Category: Maintenance

Cleaning products are designed with a straightforward goal: to reduce dirt and grime. But once you delve deeper into their overall purpose, things become more complex. What makes something really clean? Does it just look shinier? Smell bett…

On the long list of building-related issues that multifamily boards and residents have to be concerned about, dryer lint is not likely uppermost. A leaky roof? Definitely. A boiler on the fritz in mid-January? Absolutely. But dryer lint, no…

Warm weather is quickly approaching - have you had your HVAC system serviced yet? Whether it's a central or window system, your air conditioning equipment requires a bit more attention than simply turning on your thermostat. Both types req…

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 yo…

Did you know that March 23 is World Elevator Day? Now you do. (You’re welcome.) On that date way back in 1857, the first passenger elevator was installed in the E.V. Haughwout Building—an upscale, five-story department store in Manhattan’s …

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…

After the deadly collapse of a parking garage building in lower Manhattan last year, the City of New York moved to prevent similar tragedies from occurring, undertaking the herculean task of inspecting every garage in New York City for crac…

As we move toward spring and summer, major capital improvement projects become the focus for many co-op and condominium communities. One of the largest projects your community may undertake is a roof replacement. Whether a high-rise, mid-ri…

The elevator is one of those inventions—along with running hot and cold water and indoor plumbing—that have been around for so long we take it for granted. But elevators obviously weren’t always a part of the architectural landscape. Withou…

Yet another new law has recently passed that affects co-op, condo, and HOA boards, as well as residents who lease their units.  Almost as if by coincidence, given the historic rains and flooding New Yorkers have endured this season, two la…