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Exterior
Your Roof-Lounge or My Library?
If you flip through the advertisements for new condo buildings in the real estate section of New York magazine or Time Out NY, you've probably noticed that more and more developers are including well-appointed libraries, residents-only social clubs, roof decks, and other social spaces in their building plans. They're calling them "resident lounges," "observatories," or "sun decks," and these spaces are intended to get the new unit owners out of their units and networking, socializing, and generally hanging out with each other—as well as fostering a feeling of exclusivity and privilege among prospective buyers. Read More
Historic Buildings Need TLC
In November of 2008, New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated seven new properties with
landmark status—New York University’s University Village, the Guardian Life Insurance Co. annex, the Morris B.
Sanders House, the New School’s former Baumann Bros. store, Pratt’s Manhattan Campus, an ex-FDNY firehouse, and a New York City Parks Department
pool complex. The new additions make bring the total number of landmarks in the
five boroughs to an impressive 1,212.
Read More
Don't Crack Under Pressure
As a child, we tried diligently to avoid stepping on the cracks in the sidewalk, because, after all, our mother's backs were hanging in the balance. As adults, we simply take sidewalks for granted, often not looking down and watching where we are going, until we catch our foot in a split sidewalk and are sent tumbling to the ground. Read More
Keeping Your Curb Appeal
Curb appeal plays a large role in determining a property's value and it is the first thing anyone notices about your co-op or condo building. But beyond aesthetics, proper maintenance is necessary to protect residences, grounds and common areas from the elements. Consistent care also will prevent major problems from surfacing in the future. And a solid maintenance plan will help your community's bottom line, as you'll avoid costly problems altogether. Read More
Preparing Your Local Law 11 Report
Local Law 11 inspection is a requirement of the New York City Department of
Buildings that every owner of a building higher than six stories must retain an
architect or engineer to inspect their façades. Based on this inspection, a report must be filed documenting findings and making
recommendations of any required repairs in order to maintain a building’s exterior in a safe condition. As part of the investigation, the architect or
engineer must perform at least one scaffolding drop on a street façade, which may require the assistance of a contractor. This inspection and
report is required every five years; the next cycle (Cycle 7) starts in
February 2010.
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
Preserving the New York City Skyline
New York City's skyline is like none other and has a blend of classic and modern architecture that defines itself as one of the world's greatest cities. Read More
A Life in Exterior Maintenance
Wayne Bellet, of Manhattan-based exterior maintenance firm Bellet Construction, is getting a dose of his own medicine. At the time of this interview, it’s his own office that’s under construction, he explains over the racket of dueling hammers in the background. The commercial condo building that houses his company is currently experiencing gas line issues, and the repair efforts have made Bellet acutely aware of the inconvenience such work can impose on the tenants of the building, the majority of whom are medical professionals. Read More
Essential Elements of Your Building's System
Water damage can wreak havoc on any co-op or condo. When it leads to serious problems like mold and structural damage, it can be a costly problem to address. To avoid the cost and hassle of dealing with water damage after the fact, it's not enough to simply trust in the waterproofing elements integrated into your building during its construction. Read More
Out with the Old, In with the New
As presidential candidates on the national scale rally around the idea of "it's time for a change," so too is the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), rolling out its first major set of changes to the city's building code in 40 years. The new Construction Codes will ensure that, among other things, qualified technicians perform building inspections. Read More
Tips for Seasonal Sprucing Up
The snow is gone, the thermometer is inching higher, flowers are blooming and you’re ready for springtime. Unfortunately, your building may not be. Thanks to winter’s sand, snow, grit and lack of attention, things may be in less-than-gorgeous shape. Warmer weather is a great time to get out and see what needs to be done to restore your building’s curb appeal. Here are a few tips to get you organized and on your way. Read More
From Start to Finish
Whether you are looking out over New York City from New Jersey or looking out from New York City towards New Jersey or Long Island, the skyline is lined with high-rise cooperatives and condominiums—the majority of which are now close to 30 years old. Subject to the harsh environmental conditions common along the coast, age, natural wear-and-tear and lack of maintenance, co-op and condo boards are now faced with upgrading and repairing their plaza decks. Read More
