An Ocean City condominium complex that was shut down last week by the city’s construction official amid safety concerns will remain closed until structural repairs are made. For now, red tags have been slapped on the Seaspray condos at 34th Street and Bay Avenue declaring that the buildings are currently “unsafe for human occupancy.” Read […]
Waterproofing Your Building Envelope Protecting Structure & Health (NJ)
With severe weather events becoming ever more common—and more intense—waterproofing your building’s envelope against rain, wind, snow, and ice is a growing concern. To counter the effects of climate change on buildings both old and new, our main focus must be on maintaining the integrity of the structural envelope. Proper, proactive exterior maintenance saves money […]
Ocean Club Atlantic City, NJ Condo Balconies Are Still An Issue (NJ)
We wrote our first article about the Ocean Club Condominium, Atlantic City, New Jersey balconies issue on February 4, 2022. More than two years later, it’s still an issue, as some residents still cannot use their balconies. A concerned Ocean Club Condominium resident reached to us because of our previous coverage Read the article…………………………….
The Power of Infrared Thermography in Building Inspections
Infrared thermography, a cornerstone of modern infrared inspection, stands out as a non-invasive diagnostic tool, revolutionizing the approach toward preventative maintenance and safety inspection. Utilizing state-of-the-art infrared cameras, this technology makes the invisible visible by capturing the heat emitted from objects in vivid colors, revealing potential issues in electrical systems, insulation failures, and even hidden […]
Ocean City Condo Complex Shut Down Amid Safety Concerns (MD)
An Ocean City condominium complex with a history of alleged structural problems dating back more than 40 years has been declared unsafe and was closed down by the city. Ocean City’s construction official issued “unsafe structural notices” and ordered the Seaspray condos to be vacated until repairs can be made, city spokesman Doug Bergen said. […]
California HOA Condos and Homes: Unveiling the Top 10 Pitfalls of Faulty Gutter & Fascia Installations
A common oversight with potentially significant financial impacts is the quality and installation of gutters and fascia. At Naumann Law Firm, we’ve seen firsthand how these defects can lead to extensive property damage and financial strain. In our most recent blog, we delve in a bit closer the top 10 construction defects resulting from poorly […]
Ask the HOA Expert: Gutters That Work
Rain gutters are an inconspicuous but necessary building component that homeowner associations deal with. Their need to perform consistently triggers ongoing maintenance and repair to themselves, exterior paint, siding, roofs and trees. Failure to keep the gutter system running smoothly causes overflows, water intrusion, interior damage, structural dryrot and enormously expensive repairs. There is a […]
Surfside condo collapse investigators provide key insights into possible causes of the disaster. Here are the top takeaways (FL)
Federal investigators on Thursday shared updates on their probe into the cause of the catastrophic 2021 condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida, providing key insights into the factors that may have led to the deaths of 98 people under a mountain of rubble. Investigators have identified hundreds of possible points of failure in the building, eventually […]
New law mandates condo inspections for older buildings (FL)
Charlotte County sent notices to owners of 168 condominiums built decades ago that are at least three stories high, informing them the structures must undergo comprehensive inspections under a new state law. Charlotte County Building Official Shawn McNulty explained what the new law means and how it came about during the Board of County Commissioners […]
Roof Preventative Maintenance for Multi-Family Communities
A roofing Preventative Maintenance Agreement (PMA) is a key component in property up-keep. This article will cover the basics of roof preventive maintenance: what it is, why it’s important, and what to look for with different roofing systems. To start off, roof preventive maintenance is scheduled maintenance and cleaning designed to help maintain the overall […]
Boca Raton Building Recertification Ordinance: A Comprehensive Guide for Building Managers and Condominium Governing Boards (FL)
Fresh off our recent article highlighting Boynton Beach’s new building recertification requirements, we highlight Boca Raton’s updated Building Recertification program. This article covers everything you need to know about Boca Raton’s Building Recertification Program (Ordinance 5589) and the significant changes it makes to the way building recertification is conducted. It ultimately focuses on what it […]
Laketown Wharf Condominium Association’s response to evacuations (FL)
The Laketown Wharf Resort Condominium Association has responded to the mandatory evacuation of 63 units. The owner’s association attorney is Brandon Burg. Burg issued a statement Friday morning saying they’ve hired an engineer to inspect the 2-stairwells deemed structurally unsound by Panama City Beach inspectors. Read the article…………………………….
