All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

@Jim K. no I’m not sure. But i am sure I don’t want to order windows and having placed the order have the city tell me I can’t use them. 

@Theresa Harris thanks. Yes, I will ask the city directly. I find myself looking for ways to not contact them because interacting with them has been such a chore in the past. 

I’ll contact them before i place the order. 

Thank you all for your attention

Hi, I am wanting to hear if anyone has had problems with mold in their mini splits? 

I’ve got to put in new hvac and two hvac guys suggested I use mini splits. 

I have been looking them up and seeing that some filter needs to be replaced every two weeks, and they are likely to get moldy. 

Pittsburgh, where this duplex is at, has high humidity. I can’t imagine what the headache could be in getting these installed in the long run. 

Does anyone in this part of the country where the humidity and temperature is high, have these mini splits? And do they cause a headache? And do you change the filter every two weeks!?

I have central heat and air in my residence and run into no problems. 

I have an air purifier that requires new filters every six months and I’m never on it enough to comply. And that’s every six months not two weeks?!s

Sheesh

@Gil Nahmias That sucks.  I'm not sure what was going on for them that they let that slip...That had to be a huge distraction, huh?  What a headache. 

A long time ago I knew a landlord that gave his tenants the option to have a part of their rent go towards savings that he would give them at years end if they agreed to have him inspect their place once a month, and fix anything that needed fixing right away.  

So, he would set aside say, $100 per month of their rent if they would let him review the place each month.  At the end of the year they would get $1200.  It was often the only form of savings for his tenants.  And, he was able to maintain his places as he could quickly tend to any problems before they got too out of control.  

I know it would not have helped in this overflow bathtub situation, but I've often wondered if it would work nowadays.  

Thoughts?  

Also, in an eviction situation, instead of go through the courts and draw it out, this same landlord would ask them how much money they needed to get off their feet.  I remember it was never all that much, considering.  He would agree to the amount they needed.  Then he would offer himself and his work truck to return to help them move out on the following Saturday.  They never refused.  That next Saturday he would show up with the cash and his truck and help them move out.  He helped them pack, move their furniture and delivered it all to their next place.  

I was always surprised at how smoothly it went.  The place was never left clean, but it was always left quickly without melodrama.  

Has anyone done this?  

@Ryan Normand, upper level is second floor. 

Thank you for the IRC referral.  I'll check it.  

Frinée 

Thank you @Chris Seveney, for responding.  

Is your son's room window cloudy, or clear? 

What does the 24" refer to?  Is that the height the window is from the floor?  

This window can only open 4 inches in total?  

I appreciate any clarifications. 

Ok, 

This is fascinating and only concerning to me.  

Here are the quotes I got recently for my duplex.

It is s gutted and the floors are level.

Top studio is 317 sq ft.

Street level is 888 sq ft.

$75-84k for construction

$15k electrical

$27k electrical

$12.5k plumbing

$33k plumbing

$19k mini splits

 What am I doing wrong?  I feel like I'm doing everything wrong.  

Hi, I am renovating a unit in the city of Pittsburgh and I need to know how low the window sills can be on the upper level.  

I am foregoing putting a balcony to save costs, but still would like a lot of the wall to be windows.  

Do I need to put one of those Juliet balconies if I want a window that is lower to the floor on an upper level?  

Thanks, 

-Frinee

@Travis C. heed the advice of @Dave Skow.  

I did not realize how difficult it would be to find a contractor!  See if you need stamped architectural plans for permits.  If you do need stamped plans, then find an architect asap!  

My rental has been bogged down due to both.  Finding a contractor who is a good fit is almost as crucial as the house itself.  

And, ditto for the architect.  I've been waiting over two months for my stamped plans.  So, I've found another that can get them to me in two weeks.  

Again, where I live I can't do anything without a permit and can't get a permit without stamped plans.  So, for all of it to flow these two pieces must be lined up and wanting to work with you.  

Not having these two reliable members on board has been embarrassingly costly.  

Hi @Robert Ortiz, I had to get on the phone with the permit department in my city and ask them a series of questions because I was just getting so many different answers from all the tradespeople.  You may want to start there.  In my case it was good because I found out I didn't need electrical plans, and my architect was going to draw them up because he didn't know.  So that saved some money right off the bat.  

@Jim K. Thank you for that share.  

I feel like I hired the Belarusian's extended family members as plumbers when we first moved here-they took our tennis rackets, my husband's weight plates, all manner of exercise equipment.  Much of it we have yet to replace.  

I have just been looking at what it takes to have a solid flat roof placed.  I can see now why mine blew.  I want this next roof to be the last for awhile, so, as you say, I'm becoming my own handy-woman.  

Thanks for the tip on what silicone roof coating to use.  I'm going to coat the new roof with it.  

I understand, by reading more of your posts, that you are the IT man here in Pittsburgh, and I thank you for sharing advice, experience, and empathy.