Balconies and Terraces - Value Added?

luciato: about 5 years ago

talked to a plumber a he said no on the gas line. does anybody know if there is a plumber out there willing to do it?

manhattanguy, i can't live far from work. i'm from texas and i can't walk more than 10 blocks!

westelle: about 5 years ago

forced to register: by the look of the windows in the terrace shot, you'll have to climb some to get to the terrace. And is it a barbed wire there? Still, a private terrace is a private terrace

forced_to_register: about 5 years ago

oops...

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/217472-coop-27-west-55th-street-midtown-manhattan

forced_to_register: about 5 years ago

Just received this listing today via broker's postcard. Great outdoor space although no great view.

manhattanguy: about 5 years ago

this is the way Manhanttan residents fool themselves to think they live in a big house with a real backyard. Go get a real house luciato:)

AvUWS: about 5 years ago

I still don't get why someone wants to cook with gas. The only thing that has in common with a real BBQ is that you are cooking outside. :p

realestatejunkie: about 5 years ago

I believe that if you touch the gas lines you are going to need Department Of Buildings to sign off. The level of difficulty on the job is a function of where the existing natural gas line is and how far (and through what) the line has to be run to the outside.

In addition to that, even though you are a condo, the board, or its designate, needs to approve your alteration. As soon as they hear you are running a gas line outside I bet they freak out and say no.

Just do charcoal, I think most barbecue enthusiasts will tell you it is the best medium in terms of both heat and flavor.

westelle: about 5 years ago

luciato- it's still the building engineer. And a ton of permits. You really cannot do it on the sly.

luciato: about 5 years ago

my bf was talking about installing a dedicated gas line, but i'm wondering (a) if this is feasible and (b) if it's affordable. ours is a condo, so no coop board. but even without that issue, is it just a matter of bringing in a licensed gas guy to do the work? and how would it be done? would he have to open up the floor or something to extend the gas that's in our kitchen to somehow reach through our living room to get to the terrace? any idea on prices?

westelle: about 5 years ago

I saw a fire pit in someone's place, and I think it's a pretty good idea. It's practically smokeless, has a bunch of sand to absorb whatever has to be absorbed, and it looks good. Not like the Humvee-like trendy but good.

malraux: about 5 years ago

If you have a dedicated gas line, there is NO 10 foot requirement. My BBQ is right next the building wall, but that's no problem because of the dedicated line. There's is absolutely no doubt that this approach is not only the most board friendly, but if you're cooking with anything else (like charcoal - even if it is 10 feet away from the building), you're better off keeping your mouth shut, and if the board calls you out, just say that you weren't aware of the situation and bat your eyes.

nohoho: about 5 years ago

so as long as the source is at least 10 ft from the building, which of the following approaches are most co-op board friendly? gas line or charcoal? propane, i assume, is most illegal...

westelle: about 5 years ago

Thank you AvUWS. Also please tell them that there's a reason propane tanks are banned from tunnels and such.

AvUWS: about 5 years ago

TheFed - Those gas lines into your apartment are (hopefully) installed by a licensed professional and to a code. Propane tanks are attached by "civilians" to a grill they may have assembled themselves. They also are there in case of a fire where the gas line would be shut off by FDNY in the case of a fire. That means that they can blemy (cook off and explode). There is a reason the FDNY can get hung up about them.

TheFed: about 5 years ago

Westelle,
You do realize that you (likely) have poisonous and explosive natural gas piped into your apartment? Can't forget that electric service either which is great for starting fires as well as electrocution!

I'm not trying to be a douche (any more than usual) and laws are laws, but I can't stop and chuckle at the complete disconnect in logic in your post(s).

Cpalms: about 5 years ago

BTW, the people at Gracious Home will give you the name of a service that delivers propane and charcoal, it is expensive but a nice service...I my building we all grill on our back terraces, it is against the rules but nobody complains...

AvUWS: about 5 years ago

Westelle, a recipe that would work for your double X chromosome sensibilities - BBQ grilled pizza. Check for a recipe that was on Bobby Flay's Boy-meets-grill.

westelle: about 5 years ago

I mean, I wouldn't want to live next to a propane tank.

AvUWS: about 5 years ago

Charred cow.... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!

westelle: about 5 years ago

Why would anybody opt for propane when there are safe (and legal) alternatives? Why antagonize neighbors for a stinky piece of charred cow?

PHBuyer: about 5 years ago

I had a propane grill at my old (rental) place. The building owner didn't care at all about it - everyone with a terrace used to grill with gas, and the doormen gave us the number of a delivery service for exchanging the propane tank (from Brooklyn, I no longer have the number). We would even just leave the empty tank and a check with the doormen when they needed to be exchanged, and they'd take care of it for us. Ah, those were the days...

malraux: about 5 years ago

Just drag the gas line from your stove out to the terrace.

