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Construction Exchange

February 5, 2013 RH

Contractors can eat away at a renovation budget until there’s hardly anything left for materials. Wouldn’t it be a great idea to have a barter system? The idea itself isn’t new to me. I’ve often said “I wish I can find a decent contractor who needs a place to live while working on my house.”

Decent being the operative word. I’ve seen Craigslist barter ads from hacks who probably couldn’t get real work anyway.

Enter Ben Erickson. I received an email from the furniture designer/builder saying he will be looking for a new place to live and work within the next year. He currently has a five year lease at one of the most gorgeous mansions in Bed Stuy and with a year left to go, he’s planning ahead.

247 Hancock

Ben’s current situation is as follows: “Four years ago, as some of you know, I gutted and renovated the top floor of this very unique freestanding brownstone at 247 Hancock St. in exchange for reduced fixed rent on a 5 year lease. I invested approx $60,000 upfront and we divided that over the 60 months of my lease. The landlord and I assessed the current market value of the apt at $2250 and simply subtracted the $1000/mo. making my rent $1250. “

So, what makes Ben different from these Craigslist guys? Um, he’s got mad skills. Check out his website.

This time around Ben would like to work on a raw loft space. He seems really into Bed Stuy but perhaps he would consider other neighborhoods if it’s the right project.

Know of anything?

My Free Medicine Cabinet

September 24, 2012 RH 2 Comments

Home renovation and handy work are male dominated fields, so it’s always great to come across another chick to bitch and moan with. Liz from Checklist Home Services was my gal last week. That’s her blurred image in the photo above. We met up a while back, then lost touch. I contacted her again when I saw this rad (yeah, I used that word) antique medicine cabinet giveaway on her blog.

Liz’s business plan is spot on and it’s working out well for her. Checklist Home Services is there for the people of the world who aren’t DIY maniacs. You can “rent” a handy person for 3 hours or on the other end of the spectrum, hire them do an annual home tune-up which covers items like vacuuming refrigerator coils and changing smoke detector batteries.

Although Checklist is there to do repair, maintenance and installations, they are not a full renovation service. Not yet anyway. Personally, I think Liz should take it to the next ~~headache~~ step.

If you think Liz looks familiar, that’s because you may have seen her on Morgan Spurlock’s “The Failure Club”, a must watch for anyone with a goal in life.

So, about the cabinet. It’s rockin’ heavy metal. It’s gorgeous and best of all, it was absolutely free! I’ll sand down the rust and seal it up. Then it’s good to go.

Contractor Rant Or Why We DIY

September 13, 2011 RH 4 Comments

*UPDATE. Funny story. After writing this bitchfest yesterday morning, I realized that my phone was off. Soooo yeah, my bad. But I still stand by my rant after 17 years of dealing with other contractors!

What is it with contractors? Either they don’t return calls or if they do actually set up an appointment, there’s a 50% chance they’ll show up. I write this as I wait for a contractor who is an hour late and another one who was supposed to call to set up an appointment this morning. Maybe they’ll show. Maybe not. I don’t chase them down because if they can’t manage to drag their asses over for an estimate, they’re not going to do the job in a timely manner. Quit while I’m ahead sort of thing.

All we wanted was to finish some projects quickly. If we do it ourselves, it takes forever. We’re not pros. We work on weekends and evenings. But trying to deal with contractors again has brought back bad memories.

Even when they show up for estimates, half of them don’t actually get back to us with the written quote.

Little do our past contractors know that the only reason we hired them was because they showed up. It wasn’t because we like their personality or we were impressed with their work. It wasn’t even that they had the best price. They had the ONLY price.

Once you get beyond the hiring process, that’s when the fun really starts. They come really late. Or not at all. They don’t bother to call. They try to sneak things passed you. I know what you’re thinking. It sounds like that bad relationship you had. And it IS like a bad relationship.

Seriously, I should get a contractor’s license. All I have to do is show up. I’d have all the jobs in town!

Ok, must stop rant now and figure out how we’re gonna DIY this project.

New Windows Installed!

August 9, 2011 RH 2 Comments

Interiors still need to be stained.

