This Old Money Pit: on to AV (1 Viewer)

[Nick Vermeil]

Some of you may recall I've had a few failed attempts at landing a Brooklyn townhouse over the years. I've always wanted a fixer upper and a yard in the city and now after 15 years of paying New York rents we are finally about to land our very own #### hole in Bed Stuy. It's a two family, four story limestone with yard built in 1910 and it needs a LOT of work. Luckily most of that work is on the finishes. Unluckily the NYC real estate market is demanding all of our money so most renovations will be DIY and spaced out over time.

This thread is going to be my running commentary for the schadenfreude readers and a catch all for my calls for renovation and landlord advice/tips/experiences/warnings. I hope those of you who have the knowledge will throw me a life preserver and the rest of you will enjoy my pain. I know there are a lot of existing threads that will cover some of these topics so I would appreciate a link in here if you have one. I will link all major topic headings in this first post as they come up so hopefully people can use this as a resource for their own home projects.

We still have a 2-4 weeks to close so right now I'm having drawings done and putting together a budget for immediate move in required renovation items. I will be doing the majority of the demo myself (finishes, unwanted interior walls, all non-structural). So that leads me to topic 1:

Topic 1: Tools. What to buy, what to rent? Obviously I'll rent things like a wet saw when it comes time to do tile, but if I'm starting with demo, what tools would you purchase to have in your kit for projects down the road?

Topic 2: Wood Flooring

Topic 3: Water Heater

Topic 4: Baseboard Heaters

Topic 5: AV

 

[dickey moe]

Don't

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Don't

Already happening GB. I appreciate and can relate to your position.

 

[Redwes25]

Sounds awesome and good luck! I wish I could do the same in Brooklyn but have little kids about to enter public school system and the only neighborhoods I can afford a brownstone in would require private schooling, which is an added expensive that throws off the math.

Does the house have any original details? Any attempt at keep/recreate any details?

Also, www.brownstoner.com is probably a good resource.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Can't find a brownstone in Heights, Cobble, or Carroll for under 2, even a run down POS...

There are a few for around 1.5 - 1.8 in Boerum, but they're literally across from the Gowanus Projects.

 

[tdoss]

Buy the tile saw. I bought mine from Harbor Freight for $60. It doesn't require much for a decent time saw...just buy a decent blade. You'll be renting one more than once so makes no sense not to buy it.

You'll tile your floors in different rooms, tile your kitchen counters, backsplash, bathroom, etc. You'll use this thing for years.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Sounds awesome and good luck! I wish I could do the same in Brooklyn but have little kids about to enter public school system and the only neighborhoods I can afford a brownstone in would require private schooling, which is an added expensive that throws off the math.

Does the house have any original details? Any attempt at keep/recreate any details?

Also, www.brownstoner.com is probably a good resource.

Thanks red! This house is not in a particularly good school district either so we will have to finagle the schools when the time comes. We are set for a 2s program for our son that could last through first grade if we want. Likely we will have to look at charter or lottery schools or game the system for public. This is not the approach most preach in NY but we are doing it with eyes wide open.

There are few original details remaining though we are hoping to unearth some as we demo the late 70s additions. We will try to replicate some down the road but the initial push is to set the floor plan and make it livable in the near term. I'll post some pictures in the next few days.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Buy the tile saw. I bought mine from Harbor Freight for $60. It doesn't require much for a decent time saw...just buy a decent blade. You'll be renting one more than once so makes no sense not to buy it.

You'll tile your floors in different rooms, tile your kitchen counters, backsplash, bathroom, etc. You'll use this thing for years.

This is what I'm talking about. Thanks!

 

[fantasycurse42]

From everything I've read the NYC school districts are tough, both with location and redshirting if you have a December baby

 

[Redwes25]

Can't find a brownstone in Heights, Cobble, or Carroll for under 2, even a run down POS...

There are a few for around 1.5 - 1.8 in Boerum, but they're literally across from the Gowanus Projects.

Yeah pickings are slim. One neighborhood I like with good schools is Windsor Terrace but the housing stock is small as neighborhood is tiny.

 

[Redwes25]

From everything I've read the NYC school districts are tough, both with location and redshirting if you have a December baby

Redshirting Impossible now, I can explain if anyone cares.

 

[Redwes25]

Sounds awesome and good luck! I wish I could do the same in Brooklyn but have little kids about to enter public school system and the only neighborhoods I can afford a brownstone in would require private schooling, which is an added expensive that throws off the math.