Laketown Wharf residents given a 72-hour evacuation notice
For the second time this year, Panama City Beach officials are calling for a mandatory evacuation from a high-rise condominium. Inspectors say a stairwell at the Laketown Wharf complex on Front Beach Road is structurally unsound. As a result, the city is requiring a number of residents to get out of their units by 5 […]
‘Your house is worthless’: Massachusetts homeowners are grappling with crumbling foundations that insurance won’t cover
A cluster of homes run by a condo association in Westminster, Massachusetts, has had at least 10 of 96 units, all built in the 1990s, test positive for pyrrhotite — racking up repair fees of $115,000 to $130,000 per unit — according to Spectrum News 1. This caused homeowners association (HOA) fees to skyrocket. Read […]
Unpermitted construction triggers evacuation of Orange Beach condo units (AL)
Nearly 50 units at a condominium in Orange Beach were evacuated Wednesday. Orange Beach city crews and the fire marshal determined that the east tower of the Wind Drift condos on Perdido Beach Blvd. is unsafe. The city says occupants can not reenter their units until further notice. Read the article…………………………….
Roof Replacement 101: A Project Too Vital to Put Off
Nothing lasts forever, not even your roof. While roofs have a relatively long life compared to other building systems and components, at some point they will need either partial or full replacement. Here are the facts and factors you and your community need to know when your roof’s useful life starts winding down. Read the […]
Roof Preventative Maintenance for Multi-Family Communities
A roofing Preventative Maintenance Agreement (PMA) is a key component in property up-keep. This article will cover the basics of roof preventive maintenance: what it is, why it’s important, and what to look for with different roofing systems. To start off, roof preventive maintenance is scheduled maintenance and cleaning designed to help maintain the overall […]
When Pipes Fail & Preventative Maintenance
When considering your piping systems, there are two main systems in question: Domestic Water Systems and Drain, Waste and Vent (DWV) Systems. Below are some signs of aging to look out for with each system, and how to best maintain them. In the event that systems fail, repiping is the primary option that can prove […]
When Should You Contact an Engineer?
When it comes to the reconstruction and restoration of HOA communities, the civil and structural engineers who make up a part of this niche market are accustomed to working behind the scenes. After all, there’s nothing high-profile and flashy about designing repair plans, pulling permits, or writing up engineering reports about potential issues within a […]
More than 80 condo buildings due for milestone inspections in Volusia County (FL)
In Volusia, county officials are preparing to implement and review milestone inspections for 86 buildings following a new state law. Senate Bill 4–D was created in response to the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida in 2021. The bill established milestone inspections, which assess the structural integrity of aging condominiums. Milestone inspections are […]
Condominium RePiping: A Second Wave of Plumbing Failure (ON)
The second wave of plumbing failure has arrived. First it was Kitec, which caused chaos and floods in buildings due to the use of two dissimilar metals in the plumbing system. And now there’s another system raising eyebrows, and budget expenditures. Although on a smaller scale, the newest pandemic in plumbing failure is epoxy-lined plumbing […]
FIU interdisciplinary team supporting federal investigation into 2021 Surfside condo collapse
A team led by the federal government continues to investigate the 2021 partial collapse of Champlain Towers South, the 12-story beachfront condominium in Surfside, Florida, that resulted in 98 deaths and multiple injuries. Now an interdisciplinary FIU team will contribute to the search for answers into what caused the disaster, its ramifications and precautions that […]
Everything You Need to Know About Concrete Restoration Projects (FL)
At some point, every building will require concrete repairs and restoration. If you’ve ever undertaken a concrete restoration project, you’re aware of the many challenges they entail: substantial costs, lengthy time delays, irritation over hurricane shutters, windows and doors, uncooperative owners and the potential for incidental damage. Read the article…………………………….