After months of research, planning and estimates on replacement windows, we finally had them installed in July. Any window that’s worth a damn is not cheap. (*Worth a damn=NOT vinyl replacements!!) At the end of the day we came in just shy of $30k for 14 windows. The front is custom wood as we have some odd shapes going on and the rear is fiberglass with wood veneer interior. They are historic windows even though this area is not yet landmarked.

So, here’s how it went down.

For the front of the house, we wanted brick to brick as opposed to replacement. Meaning…everything comes out so they can insulate behind the frame. That’s often where the drafts come in, not from the windows themselves. There are less air pockets in the rear of the house, so we got away with replacements there.
Continue reading New Windows Installed!

New Contractor Bid Site Outta Bed Stuy

April 20, 2010 RH 4 Comments

Swee10 is a new “online marketplace where homeowners design, share and post their home remodeling projects and contractors bid on them.”

Much like this blogger, the founder, Jean was inspired after the renovation of her Bed Stuy home. And much like this blogger, she is still not finished with said home.

Swee10 has got it going on though! The company has a team of architects and designers (including Jean) overseeing the now-in-beta website.

Members can browse projects and post their own and receive bids from interested contractors. There is a section to view bids and best of all…complaints! Keeps these guys honest, know what I mean?

Anyway, check it out. Even if you don’t have a project going on, worth the visit to check out that adorable logo!

How to Maximize the Energy Efficiency of Your Shades, Blinds or Drapes

January 13, 2010 RH 4 Comments

Guest Post: Horizon Window Treatments, NYC

It’s all about energy efficiency these days. Whether it’s because they genuinely care about the environment or just want to lower their energy bills and get the tax credits, many people are trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Window treatments are usually not the first thing that peoples think of when assessing the energy efficiency of their homes. But, the fact of the matter is that some carefully selected window treatments can be one of the most effective ways of saving energy as they can reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.

Window shades can be one of the simplest and most effective window treatments for saving energy if they are correctly installed. In order to create a sealed air space, shades should be mounted as close to the glass as possible with the sides of the shade held close to the wall. In the winter, shades should be raised on the south side of the house during the day and then lowered at night. They should be lowered on sunlit windows in the summer. Dual shades can be even more useful as they are highly reflective (white) on one side and heat absorbent (black) on the other. The reflective side should always face the warmest side and they need to be drawn all day to be effective.

If you live in a region where heat gain is a bigger concern than heat loss, window blinds might be a better option than shades. Blinds are more effective at reducing heat gain in the summer than heat loss in the winter because the numerous openings between the slats make it difficult to control how much heat you lose. However, in the case of reducing heat gain, the advantage blinds have over shades is that these slats can be adjusted to control light and ventilation. When completely closed and lowered on a sunny window, highly reflective blinds can reduce heat gain by around 45%.

Draperies come in a wide variety of fabrics and colors, so it is difficult to generalize about their energy performance. Medium-colored draperies with white-plastic backings have been found to reduce heat gains by 33%. Compared to other window treatments, draperies also stay cooler in the summer because their pleats and folds lose heat through convection. In the winter, most conventional draperies can reduce heat loss by up to 10% when drawn. That number can be pushed to 25% if they are hung as close to the window as possible, a cornice is installed at the top and the drapery is sealed at both sides and overlapped in the center.

Deciding on the most energy efficient window treatment is ultimately dependent on the specific insulation needs of your home. People who live in warmer temperatures most of the year would probably benefit more from blinds and drapes, whereas shades would be more useful to those who live in colder climates. Hopefully, with this information you’ll be able to make a better informed decision when it comes time to redecorate.

The $10,700 Stoop

July 15, 2009 RH 6 Comments

So, our brownstone stoop was collapsing and we couldn’t put it off any longer. Yes, we are DIY maniacs, but detailed masonry is not our forte. Unfortunately, I didn’t take before shots, but that side detail was a big bulge, “fixed” by the previous owners over the years. The gate was coming away from the frame, making it mighty difficult to open.

There were a bunch of recommendations for Z. Abedin on the Brownstoner forum. That’s the guy we went with. Licensed, responsible (like he actually shows up when he says he will!) and not as pricey as some of the other brownstone guys.