Does the house have any original details? Any attempt at keep/recreate any details?

Also, www.brownstoner.com is probably a good resource.

Thanks red! This house is not in a particularly good school district either so we will have to finagle the schools when the time comes. We are set for a 2s program for our son that could last through first grade if we want. Likely we will have to look at charter or lottery schools or game the system for public. This is not the approach most preach in NY but we are doing it with eyes wide open.

There are few original details remaining though we are hoping to unearth some as we demo the late 70s additions. We will try to replicate some down the road but the initial push is to set the floor plan and make it livable in the near term. I'll post some pictures in the next few days.

Can't wait to see the picks.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Can't find a brownstone in Heights, Cobble, or Carroll for under 2, even a run down POS...

There are a few for around 1.5 - 1.8 in Boerum, but they're literally across from the Gowanus Projects.

Yeah pickings are slim. One neighborhood I like with good schools is Windsor Terrace but the housing stock is small as neighborhood is tiny.

The whole Prospect Park area is getting really expensive too... BedStuy isn't a bad idea. The area neighboring on Williamsburg is already changing big time. Prob work out as a great investment.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Can't find a brownstone in Heights, Cobble, or Carroll for under 2, even a run down POS...

There are a few for around 1.5 - 1.8 in Boerum, but they're literally across from the Gowanus Projects.

Yeah pickings are slim. One neighborhood I like with good schools is Windsor Terrace but the housing stock is small as neighborhood is tiny.

We looked at 2 bedroom condos and coops in every neighborhood in Brooklyn. The reality is you are paying almost as much for those as houses in Prospect Lefferts, Crown Heights, Bed Stuy and Bushwick. The problem is you have to compete with investors for the housing stock in those neighborhoods so you have to have the cash. We didn't have it. We got lucky and found a house in a blizzard before it hit the open house circuit.

 

[fantasycurse42]

From everything I've read the NYC school districts are tough, both with location and redshirting if you have a December baby

Redshirting Impossible now, I can explain if anyone cares.

Yes please... My son is 11/26, in NJ the cutoff is 10/1... Private school is usually Sept.

 

[dutch]

Buy a sawzall, you'll use it to cut through everything. A very handy tool.

 

[Redwes25]

From everything I've read the NYC school districts are tough, both with location and redshirting if you have a December baby

Redshirting Impossible now, I can explain if anyone cares.

Yes please... My son is 11/26, in NJ the cutoff is 10/1... Private school is usually Sept.

For this ongoing school year, the Chancellor revised the regulations requiring kids to be placed in 1st grade based on their age even if they had not completed kindagarden. Only exception is if Principal deems it kid should be held back and then Principal needs to get approval from Superintendent. http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/1CC25F63-74E8-41A6-8031-490F206F148D/0/A101.pdf

So basically, sending to your kid to pre-K another year and enrolling him K next year doesn't work anymore, which was standard redshirting practice that had worked for years. My son is born Christmas eve so this has created a ton of heartburn for my wife as he starts kindagarden in September and that has correspondingly made my life misereable.

 

[fantasycurse42]

What if you send them to private school for kindergarten a year late & then switch them over to public for 1st grade? They can't just make them skip first grade...

 

[ChiefD]

Get a good cordless drill combo kit. Something like a DeWalt. They have several options out there, but whatever you do, get one with a 1/2" chuck and with lithium ion batteries. If you can swing the dough, get the kit that also has the impact driver. This tool will be really helpful, especially in an older townhome. No doubt there is some old wood in there, which will be nice and hard and seasoned. So the impact driver will really come in handy.

The sawzall is a must. A 12" miter saw is a nice tool to have. A circular saw is good to have. When you buy your tools, try and get decent stuff, because you really do get what you pay for.

Back in the day I used to sell for DeWalt, and I've been a contractor. So if you have any specific questions, I can help. Also, if you need HVAC advice, I've been in the business for the last 8 years.

 

[dutch]

A tip I got from my brother when he renovated his house was hire out the drywall taping and mudding. It's laborious, messy and not as easy as it looks to get right so it looks smooth when painted over. Tell the laborer you want it paint ready. The hanging you can do yourself with the help of another set of hands.

 

[tdoss]

Worm - drive saw...you'll use it to cut wood, metal and stone.

Pancake compressor for air driven tools and just blowing stuff off. You'll use it more than you think.

Brad/nail gun to go with compressor.

