From Green Tea:
“The Winter Sale discounts are offered based on the collection the furniture is in. The Kuryo Collection gets the biggest discount at 30% off. The popular Maru Table Collection, made directly from reclaimed Korean floors has a discount of 10%. The Sakura lighting collection and Antiques Section are both 10% off as well. The rest of Greentea Design’s line is 20% off. The sale only applies to stock pieces; custom orders are excluded from any discounts.
Last year’s Winter Sale went over very well. We had an amazing response and I’m hoping that this year will be even better. We’ve done a lot in the last year to add new products, improve the website, and to continue to offer dependable, solid wood furniture made from eco-friendly resources.”
Maru Coffee Table, constructed from original slabs of century-old Korean flooring. 10% off!
Bar Step, 30% off. How cool is this??!!
Spring 2010 Offering: Layouts and Lifestyles
Course Code: BRNS 032
Date: Saturday, 3/13
Time: 1 – 5 pm
Fee: $40
Directions: click here
When it’s time to renovate your Brownstone, there may be nothing like the original. But how do you create a floor plan that fits your lifestyle? During this edition of the popular Anatomy of a Brownstone series, we will mix a little history and a lot of examples of what your neighbors’ Brownstones look like inside and outside their old homes. Architects and designers will show you how to fit your family’s life and style into a classic Brownstone.
Speakers
1 to 2 pm
Alexander Stoltz AIA, Vaidya Stoltz Architects, and Kenneth Conzelmann, RA are members of the City Tech Architectural Technology department.
They will share examples of recent projects and offer insights into the architectural process- from ideas to finished home.
2 to 3 pm
Gennaro Brooks-Church is a Certified Eco Broker, LEED AP, National Sustainable Building Adviser and the founder of Eco Brooklyn, a company that focuses on green brownstone renovations. He will discuss passive design approaches for creating energy-smart brownstones.
3 to 4 pm
Interior Designer Judith Angel, Allied Member ASID, will show how to bring rooms into focus using principles of form and design. Learn to use the objects you own and love as the starting point for a room that is distinctly your own.
4 to 5 pm
Debra Salomon, Program Developer at City Tech Division of Continuing Education and owner of 408 Group Design, will share favorite sources for fixtures and furnishings that will fit your style and budget.
Download registration form here and complete. (Include course code)
Ways To Register:
By Phone: Call 718 552-1170
By Mail: Complete registration form and mail check or money order to:
NYCCT Continuing Studies Center, 300 Jay Street, Howard Building 4th Floor
Brooklyn NY 11201
Walk in: 25 Chapel Street, 4th Floor, Brooklyn NY 11201
Click here for directions
Ok, so this is an update on the shellac stripping post.
Here’s where it’s at:
Stripped all the shellac off with denatured alcohol and steel wool. Stripping tools would’ve come in waaay handy, but they are down in Brooklyn. I did cave and purchase two tools that I already have…. a pull scraper for flat surfaces and a pointy one to get into tight areas. The beauty of the tools is that I go through less steel wool and there’s less wear and tear on my dainty little hands.
It seemed like the trick was to work wet, then wipe away the excess “dirty” alcohol with dry towels. Once everything was stripped, I went over it again. (*Note: Never keep oily rags in the house! They are highly flammable. Dispose of them properly.)
Looks brand new stripped bare. But ’tis too light for my taste. Ok, here’s where I went wrong. I stained it with Mini Wax Red Oak. Nice color and I’ve worked with it a lot. But my buddy Andrew, a fine wood finisher, didn’t get to me on time with his advice. He hates Mini Wax because it takes so long to dry and has some poly in it. He prefers true stains.
Andrew would have stained it with a quick drying stain, then shellacked, which takes 10 minutes to dry. After that, he would’ve sealed it with Epifanes Rubbed Effect Varnish (Cut 50/50 with mineral spirits. Or was it paint thinner?) to give me that non-glossy look I so desire.
When he saw my somewhat patchy stain job, he said there was no need to shellac because it’s already sealed. Just varnish to get rid of the shine.
On the wood that was just glossy, but not crazed, I was advised to wipe it down with mineral spirits to clean it up and varnish. He also showed me how to ever so gently go over old shellac by softly brushing a denatured alcohol rag over the area. It will lighten the wood, but not strip it. It’s difficult to control though, so I probably won’t be doing that.
And that’s what I learned today!
PS: Ladies, Andrew is single. I just thought I’d throw that out there.
Sustaina-Map App for iPhone. Green Map
*Litterary Kitty Needs Home. Renovation Therapy
*Yeah, it’s a pun. I know how to spell! Well, I have spell check, anyway.
Michael Jackson @ Hoyt-Schermerhorn. Brownstoner
Recycled Rain Catchers. Enviro Gadget
Best Old House Neighborhoods. This Old House
* Stuyvesant Heights is included with no mention of it being part of Bed Stuy.
Best Interior Paints=Low VOC. ReNest
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PS: Just found out that the neighbor’s bird died from the cold! That’s f*ed up! It’s on your head, Central Hudson!
Comment by RH — February 28, 2010 @ 12:11 pm