Could we have gotten this for less? Absolutely. The people up the street are getting their facade done. It’s a total mess and the scaffolding looks dangerous. I’ll bet they would’ve done our stoop for less than half the price. But sorry, it looks like they don’t know what they’re doing. I feel bad for my neighbor.

Something I didn’t know….the longer the scratch coat cures before applying the brown coat, the better it will “take”. It should be a minimum of 2 weeks, but Z suggested even months. That’s fine with me, since we’re paying him in installments. The only thing is, we’re going to have a gray stoop for awhile.

More progress updates tomorrow.

Related: Holes and Wet Stoops

High End Contractor Giving Recession Discounts

March 17, 2009 RH

Our buddy Andrew is a high end contractor who charges sick prices we couldn’t even dream of affording. He gets gazillions of dollars to work on opulent palaces. That was before the collapse of the world economy.

I was chatting with Andrew the other day and he needs work. He hasn’t had a contract in awhile, yeah, because of the economic situation, but mainly because he took time off to sell his house and buy another. And renovate the new home before moving in.

I don’t really know what Andrew’s company, Anglo Inscape normally charges for jobs. He and his employees are highly skilled, meticulous craftspeople. They do specialized, quality work. But Andrew is ready to set his ego aside and charge less because he just wants to get to work again.

Now, I’m not saying he’ll be as cheap as grabbing a day laborer off the street, but it’s possible that this high end contractor might be charging mid range prices now. It can’t hurt to ask. You heard it here that you don’t have to be intimidated by him.

Acoustic Consultants?

August 22, 2008 RH 2 Comments

I didn’t know there was such a thing as an acoustic consultant, but Marketplace interviewed Alan Fierstein of Acoustilog and I’d imagine he does a pretty good business in these parts.

The interview focused on children, or rather one noisy little brat in particular. Not that it’s the child’s fault. It wasn’t the bouncing the ball on the ceiling or jumping on the bed that that lead me to believe the parents should take some control. It was when his mother said he was running around in the hallway. The hallway is a common area! Why is he out there playing??

But I digress. I’m sure we all think we can use some acoustic help, especially in these old rowhouses. And new buildings. And detached frame construction. I mean, I’m upstate right now and those damn crickets are driving me mad! But noise control isn’t only for our own peace of mind. Alan located Molly with his acoustic equipment, the cat that was stuck in the wall for two weeks before he entered the picture.

The company gets much of it’s business from restaurants, clubs and bars who hire them to keep the noise IN, but there are several residential tips on the site for folks to keep the noise OUT. It’s worth checking out!

Exterminators and Cleaners

August 8, 2008 RH 3 Comments

So our new tenants moved in less than 24 hours after the old tenants left. We knew we would have some work to do, but we worked out a deal with the newbies: Their labor in exchange for rent. Seemed like a good idea at the time until we realized the state of the apartment.

The former tenants left the place broom swept. We actually did take some money off their deposit because one roomie was living there with his head up his ass. I dunno…he must’ve been having some wild parties in his bathroom. Anyway, we didn’t expect them to do a thorough cleaning and we were prepared to hire cleaners. We thought we would have time to schedule cleaners of our choice, but it was too disgusting for the newbies to live there for one day, so we needed emergency cleaning help. (No, I wasn’t going to touch it!)

I called the place we used for our post renovation cleaning, Today’s Maid. I was thoroughly happy with them last time. Two people spent 4 hours cleaning windows, cabinets, dusting down molding, etc. It was $350 which was actually less than some of the other prices I was getting at the time. Today’s Maid said they would see if they had someone available and get back to me. I waited about an hour and then called back. “No, we can’t help you today.” Well, thanks for letting me know! Ok, that’s it for Today’s Maid.

So I resorted to Craigslist. I called and called. Finally one woman said she would do it. It was $125 and the job she did was worth about $25. At least she scratched the surface. They got some grime up so the guys could live there for a few days. Oh, PS: They sounded awesome from the posting….organic, green, cleaning supplies, essential oils. Total scam!

Newbie tenant got a referral from a co-worker for Good Impressions Cleaning so we had high hopes for the second cleaner. And hey, whaddya know? They did a great job! Windows, stove (Woo, it needed it!), scrubbed grout, the works! The price? $140. They’re based in Staten Island, but service all five boros. $140 for a move out? A weekly cleaning must be totally affordable!