Orbital sander

Saw horses

Table saw

Chop saw

Cordless drill/driver

Stud finder

Laser level

When I gave time I'll come back with suggestions of what kinds/brands. Some tools you need to spend good money on...others it doesn't matter.

 

[PitbullTD]

For the love of god, do not buy anything at harbor freight. You might as well piss the money away. Tools are an investment, and if you buy quality and take care of it youll have them forever.

On the renting aspect, try to find a specialty rental spot. Dont rent your tile saw or floor sander from home depot. One, its already a rental so beat to ####, two, the guys at home depot will have no clue as to how to balance, or dial them in.

You dont want to spend all that money, blood, sweat, and tears only to have equipment failure on something everyone will see.

Last bit, diychatroom.com you will find everything you need in that forum, and many of us who are licensed contractors dole out all the advice and steo by step procedures you can handle.

Ill try to keep an eye on your thread, you can always pm me. I hold a class a builders license, and specialize in historic remodeling.

 

[tdoss]

For the love of god, do not buy anything at harbor freight. You might as well piss the money away. Tools are an investment, and if you buy quality and take care of it youll have them forever.

On the renting aspect, try to find a specialty rental spot. Dont rent your tile saw or floor sander from home depot. One, its already a rental so beat to ####, two, the guys at home depot will have no clue as to how to balance, or dial them in.

You dont want to spend all that money, blood, sweat, and tears only to have equipment failure on something everyone will see.

Last bit, diychatroom.com you will find everything you need in that forum, and many of us who are licensed contractors dole out all the advice and steo by step procedures you can handle.

Ill try to keep an eye on your thread, you can always pm me. I hold a class a builders license, and specialize in historic remodeling.

What exactly do you need in a tile saw? I bought the cheapest piece of crap ten years ago and it still does what I need. Just spin the freaking blade through the tray of water so it keeps the blade wet and cool. There is absolutely nothing special about a freaking tile saw. He's not going into contracting...just renovating his own home. $60 at Harbor Freight is all you'll ever need on this subject.I'll agree they have a lot of crap but there is also great buys and useful tools especially if you don't want to invest a lot in something you'll only use VERY sparingly.

Brad/nail gun for baseboards. ..harbor freight. No need to spend more than $30 on this. He's not going to need to dump $150 on a decent brad/nail gun just for his freaking baseboards (and yes...you'll need a nail gun...baseboards and moulding is EVERYWHERE...don't try nailing that by hand).

 

[dutch]

Brad/nail gun for baseboards. ..harbor freight. No need to spend more than $30 on this. He's not going to need to dump $150 on a decent brad/nail gun just for his freaking baseboards (and yes...you'll need a nail gun...baseboards and moulding is EVERYWHERE...don't try nailing that by hand).

 

[ChiefD]

Home Depot has a porter cable compressor and tool combo set for $269. You get the compressor, finish nailer, brad nailer, and crown stapler. And the hose.

This is the set you need and worth every penny.

 

[Redwes25]

What if you send them to private school for kindergarten a year late & then switch them over to public for 1st grade? They can't just make them skip first grade...

Wouldn't have thought they would do that to a kid who missed Kindagarten which is mandatory in NYC. I wouldn't play with it.

Sorry for the highjack.

 

[Otis]

Good buddy of mine (and lurker here) and his wife bought a brownstone in the slope about a year or two ago and blogged their journey. Place turned out awesome, they bought just before prices went bananas.

http://bklynbrownstoneproject.wordpress.com

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Get a good cordless drill combo kit. Something like a DeWalt. They have several options out there, but whatever you do, get one with a 1/2" chuck and with lithium ion batteries. If you can swing the dough, get the kit that also has the impact driver. This tool will be really helpful, especially in an older townhome. No doubt there is some old wood in there, which will be nice and hard and seasoned. So the impact driver will really come in handy.

The sawzall is a must. A 12" miter saw is a nice tool to have. A circular saw is good to have. When you buy your tools, try and get decent stuff, because you really do get what you pay for.

Back in the day I used to sell for DeWalt, and I've been a contractor. So if you have any specific questions, I can help. Also, if you need HVAC advice, I've been in the business for the last 8 years.

Thanks. Do you think DeWalt is a good brand on the miter saw? Those things vary in cost quite a bit.

Though the boiler and water heater are brand new I will definitely have some HVAC and plumbing questions. Those will probably come in Topic 3 and 4 early next week!