AvUWS: about 5 years ago

Luciato - Those kinds of rules are no joke when someone has to deal with a landlord or coop board. Me, I am rent-stabilized, so why would I want to risk it. Besides, charcoal really does taste a whole lot better than gas. (by the way, the FDNY has all sorts of rights to inspect and fine if they see your propane tank if they are on another terrace or roof, for example. And they can fine the building itself for your violation.)

westelle: about 5 years ago

luciato - after you apologize, you'll pay a fine... and if there's propane on your terrace, your building has the right to sic the cops on you... and if your propane blows up, you...

AvUWS: about 5 years ago

If you keep them piled together at the end (and thus hot) they will burn themselves into almost nothing. Then wait a day or so to make sure they are completely "out" (or use water). You will go from a buckets' worth to less than a cup. Then you can either use those coals the next time or throw them out. They are just burnt wood. Definitely do not toss them down the chute if there is even a small chance there is still an ember. Real wood charcoal is light, really light, a bag the size of those huge pet-food bags weighs only about 8lb's.

luciato: about 5 years ago

wow very informative discussion here! yes i can confirm the 10 foot rule on the grilling. and it's also true that you cannot get propane tanks in manhattan -- i confirmed: i called home depot on 23rd street and asked them; the woman told me that they don't carry them. where should i go if i needed one? just go to any of our locations in queens, bronx, brooklyn...

with that said, FYI, it is also illegal to bring a propane tank on any bridge or tunnel. so i was thinking maybe of having my boyfriend stand on the edge of queens and i could stand at the edge of manhattan, and maybe he could THROW it across the east river?

in all seriousness though, the grilling may be "illegal", but i really consider it a jaywalking-type illegal, not an assault-and-battery-type illegal. so i plan on grilling. and if i get a warning, then i'll politely apologize... and then keep on grilling!!!

markznyc: about 5 years ago

question -- what do you do with the coals when you are done -- not exactly garbage shute material

westelle: about 5 years ago

Where I'm from we drink wine. And some vodka.

AvUWS: about 5 years ago

girls shouldn't play with fire. Women on the other hand...

No relationship between gender and liking beer, especially if the beer is a particularly good craft brew.

westelle: about 5 years ago

I'm a girl. No beer. Give the beer to neighbor...

AvUWS: about 5 years ago

Maybe. high up on West End Ave. My terrace is off limits due to a lot of Local Law work but I hope they get it done by end of May (done by april is out of the question now).

you should look up "beer can chicken" (there are many varieties). Cool recipe I have not yet tried but would love to. You have to love a recipe that starts with "Take the can of beer, drink half the beer...".

westelle: about 5 years ago

AvUWS: we're probably neighbors.

westelle: about 5 years ago

AvUWS: will exchange recipies with you at some point. Thank you.

AvUWS: about 5 years ago

I have an large Weber, which is the standard in charcoal (deep and round which is good for being able to play with your heat) and has a lot of attachments for it at any Home Depot or even at Gracious Home. It probably would not do the trick for a real Texan though. There are cheaper products out there but they often have cut corners to get to that, like a much shallower tray below the grill-top which limits how much you can adjust the heat levels. If you do get a Weber, get the separate grill top that has removable portions that allow you to add or adjust the coals as you work without lifting the grill. It is more complicated to work this way than a gas grill, but your results should be much better!

Charcoal: Don't get the pressed charcoal like the Match Light stuff. Go for REAL wood charcoal, it can be found in the same size bags in some grocery stores and some hardware stores or online. Some go for exoticish woods but even oak will impart a nice smokey flavor and you can always buy real mequite wood chips to add to the fire (soak the chips in water for a few hours first to get it nice and smokey).

Also, buy a "chimney" to heat up your coals more quickly. The bummer about real charcoal is you can't just turn it on and grill, takes 10-20 minutes to get your coals nice and hot.

And remember, unless it is taking hours to smoke something at a low temperature, it is not BBQ, it is merely grilling! (And this is coming from a native NY'er, sheesh, have I changed.)

malraux: about 5 years ago

As far as dedicated gas grills (those run with a proper gas line from the interior, and therefore legal), as well as other fuel options, here's my recommendation - www.kalamazoogourmet.com.

This company makes the Rolls-Royce of grills, handsdown.

KISS: about 5 years ago

This is what threads here should be -- informative, civilized and on-topic.

Sizzlack: about 5 years ago

not sure about in manhattan but outside almost any supermarket or gas station during the summer sells it outside of the city

westelle: about 5 years ago

And where do you get the charcoal?

Sizzlack: about 5 years ago

http://www.weber.com/bbq/pub/grill/2007/grills.aspx

Sizzlack: about 5 years ago

Weber makes a nice smaller size charcoal grill