Let’s move on to the larger issue at hand: the roaches. It was infested. No, INFESTED! We had no idea because the roomies never said anything. And why should they? They invited them in by leaving food around. Luckily, the other apartments didn’t get any.

So newbie called the exterminator. I don’t trust exterminators. First, I’m a DIY person. Second, I believe those stories about them creating more pests so they can stay in business. (But I also believe the aliens killed JFK, so don’t take my word for it.) And third, see my mosquito post for how I feel about killing living creatures.

The exterminator was called Absolute Death. He used a non toxic bait and poison because of the cats in the apartment. It’s a fructose based gel injected on surfaces and in cracks that attracts the roaches. They eat it and carry it on to the other roaches who eat their feces and carcasses, so it keeps working. I’m not sure of the exact poison he used, but it looks like it might be Maxforce.

A less expensive way (and perhaps more pleasant?) to kill roaches is to leave some cheap wine around. Supposedly, they drink it and die. I don’t know if this works, it’s just something I saw online.

If you don’t want to kill them and just want to send them over to your neighbors, some natural repellents include garlic oil, catnip or bay leaves. Roaches also don’t like light, heat and air flow. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the scattering cockroach dance once the light is turned on.

FYI, did you know the cockroach is related to the cricket and grasshopper? I never thought about it, but it makes sense. I can see the resemblance.

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Roaches

Contractor’s Choice Ala NY Times

August 8, 2008 RH

The NY Times interviewed high end Manhattan contractor Stephen Fanuka. His average job is $350k and he has quite a few going at once.

He spoke about materials and their practical uses. I’m kind of liking this glossy ceiling, although I wouldn’t use it in my Victorian homes.

What’s hot right now? Glass, especially in bathrooms. But you’ll need a good installer because the glue shows through if not done properly. I installed some glass mosaic I nabbed from craigslist and lemme tell you, it was a bitch to do! He also mentions white milk glass laminate on walls. Ooh, that sounds suh-weet!

See more here.

And here.

Contractors: Go Green Workshop!

June 16, 2008 RH

Kingsborough Community College has partnered with The Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation to to provide a low cost training workshop for Green Building Certification.

The one day workshop takes place on June 21st from 8am-5pm with exam on June 26th. The cost is $450.

Call 718-368-5050 for registration or contact

Brooklyn Fix It

January 23, 2008 RH

Bill’s Handiwork: 1 day, under $2000

A couple of weeks ago, Nicole, over at Brooklyn Based, asked me for some recommendations on where to get stuff fixed in Brooklyn. I couldn’t come up with any tailors, shoe or watch repair because I’m too cheap to buy items worth fixing, but I was able to weigh in on some home improvement contractors.

I just want to give a shout out to my guys who made the list:

Desmond Harmon for floors: 917-642-2752
Robie for ironwork: 917-892-6913
Bill, NY Fine Circular Stairs: 718-218-9051

I also like to recommend Emilia, a fine artist, for faux painting, murals and staining. devitisemiliaATyahooDOTcom

Full list of everything from bike repair to exterminators to custom framing at Brooklyn Based

Anatomy of a Brownstone:Salvage Design

December 6, 2007 RH

Debra Salomon, the principal of 408 Design Group who organized Anatomy’s events, presented with Pietro Calabretta, owner of All Renovation, NY. The two have partnered on several projects.

Pietro spoke of the Greenstone Project, at 695 Degraw, which he worked on with Eitan Baron.

The home features Caesarstone countertops, dual flush toilets, energy star appliances and Fireclay shower floor tiles. We’ve covered all of those items in the past.

What we found most interested was the hot water return system Pietro mentioned. If we understood correctly, the system reuses the cold water wasted while waiting for the hot water to become hot.

Although all of the speakers shared valuable green building information, we found Debra’s subject matter closest to our hearts: old home restoration and salvaged materials.

She presented a design for an air conditioner cover which is an elaborate Victorian pier mirror housing the wall a/c unit. See photos for details.

Debra also showed us an antique butler’s pantry she and Pietro recreated in a brownstone as well as some gorgeous salvaged cabinets that are sitting in someone’s basement because they can’t use them. (Oy, I’ll take them off your hands.)

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