 

[Nick Vermeil]

A tip I got from my brother when he renovated his house was hire out the drywall taping and mudding. It's laborious, messy and not as easy as it looks to get right so it looks smooth when painted over. Tell the laborer you want it paint ready. The hanging you can do yourself with the help of another set of hands.

This was my exact plan. Full disclosure, I work for an architecture/interiors firm though I am neither and architect or designer. I do have some connections to contractors that do work way out of my price range. They will be able to hook me up with laborers and skilled trades for the things I can't handle.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Worm - drive saw...you'll use it to cut wood, metal and stone.

Pancake compressor for air driven tools and just blowing stuff off. You'll use it more than you think.

Brad/nail gun to go with compressor.

Orbital sander

Saw horses

Table saw

Chop saw

Cordless drill/driver

Stud finder

Laser level

When I gave time I'll come back with suggestions of what kinds/brands. Some tools you need to spend good money on...others it doesn't matter.

Definitely interested in the brand recommendations. I also would like some more detail on the table saw. Other than Sheetrock which I can cut with a knife, I'm not sure how much large stock I'm going to be dealing with especially in the short term. What are your thoughts on the need for that one?

 

[Nick Vermeil]

For the love of god, do not buy anything at harbor freight. You might as well piss the money away. Tools are an investment, and if you buy quality and take care of it youll have them forever.

On the renting aspect, try to find a specialty rental spot. Dont rent your tile saw or floor sander from home depot. One, its already a rental so beat to ####, two, the guys at home depot will have no clue as to how to balance, or dial them in.

You dont want to spend all that money, blood, sweat, and tears only to have equipment failure on something everyone will see.

Last bit, diychatroom.com you will find everything you need in that forum, and many of us who are licensed contractors dole out all the advice and steo by step procedures you can handle.

Ill try to keep an eye on your thread, you can always pm me. I hold a class a builders license, and specialize in historic remodeling.

Will check out that link. Thanks for the advice, prepare for PM deluge.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Home Depot has a porter cable compressor and tool combo set for $269. You get the compressor, finish nailer, brad nailer, and crown stapler. And the hose.

This is the set you need and worth every penny.

This would appear to be an excellent deal. Thanks!

 

[comfortably numb]

you will probably be at Home Depot/Lowes for the next few years on a weekly basis.

Go on ebay, and buy Lowes 10% coupons.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Lowes-10-Off-Coupons-Save-up-to-500-each-Fast-Shipping-Exp-5-15-14-/271419137672?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f31d75e88

Home Depot will honor these coupons.

Each time you go to buy stuff, 10% off.

I am assuming these are honored in NY and you may have to call to make sure your HD honors competitor coupons,

 

[Nick Vermeil]

On the sawzall and other tools like drill and sander, I see that there are some cordless kits available from Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee. Is this the way to go or is it better to be corded for the sander, circular saw, etc? And dumb question, a sawzall is a just a reciprocating saw, right?

 

[ChiefD]

On the sawzall and other tools like drill and sander, I see that there are some cordless kits available from Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee. Is this the way to go or is it better to be corded for the sander, circular saw, etc? And dumb question, a sawzall is a just a reciprocating saw, right?

Yes, a sawzall is a reciprocating saw.

And I would go corded on that saw for sure. And corded on any sander you buy.

The rest: you could go cordless on the circular saw. It just depends on how much you'll need to cut. My guess is you aren't going to be framing the whole house, even though you may frame one wall here or there. For that, and everything else, you can use a cordless saw just fine.

 

[ChiefD]

Get a good cordless drill combo kit. Something like a DeWalt. They have several options out there, but whatever you do, get one with a 1/2" chuck and with lithium ion batteries. If you can swing the dough, get the kit that also has the impact driver. This tool will be really helpful, especially in an older townhome. No doubt there is some old wood in there, which will be nice and hard and seasoned. So the impact driver will really come in handy.

The sawzall is a must. A 12" miter saw is a nice tool to have. A circular saw is good to have. When you buy your tools, try and get decent stuff, because you really do get what you pay for.

Back in the day I used to sell for DeWalt, and I've been a contractor. So if you have any specific questions, I can help. Also, if you need HVAC advice, I've been in the business for the last 8 years.

Thanks. Do you think DeWalt is a good brand on the miter saw? Those things vary in cost quite a bit.

Though the boiler and water heater are brand new I will definitely have some HVAC and plumbing questions. Those will probably come in Topic 3 and 4 early next week!

