Friday, July 24, 2015

Giving a Fedders house a makeover

From Brownstoner:

A reader writes:
I’m the proud owner of a recently purchased “Fedders building,” and would like to do what I can to make the exterior less generic and unappealing. Along these lines, I’m wondering if anyone has had experience removing and replacing Fedders a/c cutouts, and if so, what they used to fill the resulting voids. The obvious route would be to just install brick, but I’d like to attempt something more creative, if it’s practical. Would windows look weird? Any other thoughts? Thanks!
Anyone have any cool ideas? Please help out our reader on the Forum.

14 comments:

r185 said...

May want to do something under every window so it doesn't look like you're covering something over. But besides that, THANK YOU for this effort. More should be doing it.

FlooshingRezident said...

Window-boxes filled with the same color flowers - perhaps all red. Striped canvas awnings (green & white) over the windows and front entrances. Coordinating wooden enclosures (forest green) to conceal the garbage pails. Rip out the driveways and plant flower beds and trees with wooden benches.

It could be beautiful - kudos to you for caring!

Anonymous said...

I would leave it unless you want to brick it up.
Bricks would add insulation and stop unwanted drafts but make sure it's a very good mason who dose the work right the first time. The interior walls will have to be matched as well. If it's sheet rock inside that's not a big job.

Anonymous said...

Sage advice: tear that fucker down and build something nicer. :-)

Anonymous said...

extend the scope of masonry work to align with the full extent of the sill, matching the bottom of the sleeve. yes, this is a bigger hole. do a 4" band of the masonry as headers around the hole, flush with the original facade or a little recessed. relative to that band, recess the rest of the fill about 1/2" from the facade, doing a contrasting color or colors, maybe in a flemish bond. this is not remarkably different than what you see on many matthews model flats, so contextually it should look good.
-somethingstructural

Anonymous said...

Brick up the inside and put planters on the outside.

Even the ugliest building looks nicer when covered in ivy and flowers.

Anonymous said...

Where are you planning to put the ac now?

Anonymous said...

The best thing to try is painting the iron railings and fence a brighter color, and strategically placed exterior building lighting.

Joe said...

You pull out the frames, capping and brick & mortar it closed flush on the outside then sheet rock the inside.
Colored asphalt siding would be a great candidate for a building like that, it gives a classic vintage look, lasts forever and is made in dozens of variety's. Canvas awnings

Copy and paste to a browser

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Asphalt+Shingle+Siding&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=asphalt+shingle+siding&sc=0-0&sp=-1&sk=&undefined=undefined

Anonymous said...

If not a cornice try a faux mansard roof at the top, would also keep rain out of the top floor windows.

Greasy paws said...

Me personally I would start with a wrecking ball and bulldozer. However if you want to keep it my first move would be to degrease the front doors and paint them to cover up those filth stains that extend from around each door knob.

Jackson Heights Johnny said...

Filling the opening with glass blocks might work, and serve a two-fold purpose - closing the opening AND letting some light in....

Anonymous said...

Notice the illegal car park on the left...

Anonymous said...

I mean on the right!