- Home
- Maintenance
- Building
Building
A Look at Building Anatomy
In many ways, the homes in a detached condo development resemble any other single-family dwellings: they have their own driveways, their own water and electric meters, distinct roofs, and heating and cooling systems. Other types of condo associations take the form of attached townhouses, or high-rise apartment buildings. Regardless of the architecture, a thorough understanding and regular maintenance of all the components that ultimately deliver the essential amenities like heat, air conditioning water, plumbing, and electricity is required in order for the association's operating systems to run safely and efficiently. Read More
Minimizing Construction and Maintenance Disturbances
The noise, the dust, the fumes, the mess, the constant influx of workers, unsightly equipment and vehicles, the service disruptions—everybody wants to live in a well-maintained building or development, but one thing many co-op and condo dwellers dread is having to live through the actual repair-and maintenance process. Read More
Fully Operational Operating Systems
Every home has its own foibles, its own creaks and sounds that we, as its inhabitants, know so well. We know that our ovens run a little hot or that our clothes washers need a little kick in the middle of the spin cycle to keep them going. That knowledge shows that we understand our homes and know when they're "healthy" and when they're not. Expand that base of knowledge ten—fold and you'll begin to understand the multitude of things a property manager needs to know about the residences for which he or she is responsible. Read More
Stocking Your Association's Supply Closets
They say cleanliness is next to godliness, and while the average homeowner's association doesn't have the vast expanses of marble and carpet many high-rise condo buildings have, clean, well-maintained common spaces and neatly-kept landscaping are integral to association members' quality of life. Not only that, but they're also the first areas potential buyers see, so it's important to keep these places looking immaculate—both for residents and for home-hunters. Read More
Understanding OSHA
Whether your HOA or condo development has a full-time maintenance staff, a few supers or maintenance people, or just occasional contractors, those workers are covered by federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, guidelines. If there are safety problems on the site or one of them is injured, OSHA regulations can come into play. Read More
Preparing HOAs for Winter Weather
The thought of it sends shivers up your spine—the shrill north winds, the snow-covered roads, the traffic jams on the New Jersey Turnpike. Yes, winter is coming. And as the seasons change once again, so too do the demands on housing communities—and their maintenance staff members. Read More
Taking Care of Fireplaces and Chimneys
A fireplace is a wonderful amenity in a home, but before you go off and light that first log, its important for association members to remember that a chimney and fireplace require special care and attention to make sure they remain clear of debris and function properly. Without an annual inspection, a fireplace can become dangerous—even deadly. Read More
Keeping Buildings Dry
Building owners are charged with the constant battle of keeping water out of the building envelope, but sometimes the water that causes stains, mold and decay comes from within the building envelope. Consideration to design, materials and use must be given during initial construction and reconstruction projects. Read More
Care & Maintenance of Roof Systems
You would think that something as important as the roof over one's head would be one of the top priorities for condo owners and association members, but for some reason, roofs are often one of the most overlooked aspects of a building or multifamily community. Read More
Basic Answers to Maintenance Questions
For the average condo owner juggling work, kids and family and taking care of one's home can seem daunting. Just remembering to take out the trash and wash the windows once a year can require elaborate checklists and days of planning. Now imagine staying on top of all that—in addition to mowing lawns, cleaning pools, patching roofs, fixing signs and a million other tasks—for 50, 100 or 200 homes. It's enough to strike fear in the hearts of many brave souls. Fortunately, most property managers are well-prepared to care for the homes in their charge. Read More