I believe that DeWalt has the best miter saw out there. But keep in mind: I worked for them, and it was many years ago. But I've had mine for about 15 years and it's still going strong, and I've done a lot with it.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

On the sawzall and other tools like drill and sander, I see that there are some cordless kits available from Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee. Is this the way to go or is it better to be corded for the sander, circular saw, etc? And dumb question, a sawzall is a just a reciprocating saw, right?

Yes, a sawzall is a reciprocating saw. And I would go corded on that saw for sure. And corded on any sander you buy.

The rest: you could go cordless on the circular saw. It just depends on how much you'll need to cut. My guess is you aren't going to be framing the whole house, even though you may frame one wall here or there. For that, and everything else, you can use a cordless saw just fine.

I'll be taking out more walls than I'm putting up. Thanks.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

[SIZE=10pt]Thanks for the advice on the tools. Please keep the recommendations coming particularly on brand. How about plumbing tools for a new home owner/landlord? Rough plumbing will be done by a professional. Now moving on...[/SIZE]

Here is a little more back story on the house and what we hope to accomplish before we move in. Pictures are still coming. I have to figure out how to get back into my flikr account.

[SIZE=10pt]The house is a four story limestone, two family with two floors per apartment. We will initially move into the lower duplex of the garden and parlor floor so that we can have access to the back yard and still have a big 3 bedroom to rent to help offset the mortgage. The goal is to move into the parlor and top 2 floors in about 5 years and then rent out the garden level as a 1 bedroom. In order to do this, we will have to build a deck off the parlor so we can still reach the backyard. That is obviously a project for down the road.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]In order to move in, we have to (in no particular order):[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Demo all existing fixtures in the 2 bathrooms and 2 kitchens[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Resurface roof[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Sister main carrier beam and 2 floor joists. All are deemed fine by the engineer, but he recommends this work for longevity and now is the time to do it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE]Remove all interior walls on garden level except for the bathroom. No re-framing as it will be open floor plan.

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Remove and re-frame all interior walls on parlor level for 2 bedrooms, new bath and widen our living space all the way to the edge of the main stair to the rental. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Remove and re-frame dividing wall between kitchen and bathroom in rental.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Remove crappy ceilings on both floors of our unit (we will likely leave the beams exposed for now. More on that later.)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Rough plumbing for a new 3rd bathroom on the parlor floor[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Very limited electrical work in our duplex, a few ceiling fixtures and added outlets.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Install flooring throughout.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Install new bath fixtures in all 3 baths.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Install new kitchen cabinets and appliances in both kitchens.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Repair one plaster wall along the stair that is coming loose from the lathe.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Replace water heater or repair vent (more on this later).[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Replace or hide baseboard heating, hate these things. (more on this later).[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Paint whole house interior.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Carpet runner on stair to rental. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]· [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Clean out back yard overgrowth, dog house and damaged fencing to leave a blank slate for summer and future projects. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]I'm tired just typing that. The windows also will need to be replaced soon but they are ok for now and a likely victim of the budget. Topic 2 coming up in a bit. [/SIZE]

 

[Nick Vermeil]

[SIZE=10pt]TOPIC 2: WOOD FLOORING[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]We had hoped there would be some fantastic original wood floors discovered under the carpet and bad tile but sadly most of it is gone and what remains is in bad shape. We are looking to cover roughly 2,000 square feet in hardwood and an additional 700 in various tiles. There has been some good information on the board regarding floors but I wanted to float some questions specific to my place. As with everything in this house, we are trying to keep costs as low as possible.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]1. Engineered vs. solid hardwood. I'm interested in your opinions either way. We are looking at 4 floors of coverage, one of which is below grade. However, the below grade floor is the garden level and there is a basement beneath that. Will the garden level still have issues with moisture and require an engineered product? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]2. Prefinished vs. unfinished floor. I've read the pros and cons but am curious what the experiences from you guys may be and if you have any recommendations. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]3. Installation. I'm 95% sure I'll have a pro install these and I'll handle the tile, but for those of you with experience how difficult is a DIY wood flooring project? How much square footage could I hope to cover per day with a few handy buddies? If I did it myself, would that affect whether I should go pre or unfinished? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]4. Any thoughts on species, width, length, style or source would be appreciated. [/SIZE]

 

[ChiefD]

I've done a LOT of remodeling, and with that kind of square footage for hardwoods or something similar, I would even hire it out.

For me, I would go with unfinished hardwood floors. Just my preference for my home. There are a lot of good options now that are available, but hardwood flooring has stood the test of time in regards to style, being in fashion, and are extremely durable.