No threat to resident safety at Elkhorn Springs condos, new report says (ID)
Structural rot discovered last year in parts of the Elkhorn Springs condominiums in Sun Valley has not compromised residents’ safety, according to the latest investigation of the buildings. The investigation, conducted by Seattle structural engineering firm AJP Engineering, is the latest in a series of reports on the buildings sparked by the late-2023 discovery of […]
Roof Preventative Maintenance for Multi-Family Communities
A roofing Preventative Maintenance Agreement (PMA) is a key component in property up-keep. This article will cover the basics of roof preventive maintenance: what it is, why it’s important, and what to look for with different roofing systems. To start off, roof preventive maintenance is scheduled maintenance and cleaning designed to help maintain the overall […]
The Ariel West’s Terra Cotta Troubles (NY)
Ariel West has found that when it rains, it indeed pours. The 32-story luxury condo on Manhattan’s Upper West Side has been forced to take on the lengthy and expensive process of replacing its terra cotta rainscreen after dangerous defects appeared less than 10 years after the building’s construction. The alarm was raised in 2015, […]
NE Miami-Dade condo community deemed unsafe after failing 50-year recertification (FL)
Residents at a northeast Miami-Dade condo community are concerned after the county’s Unsafe Structures Unit declared the buildings “unsafe” for failing its 50-year recertification. Vanessa Ortiz, a single mother of two, says she is moving out of the Jade Winds community because the conditions are too much for her to handle. Read the article…………………………….
Navigating Financial Challenges: Structural Integrity Reserve Studies
Ensuring the structural integrity of buildings is a primary concern for community associations in Florida, where climate and weather events can pose a significant threat to buildings and their residents. Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS) address this by offering crucial insights into a building’s condition and future maintenance needs, safeguarding buildings against potential damage and […]
Post-tension cable snaps at Emerald Bay – Village says no safety concern (FL)
Village officials said Friday night they are monitoring a failure of at least one post-tension cable that snapped at the Emerald Bay condominium Friday that sent chunks of concrete flying in the luxury condominium’s garage. More than a dozen parking spaces were closed off with yellow caution tape and holes could be seen in the […]
Mastering NYC Building Codes and FISP
Welcome, Manhattan Coop and Condo Board Members! In the sphere of urban architecture and safety regulations, New York City sets the standard with its stringent building codes and standards. As stewards of your community’s safety and integrity, understanding these regulations, particularly the Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP), is paramount. Let’s dive into this informative explainer […]
Cosmopolitan residents battle over Pearl District condo tower’s $31 million repair bill (OR)
For Tom Garcia, life at the posh Cosmopolitan condo tower became untenable during a heat wave last August. The Pearl District building’s troubled HVAC system failed, again, meaning no air conditioning. The glass walls of his southwest-facing unit magnified the afternoon sun. Read the article…………………………….
New videos released as officials give update on Surfside condo collapse investigation
Engineers studying the June 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside are releasing portions of video that confirm the sequence of visible events, but still cannot say whether the failure that triggered the collapse – what they call the “initiating event” – occurred out of sight, including in the pool deck, […]
When has a Condominium Building Reached the End of its Service Life? (CA)
If you read the earlier installments of this series, you know that the service lives of condominium buildings are shortened by inspection, maintenance, and funding failures. Recognizing when a building may begin to reach the end of its service life may be easy or hard, depending on the type of failure. A catastrophic failure by […]
Demolition Underway at Deteriorating Condo Building in Coral Springs (FL)
Demolition is underway of a decrepit condominium in Coral Springs, despite a request from a potential investor to save the building. In 2021, the city declared the former Villa Bianca condominium at 3990 Woodside Drive to be unsafe, leading to the relocation of residents in 15 of the 16 units. Read the article…………………………….
North Miami Beach condo residents still not allowed in their homes, association won’t answer questions about delay (FL)
It’s been nearly three years since residents of a North Miami Beach condo building were forced out of their homes because it was deemed unsafe. Those residents are still not allowed to go back home. Read the article…………………………….
