Gas Furnace In Units

pushcart profile photo

Hi,

I have been looking at multis to convert to condos and came across a 4 family that has gas furnaces in 2 of the units. The building is circa 1900 and has a crawl space for a basement. One furnace is in the basement. One furnace is in the attic for the top floor apt. The other 2 units have the furnace/water heater inside the apt in a closet. Does this seem strange? Is there any downside to this? All the multis I have looked at to date have had the heqating systems in the basement.

Comments(9)

  • fwhalen6th April, 2005

    Thank you much

  • flacorps5th April, 2005

    There could certainly be lead in the paint, given how many layers you are talking about and how infrequently most people paint cabinets.

    I have read horror stories about people who restored old houses and sanded paint (especially trim paint) without proper techniques (including respirators, maybe even moon-type suits, definitely plastic tarp to contain the dust and vacuums with filters to concentrate and remove it) ... and these people wound up with lead poisoning.

    Having done the job already, you should definitely get tested. You might get into chelation quickly and prevent major health problems (note that this is medical therapy for the lead poisoning, not the holistic quackery chelation that is supposed to cure everything).

  • flacorps5th April, 2005

    http://health.discovery.com/encyclopedias/1607.html

  • fwhalen6th April, 2005

    A very likely alternative for the next three units. Thanks.

  • Julieann12th April, 2005

    One other issue to be aware of....now that you have a chemical on the surface, you must make certain that it is all off and the surface very clean before you apply any stain. The two may not be compatible.

    I mean like hosing it off and letting it air dry, wiping it with mineral spirits, etc.

  • Julieann12th April, 2005

    One other issue to be aware of....now that you have a chemical on the surface, you must make certain that it is all off and the surface very clean before you apply any stain. The two may not be compatible.

    I mean like hosing it off and letting it air dry, wiping it with mineral spirits, etc.

  • nyjosh19th April, 2005

    Possible for you to buy it as owner occupied and then rent it out?

  • NC_Yank17th April, 2005

    Replacing beams and sistering joist are not that difficult.

    It is just a matter of adding support walls / braces under the existing floor system while you replace the beam.

    If you have metal beam you can easily replace it with a wood member as long as it is sized correctly. Wood beams do better under fire then steal ones do.

    You can go onto the internet and look up the required size based upon your floor span and spacing as well as taking into consideration any additional loads that may be coming down upon the beam.

    Once the beam is replaced then you can address the joist that need attention.

    A good carpenter can easily handle a project like that in no time.

    I would get estimates and go from there.

    You should ensure that whoever does the work is properly insured.

    NC_Yank

  • NC_Yank19th April, 2005

    What is the span of your basement ?

    How much damage is there to the joist, can you put up a temporary support wall while you cut the main girder loose?

    Is the subfloor damaged as well and needs replacing?


    If its just the girder and some joists....... then I would do it myself...........replace the girder, and then start replacing / sistering joists as needed. Be sure to double up any joist that are any upstair walls, bearing as well as none bearing.
    If your getting into replacing the subfloor then I would sub it out.

    NC_Yank

Add Comment

Login To Comment