Brownstoner.com is a popular blog hailing from Brooklyn, NY which showcases the best and brightest in brownstone architecture. Featuring sales listings, a forum, a restaurant guide, and even renovation blogs, Brownstoner.com is the go-to source for anyone interested in this unique style. The site’s editors have this to say about it on their about page:

Brownstoner.com is a site about Brooklyn real estate and renovation, and all the tangential topics that impact life inside and outside the home in Brooklyn. Launched in October 2004 by Jonathan Butler, the site currently has about 150,000 unique visitors and 1.5 million pageviews per month.

The Mazzei Group has expertise in the fine art of Brownstone construction and renovation. We have renovated several Brownstones in the Bed-Stuy, Park Slope, and Fort Green areas of Brooklyn.

If you’re interested in Brownstone Renovation contact us for a consultation.

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You’ve probably seen them and thought to yourself “wow, that’s really pretty” but had no idea that you were looking at what are actually known as Bluestone Pavers. Making Sidewalks, gardenscapes, walls, and driveways majestic and prominent are obvious benefits of this super material, but it’s the intangible benefits that really impress. For example Bluestone Pavers have a non-slip thermal surface so you can be confident that your property is safe and secure.

Before we delve any further into this, let’s learn a little about what Bluestone Pavers are:

Bluestone is a natural stone. It is a blue-gray sandstone, consisting of a mixture of sand compound and quartz particles. Bluestone has been quarried in the USA since the early 1900’s, particularly in the regions of New York and Pennsylvania.

The word bluestone was originated from the building and trade industries to describe and refer to the popular stone. It does however have a technical term. Bluestone’s geological term is, ‘feldspathic sandstone’, meaning finely-grained arkosic sandstone. (Via Paversearch)

Other benefits of using Bluestone Paversare as follows; The stone has a hard and wearing nature meaning that it’s reliable over the course of time, the Pavers are also a dense and heavy material meaning that they will stand up against the harshest weather conditions.

If you’re interested in having Bluestone Pavers installed on your property, you can contact us and we’ll consult the best way to get the job done. Today there is also a large market for man-made pavers, which The Mazzei Group also installs Cambridge, Capital Pavers, Grinnell, and a host of other brands.

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In a time where Americans are becoming more conscious of both their environment and wallets, the idea of a dual flush toilet is nothing short of revolutionary. This cutting edge advancement in toilet technology allows a user to choose between different types of flushes. When one needs to dispose of liquid waste, the toilet has a specific flush function which uses less water for liquid waste than it would for solid waste.

Dual flush toilets may be another defining moment in the development of the American john: the introduction of environmental conservation to the process of elimination. Interest in low flow and dual flush toilets is on the rise in the United States, due in part to increased government regulation and the rising cost of water, and there are incentives for making changes in the way we use the commode. In the next sections, we’ll see why change may be a good thing, learn more about the specifics of the dual flush and find out how government and business are coming together to help America flush responsibly. (Via HowStuffWorks.com)

The other prominent benefit of a dual flush toilet system is that it can help cut down the water bill significantly. Installing a dual flush uses 67% less water than the ordinary toilet, which would translate to considerable savings on your monthly water bill.

If you’re interested in having a dual flush toilet installed for either environmental or financial concerns the Mazzei Group can install a brand new dual flush toilet system. If a new toilet is not in your budget we could also convert your standard flush toilet into a dual flush.

Please contact us if you have any further questions.

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If you’ve been following our blog, you know that The Mazzei Group was recently featured on an episode of the Discovery Channel’s “Construction Intervention” The special 4 day speed build was for the renovation of an upscale nightclub located on Staten Island called Locale.

You can read about our work on this project in our four-part blog series here: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Also, check out some clips we’ve edited together from the episode itself below.

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After coming into the general contractor’s arsenal as a material used in the construction of skate parks, Skatelite has seen considerable usage as a eco-friendly option for siding on both commercial and residential builds. Made of pressed paper and resin, Skatelite is durable enough to withstand the most vigorous skateboard session, heat resistant, and unaffected by paint thinners and other graffiti removal tools.

As a result of those properties, Skatelite has potential to become the next big thing in the world of alternative siding. For example architect and avid skater Paul Masi actually used the material to side his own home, as well as using it as his kitchen floor, countertops and facings for appliances. While working with The Discovery Channel on Construction Intervention, The Mazzei Group also used the technique to give Staten Island ultra-lounge Locale, it’s unique appeal.

If you’re interested in having Skatelite installed on your home or business please contact us.

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Chances are, buying a home is the single biggest investment that the average American will make in their lifetime. Improving upon the value of this vital piece to your own economic puzzle should be paramount. An instant way to increase the value of your prime investment is an increase in the square footage. But, how can you increase the square footage of a home without an expensive addition? The answer is simple, waterproof your wet basement for more livable room.

By sealing your foundation and creating a waterproof seal you can instantly add livable square footage and finally realize that comfortable finished basement you’ve always dreamed of. Whether it’s to become a large bedroom for a child whose outgrown their childhood bedroom, or a fully functioning bar and games area, a finished basement increases both the perceived and actual value of your home.

In addition to those obvious values, with a finished, waterproofed basement you can also stop worrying about costly flooding because of unpleasant weather. That means no more moving boxes around whenever it rains. Finally by keeping your basement dry you significantly reduce the risk of dangerous mold occurring in your home.

If you’re interested in more information about waterproofing your basement or converting to a finished basement please contact us, we’re happy to take questions and provide serivce should you require it.

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Over at GreenHomeGuide, they provide a very useful guide to reference when looking to have remodeling work done on your home or business. the guide which was released in 2008 and still provides all of the information you might need.

The American Society of Interior Designers’ Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council have partnered on the development of best practice guidelines and targeted educational resources for sustainable residential improvement projects.

This program will increase understanding of sustainable renovation project practices and benefits among homeowners, residents, design professionals, product suppliers and service providers to build both demand and industry capacity.

Whether you’re a renovation professional or a savvy do-it-yourselfer, let REGREEN help green your next project. REGREEN is easy to use and chock-full of information, but if you find you have any questions, please e-mail regreenprogram@usgbc.org.

Download the PDF on their site here.

At GHR’s homepage you can find more than just this PDF, you can also find information about REGREEN webinars, useful checklists, and slideshow presentations.

We here at The Mazzei Group are behind the Green Movement and would love to REGREEN your building! Contact us, and we’ll get you up to code.

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HardiePlank is an alternative to Vinyl & Wood siding. Out of the three most common sides of siding, Wood, Vinyl and HardiePlank, Vinyl is the least expensive and wood is the most expensive. Hardi Plank is a happy medium. The Mazzei group will proudly design your home or business exterior and install HardiePlank making it look fabulous for many years with little or no maintenance.

Here are some HardiePlank facts and comparisions:

• HardiePlank is fire resistant unlike wood and vinyl which is combustible
• HardiePlank is green, made from abundant materials to include sand cement and cellulose fibers and is warranted for 50 years.
• HardiePlank is available in many colors or you can order it primed and paint it any color and it looks much like wood.
• HardiePlank is as thick as wood. In comparison to thin Vinyl siding, HardiePlank is much more sturdy.
• HardiePlank is insect resistant..
• HardiePlank is cheaper than actual wood siding, but more expensive than vinyl.

If you are interested in purchasing and installing HardiePlank on your home or business, please contact The Mazzei Group at 347 723 1825 or email us at ettore@ mazzeigroup.com.

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Right here you’ll find information on our renvoations and other work, as well as hear our insights on construction and architecture in general.

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