Just my personal preference.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

I've done a LOT of remodeling, and with that kind of square footage for hardwoods or something similar, I would even hire it out.

For me, I would go with unfinished hardwood floors. Just my preference for my home. There are a lot of good options now that are available, but hardwood flooring has stood the test of time in regards to style, being in fashion, and are extremely durable.

Just my personal preference.

Where are you located Chief? Where do you source your flooring, or do you let the installer do that?

 

[Worm]

A tip I got from my brother when he renovated his house was hire out the drywall taping and mudding. It's laborious, messy and not as easy as it looks to get right so it looks smooth when painted over. Tell the laborer you want it paint ready. The hanging you can do yourself with the help of another set of hands.

This. So many times this.

It seems like something "easy". But it's not. You won't get it looking right without lots and LOTS of practice.

 

[Worm]

I would do the floors yourself imo.

I did my in-laws whole house by myself when I was like 25, never having done it before. Rent the equipment. I don't even know what it's called, but it's like a nail gun for wood floors... it sits perfectly on the tongue of the flooring and shoots the nail right into the crease. Stagger your seams, measure all your cuts twice, nail it in... easy peasy.

 

[sbonomo]

 

[El Floppo]

holy smokes- congrats!

if you need anything- ANYTHING- let me know. babysitting, no- but any kind of drawings/design-ideas or similar...

fwiw- I don't think you're going to have problems with moisture on the Garden Level (basement) flooring if there's a basement (cellar) too.

My limited experience w/ prefinished floors is that they look great going in, but refinishing them becomes the problem later on. I'd also recommend unfinished, but am looking forward to hearing more. There's an FBG who is wood flooring contractor (IIRC)... wtf is his name- it'll come to me. very knowledgeable and very helpful with this kind of thing.

I've known a few people very happy with Lumber Liquidators- I'm sure you've tried them. Showroom above Union Square a block or three, IIRC. Go in, look at some species and widths that look good to you and get a price.

Couldn't tell you about DIY vs hiring- but 2k sf seems like a lot to cover for a guy like you.

So you're not going to hire Peiser?

 

[Nick Vermeil]

holy smokes- congrats!

if you need anything- ANYTHING- let me know. babysitting, no- but any kind of drawings/design-ideas or similar...

fwiw- I don't think you're going to have problems with moisture on the Garden Level (basement) flooring if there's a basement (cellar) too.

My limited experience w/ prefinished floors is that they look great going in, but refinishing them becomes the problem later on. I'd also recommend unfinished, but am looking forward to hearing more. There's an FBG who is wood flooring contractor (IIRC)... wtf is his name- it'll come to me. very knowledgeable and very helpful with this kind of thing.

I've known a few people very happy with Lumber Liquidators- I'm sure you've tried them. Showroom above Union Square a block or three, IIRC. Go in, look at some species and widths that look good to you and get a price.

Couldn't tell you about DIY vs hiring- but 2k sf seems like a lot to cover for a guy like you.

So you're not going to hire Peiser?

Thanks GB. I actually would love to get a beer with you when the as builts are done. I'm hoping that will be this week but I've got to keep the staff on billable work! We need to catch up anyway.

 

[ChiefD]

I've done a LOT of remodeling, and with that kind of square footage for hardwoods or something similar, I would even hire it out.

For me, I would go with unfinished hardwood floors. Just my preference for my home. There are a lot of good options now that are available, but hardwood flooring has stood the test of time in regards to style, being in fashion, and are extremely durable.

Just my personal preference.

Where are you located Chief? Where do you source your flooring, or do you let the installer do that?

I'm in Kansas City. There's a distributor here where we would always get our flooring. Can't remember the name: it's been a long time. Usually the installer has a contact, but if he buys it sometimes you'll pay a mark up on materials also.

I'm a big fan of buying your own materials, even if you use subs. Keeps you out of trouble if your sub doesn't pay his material bill.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

Anyone have any thoughts on this bamboo floor? I looked at it in person and they are damn near giving it away. It looks nice but at that price, is it total crap?

 

[El Floppo]

Aside from the fantastic regrowth side of bamboo, I'm not a big fan of the way it looks. That said, I haven't heard any complaints about durability for it. How many sq ft do you have- 2k? That seems like a pretty nice deal for the material.

 

[El Floppo]

Hey Nick- Here's a thread about flooring... also has GTBilly, who IIRC is a GC or specifically flooring contractor. That guy knows things about this stuff.