Articles

by Keller Engineering, Reprint with permission  Understanding Roof Anchors and Requirements “The windows are scheduled to be washed next week! But have the roof anchors been certified for use?”. We frequently encounter Property Managers who require inspection of the roof anchors that form a part of their fall arrest system. Often, the Property Managers are not aware of whether…

by Rebekah Barron, Development Manager at NB Benny’s Contracting Ltd. How to Hire a Snow Removal Contractor Choosing the right snow removal contractor is crucial when it comes to maintaining your property or condominium!  Whether you’re an Owner or a Property Manager, you want to ensure the contractor you hire is reliable, efficient, and follows…

by Steven DeLuca – Project Manager, EXP Engineering Being On Top of Your Balcony One of the many perks of owning a condominium is having access to an exclusive balcony. The balcony gives condominium owners a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and extend their living space. Although the balcony has its positives, it also…

by Glen Gordon, P. Eng, MBA – Co-Founder and CEO, Unico Power Corp Making Your Condo EV Ready The age of Electric Vehicles is here. It’s not just California and Vancouver that have seen them on the roads, but right here in Alberta. Chances are you already know someone that drives electric, and if your…

by Max Pharaon, BuildingLink Canada Are you considering creating a sustainability plan to reduce your building’s carbon footprint and reduce energy costs? Are you thinking about implementing an efficient and safe usage of amenities? From simply updating your lighting to LED to replacing all your windows…the options are endless, costly and overwhelming all without knowing…

By Rebecca Medel   The days are getting longer, the air is warmer and it’s safe to say that everyone is happier that six months of winter has ended. And you know what that means for condominium corporations—spring cleanup.  The projects that were held over from 2018 (or longer, depending on your reserve fund), the…

Resolving Odour Transfer Issues in Condominiums Using Logical Sequencing Since recreational cannabis was legalized throughout Canada this fall, engineers are increasingly being asked how to resolve unintended odour transfer in condominiums. Leading up to October 17th, 2018, there seemed to be much concern and confusion with Boards of Directors scrambling to institute rules or by-laws…

By Hanna Tough What type of illumination does your building use? Did you get on the eco train right away, or is your building still working overtime to produce enough energy to light common areas 24/7? The condominium market continues to be dominated by sales of halogen lamps and CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) rather than…

By Amber Forest Preventative Maintenance to Cure Your HVAC Woes When it comes to a building’s Heating Ventilating & Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, often it’s a case of out of sight, out of mind. That is, of course, until it’s not working on the hottest or coldest day of the year. This reactive approach can…

By NIALL MCCARRA Just like us humans, building envelopes can experience their own cold and flu like symptoms. Maybe this winter you can be the doctor and your building envelope the patient. Winter conditions are harsh on building envelopes, but winter is a good time to evaluate building envelope performance. Roofs and Attics In cold…

by Trinity Player Potted flowers and plants can add a welcome touch of green to a condominium’s grounds, foyer, and common spaces such as social rooms and fitness centres. But did you know that they can also pose a serious danger? Over the last few years, fire departments throughout North America have reported a higher…

By Brian Shedden Do you remember that old Cher song from a few years ago…”If I Could Turn Back Time…” One of the biggest challenges facing a Board of Directors at any condominium corporation is how to save money on the big repair projects that regularly have to be done. Whether it is roofing, the…

by Justin Tudor Condominium owners and directors are typically more aware of the maintenance costs and requirements of their buildings than their freehold-living counterparts. This is by virtue of legislation requiring that common element maintenance and replacement plans be considered through regular reserve fund studies. However, like the freehold owner who elects to put off…

by SHARON MILROY While condo board members, owners and condo management may not directly be responsible for the daily operation of a swimming pool/spa on site, it is vital that all members are aware of who is responsible for the swimming pool/spa and how to contact them when needed. It is important that all condominium…