Repairs have started for Tower III at Calypso Condominium Association (FL)
Panama City Beach officials are working to get people back in their condo units as quickly as possible after people at Tower III at Calypso Resort Condominiums had to vacate the building by Sunday morning due to structural issues. Read the article…………………………….
Tower III at Calypso Resort Condominium Association, Inc. releases statement on Tower III vacate orders (FL)
Legal representatives for the Tower III at Calypso Resort Condominium Association, Inc. have sent out a release regarding the recent Order to Vacate Property for the resort’s Tower III, issued by the City of Panama City Beach Building Department. Read the article…………………………….
City orders evacuation at Panama City Beach condo (FL)
“On Thursday night, February 8, 2024, the city received a concerning report from Slider Engineering Group, Inc., following a structural inspection of all guardrails in Calypso Tower III,” city officials wrote in a letter to the condo owners. “The findings reveal significant structural integrity issues, particularly with the guardrails on the east side of the […]
When Time Runs Out…Part II (CA)
The Typical Condominium “Business Model” will Not Sustain the Buildings: Condominium buildings are like rental apartments in their aesthetics and construction, with one significant difference—condominiums are mapped and built to be sold to individual unit owners. The ownership of rental apartments remains with one owner. Apartments are rented for a fixed period. Read the article…………………………….
After residents spend weeks without water, 65-year-old Denver condo building condemned (CO)
Residents are now out of an 80 unit condominium complex at 1121 Albion Street in Denver after the building was ordered vacated by the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. Read the article…………………………….
When Time Runs Out…
Many condominium buildings will soon reach the end of their service lives. Others are already there. Maximizing the surviving property’s value may be the key to protecting owner equity. Read the article…………………………….
Sick Building Syndrome: Home Buyers, Homeowners, And Renters Beware
If you tend to feel unwell when at home, but fine when you go outside or move to another location, you’re not losing your mind. It’s quite possible that your home is causing you to feel ill. “Sick Building Syndrome was coined by the World Health Organization in 1986, one year after a mysterious Lake […]
Ask the HOA Expert: Recoat of Many Colors
Of all roofing designs used in homeowner associations, flat roofs are the most problematic, particularly in rain, wind or snow prone areas. The need for consistent and quality maintenance is extremely important for maximum performance and longest life. Recoating builtup flat roofs is a fundamental preventive maintenance which should be performed at least every five […]
‘Blindsided’: Owners of evacuated Edmonton condo receive bills for up to $12K (AB)
Residents of a north Edmonton condo building that was evacuated earlier this year due to structural concerns say they’ve received bills for thousands of dollars after a special assessment was done on the building. Read the article……………………………
Structural rot found at Sun Valley condos, residents advised to vacate (ID)
Residents and owners of Elkhorn Springs condominiums in Sun Valley are facing a murky future after they were advised on Nov. 30 to leave their homes in the complex’s four buildings due to structural rot. Read the article……………………………
Sunset Park Fire Sale Fails, Leaving Condo Owners and and Tenants Empty-Handed (NY)
A hoped-for auction failed last week for a charred husk of a Brooklyn building, in the latest misfortune for former residents scattered to the winds while still paying mortgages and taxes. Read the article……………………………
Residents of condemned condos once again in search of housing (RI)
The former residents of North Providence’s Canterbury Village are once again scrambling to find somewhere to live. Dozens of residents were forced from their homes back in October after the town deemed the building uninhabitable. Read the article…………………………….
Horizon West condo owner overwhelmed following denied insurance claim (WI)
A justice in the 7th circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled against the residents of the condemned Horizon West Condos in their lawsuit against traveler’s insurance. This is putting them on the hook for the cost of razing the building, as much as $7 million dollars. Read the article……………………………..
HOA Winter Preparation: Getting Your Community Ready for the Cold Season
To any planned community, HOA winter preparation is vital. The winter season, especially in some states, can be very harsh. Pipes can freeze over and burst, while snow can quickly pile up and cause traffic problems. A competent HOA board would do well to get ahead of the winter months by preparing the entire association […]